EXPOSURE TO TOXIC METALS DURING PREGNANCY AND OVERALL WEIGHT-GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEWBORN: SURVEY RESULTS IN MOSCOW REGION

Abstract

A human biomonitoring survey of 120 women in birth from six maternity hospitals of Moscow region was carried out on a standard methodology of the World Health Organization. Prenatal exposure to lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic was characterized by low levels: the geometric mean for mercury in maternal hair was 0.21 |jg/g; for mercury in umbilical cord blood - 0.89 |jg/l; for mercury in maternal urine - 0.27 |jg/l, which correspond approximately to the levels in European countries with a relatively low consumption of fish. The average content of lead in cord blood was equal to 7.96 |jg/L, and the total arsenic and cadmium in concentrations in the urine - 0.20 |jg/L and 21.9 |jg/L respectively. Of all toxic metals were established direct and significant associations between lead in cord blood and newborn's weight and height, and negative - between lead in cord blood and cephalization index. Weight and growth characteristics of newborns were also significantly influenced by gestational age, body weight gain of the mother during pregnancy, by newborn's gender. Cephalization index, along with weight and height characteristics of newborns, is an informative indicator that can be used to analyze the relationship between prenatal exposure to heavy metals and neonatal development.