Concentrations of Lead, Cadmium and Mercury in Cord Blood and Prematurity in the Sidi Bel Abbes Region (West of Algeria)

Abstract

Background Exposure to heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury during pregnancy carries a great risk to the mother as well as the fetus. Method Lead, cadmium and mercury were measured in umbilical cord blood samples of 3 groups women (30 women's for lead, 30 cadmium and 10 from mercury) in maternity of Sidi Bel Abbes region in Algeria between 2016 and 2017. The objective of this study was to measure in the blood of the umbilical cord the concentration of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and cadmium (Cd), and to evaluate the relationship between these levels and prematurity. The lead, cadmium and mercury levels were measured by atomic absorption. Results The study showed obvious variations in, maternal characteristics. The results revealed several factors predisposing to prematurity. The mean concentrations of cord blood lead, cadmium and mercury were; 18.97 μg/L, 0.26 μg/L, and6.20 nmol/L, respectively. There was a highly significant direct correlation between cord lead concentrations and gestational age(r=0.43; P = 0.017), and we found that gestational age and birth weight inversely correlated with cord mercury concentration (r=0.44 and r=0.57 respectively). No correlation was observed between cord cadmium concentrations and gestational age. Conclusion This study has shown that pregnant women in this region were exposed to high levels for heavy metalswhich need an intervention.