Cadmium levels in maternal blood, fetal cord blood, and placental tissues of pregnant women who smoke

Journal Article · Thu Apr 15 04:00:00 EST 1982 · Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6841192

Kuhnert, P M; Kuhnert, B R; Bottoms, S F; Erhard, P

Previous studies have reported that cigarette smoking is a major source of exposure to cadmium (Cd). This study was carried out to determine the degree of exposure to Cd of pregnant women who smoke and to determine the degree of exposure to Cd of pregnant women who smoke and to determine the disposition of the Cd in the maternal-fetoplacental unit. Our data reveal that pregnant women who smoke expose themselves and their placentas to levels of Cd higher than those to which they would normally be exposed. The percentage increase in Cd due to smoking was 32% in the placenta and 59% in maternal blood; these increases are statistically significant. The mean levels of Cd in maternal blood, cord blood, and placental tissues of pregnant women who smoked were all higher than the mean levels of Cd in the same tissues and blood of pregnant women who did not smoke. In addition, the levels of Cd in the maternal blood of smokers were significantly higher than levels of Cd in the cord blood of their infants; this relationship was not found in nonsmokers. On the basis of the Cd data on cord blood and placental tissues, the fetuses found in nonsmokers. On the basis of the Cd data on cord blood and placental tissues, the fetuses of pregnant women who smoke apparently receive very little additional exposure to Cd; however, this does not lessen concern for the fetus. The presently reported increase in exposure to Cd of pregnant women due to smoking must be viewed as undesirable because Cd has been shown to alter placental function in animals, and because Cd has no known biologic function.

• Research Organization: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital/Case Western Reserve University, OH
• OSTI ID: 6841192
• Journal Information: Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol.; (United States) Vol. 142:8; ISSN AJOGA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

551000 -- Physiological Systems
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
ANIMALS
CADMIUM
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
FEMALES
FETAL MEMBRANES
FETUSES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
MAMMALS
MAN
MEMBRANES
METABOLISM
METALS
PLACENTA
PREGNANCY
PRIMATES
RESIDUES
SMOKES
SOLS
TOBACCO PRODUCTS
TOBACCO SMOKES
VERTEBRATES
WOMEN