Placental transfer of lead, mercury, cadmium, and carbon monoxide in women. III. Factors influencing the accumulation of heavy metals in the placenta and the relationship between metal concentration in the placenta and in maternal and cord blood

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6682508

Roels, H; Hubermont, G; Buchet, J P; Lauwerys, R

The concentration of lead, mercury, and cadmium was determined in placenta from 474 European women and was compared with the level found in maternal and newborn blood. The influence of some epidemiological factors (residence, smoking, drinking habit, age, occupation, previous pregnancies) on heavy metal accumulation in the placenta was also investigated. The median values of the three heavy metals in placenta were 7.5, 1.06, and 1.08 ..mu..g/100 g (wet weight) for lead, mercury, and cadmium, respectively. In comparison with maternal blood, the placenta does not concentrate lead nor mercury but concentrates cadmium about 10-fold. Cadmium concentration in placenta was significantly correlated with that in maternal blood (r = +0.38); for lead the correlation was lower although still statistically significant (r = +0.22); for mercury the level in placenta was not significantly correlated with the metal concentration in maternal blood. Among the three heavy metals, only cadmium shows an increased accumulation in placenta of smokers. No significant effect of current residence, maternal age, and occupation on the accumulation of the heavy metals in placenta was observed.

• Research Organization: Univ., Louvain, Belgium
• OSTI ID: 6682508
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 16:1-3; ISSN ENVRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550500 -- Metabolism
560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AEROSOLS
AGE DEPENDENCE
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BODY FLUIDS
CADMIUM
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
EMPLOYMENT
EPIDEMIOLOGY
FEMALES
FETAL MEMBRANES
INGESTION
INTAKE
LEAD
MAMMALS
MAN
MATHEMATICS
MEMBRANES
MERCURY
METALS
NEONATES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLACENTA
PREGNANCY
PRIMATES
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
RESIDUES
RESPONSE MODIFYING FACTORS
SMOKES
SOLS
STATISTICS
TOBACCO SMOKES
VERTEBRATES
WOMEN