Study of lead exposure heavy metal in pregnant women and in neonates a possible health hazard

Abstract

The present cross sectional study entitled Study of Lead exposure (heavy metal) in Pregnant women and in Neonates-a possible health hazard is based on the quantitative estimation of Lead (Pb) in venous blood of pregnant women (Maternal blood Lead level i.e. MPL) and cord blood of their respective neonates (Cord blood Lead level i.e. CPL). newlineIt was carried out for the period of five years from January 2007 to December 2011 in the Dept. of Forensic Medicine with collaboration of Dept. of Obs. and Gyn. and Dept. of Pediatrics, Institute of Medical sciences, BHU, Varanasi. For study, total 505 blood samples each from pregnant women (maternal venous blood) and their neonates (cord blood) were collected during hospital delivery from the three selected sites i.e. Varanasi, Jaunpur and Agra region of Uttar Pradesh, India. Further, blood samples were processed for acid digestion and estimation of heavy metal lead (Pb) was done with the help of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (model Elico-194 double beam). newlineFurther, the relevant socio-epidemiological parameters (residential status, educational status, source of drinking water, source of cooking media), Maternal Parameters (Maternal Age, Gravida, History of previous abortion/s, Gestational Age, Hemoglobin (Hb) level, Intake of Calcium and Iron during antenatal period) and neonate s parameter (Birth weight-B Wt, Head circumference-HC, Crown Heel Length-CHL) and blood lead levels of the studied subjects were correlated to find out their associations/effects with the help of statistical analysis by employing SPSS (statistical packages for social sciences) version-16. Chi-square test was used to find out the association between the variables. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the significant difference among the mean blood lead levels in different variables of studied subjects. Binary logistic regression analysis was also used to find out the significant independent variables and their quantum of contribution for maternal and cord blood lead levels.