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Lead and delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase in RBC's of urban mothers and fetuses

Journal Article · · Environ. Res.; (United States)
OSTI ID:7075561
; ;

Environmental lead pollution may pose a health hazard to the mother and her fetus, but limited information concerning this problem is available. In this study, we examined erythrocyte delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity and erythrocyte lead levels in urban pregnant women and fetuses. The data show that the ratio of activated/nonactivated ALAD activity and erythrocyte lead are positively correlated in both the mothers and fetuses. The mean level of ALAD inhibition was found to be 28 percent in the mothers and 12 percent in the fetuses. The data also show that fetal erythrocytes have significantly higher levels of activated ALAD activity than maternal erythrocytes, and that a positive correlation exists between maternal and fetal erythrocyte lead levels. These results indicate that ''normal'' urban blood lead levels inhibit erythrocyte ALAD activity in the pregnant woman and fetus.

Research Organization:
Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital
OSTI ID:
7075561
Journal Information:
Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 14:1; ISSN ENVRA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ADULTS
AMINO ACIDS
AMINOLEVULINIC ACID
ANIMALS
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CATALYSIS
CHEMISTRY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DEHYDROGENASES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENZYMES
ERYTHROCYTES
FEMALES
FETUSES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
INHIBITION
LEAD
MAMMALS
MAN
METABOLISM
METALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
POPULATIONS
PREGNANCY
PRIMATES
TOXICITY
URBAN POPULATIONS
VERTEBRATES
WOMEN