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National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

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Your Environment. Your Health.

Publication Detail

Title: Metal exposures in an inner-city neonatal population.

Authors: Jones, Elizabeth A; Wright, J Michael; Rice, Glenn; Buckley, Brian T; Magsumbol, Melina S; Barr, Dana B; Williams, Bryan L

Published In Environ Int, (2010 Oct)

Abstract: We measured concentrations of lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), and copper (Cu) in umbilical cord whole blood and examined sources of environmental Pb exposures in a predominantly African-American population.Between April and July 2006, we collected reproductive histories, questionnaires, and blood samples from 102 women, aged 16-45 years, who delivered at a Memphis, TN hospital.The prevalence of preeclampsia and low birth weight infancy in the study population was 11% and 10%, respectively. Twenty-eight percent of mothers reported living near a potential Pb-contaminated area, while 43% lived in a residence built before 1978. Geometric mean (GM) concentrations for umbilical cord blood in the study population were 1.3, 3.5, 9.0, and 52.0 microg/dL for Pb, Mn, Cr, and Cu, respectively. Six neonates had cord blood Pb (CBL) concentrations above 10 microg/dL, while 20 had CBL concentrations > or =2 microg/dL. GM umbilical CBL levels were higher in neonates born to women living near a potential Pb-contaminated area (2.2 vs. 1.1 microg/dL) and those with friends, family or household members exposed to lead products (1.6 vs. 1.1 microg/dL). Some evidence of an exposure-response relationship was also detected between all four metal concentrations and an increasing number of maternal lead exposures. After adjustment for confounding, proximity to a Pb-contaminated area was the strongest environmental determinant of CBL levels among neonates with CBL concentrations of > or =2 microg/dL (odds ratio=5.1; 95% CI=1.6, 16.7).Metal concentrations were elevated in this population, and CBL levels were associated with proximity to Pb-contaminated areas.

PubMed ID: 20553999 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: Adolescent; Adult; African Americans/ethnology; Chromium/blood; Cities; Copper/blood; Demography; Environmental Exposure/analysis*; Environmental Exposure/statistics & numerical data; Female; Fetal Blood/metabolism*; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Lead/blood; Male; Manganese/blood; Metals/blood*; Middle Aged; Tennessee/epidemiology; Tennessee/ethnology; Urban Population; Young Adult

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