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Blood lead and erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin in mothers and newborn infants

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Abstract

Blood lead (B-Pb) and erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) were measured in 78 mothers at delivery and in cord blood from 48 infants living in an area with low atmospheric Pb pollution. Median B-Pb was 35 μg/l (range 6–63) in mothers and 20 μg/l (range 6–50) in infants (P<0.001), and the values were significantly correlated (r s=0.73, P<0.0001). Mean B-Pb infant/B-Pb mother ratio was 0.7 (range 0.2–1.4). Mothers had lower ZPP (median 1.6 μg/g Hb) than infants (median 2.9) (P<0.0001). ZPP in mothers showed a stronger relation to iron status (serum transferrin, serum ferritin) than to B-Pb (r s=0.22, P<0.05). B-Pb was correlated to serum iron both in mothers (r s=0.28, P<0.02) and infants (r s=0.33, P<0.03). The present B-Pb levels are lower than previously reported in Scandinavia, probably due to the general decline in atmospheric Pb pollution.

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Abbreviations

B-Pb:

blood lead

Hb:

haemoglobin

ZPP:

erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin

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Author notes

  1. N. Milman

    Present address: Department of Medicine Y, Copenhagen County Hospital Gentofte, Niels Andersensvej 65, DK-2900, Hellerup, Denmark

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine P, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    N. Milman

  2. National Institute of Occupational Health, Copenhagen, Denmark

    J. M. Christensen

  3. Departments of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Clinical Chemistry, Roskilde County Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark

    K. K. Ibsen

Authors
  1. N. Milman
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  2. J. M. Christensen
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  3. K. K. Ibsen
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Milman, N., Christensen, J.M. & Ibsen, K.K. Blood lead and erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin in mothers and newborn infants. Eur J Pediatr 147, 71–73 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00442616

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00442616

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