›› 2010, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (8): 897-.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2010.08.007

• Original article (Preventive medicine) • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Correlative study of trace elements and toxic elements in maternal blood and umbilical cord blood

SHI Rong1, WANG Pei1, GAO Yu1, WANG Xiao-jin2, WANG Min-min3, GONG Yan-lan4, TIAN Ying1   

  1. 1.School of Public Health, 2.Department of Biostatistics, Basic Medical College, 3.Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, China；4.Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai Seventh People's Hospital, Shanghai 200092, China
  • Online:2010-08-25 Published:2010-08-27
  • Supported by:

    Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau Foundation, 2008Y119；Program of Excellent Public Health Leading Scientist of Shanghai, 08GWD11；Program of Excellent Public Health Young Talents of Shanghai, 08GWQ002

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Abstract:

Objective To investigate the levels of trace elements and heavy metal elements in maternal blood and umbilical cord blood, and explore their correlation. Methods Maternal blood samples were collected from 249 healthy pregnant women, and 259 umbilical cord blood samples were also obtained from Shanghai and Dalian, with 241 matched maternal blood samples and umbilical cord blood samples. The mass concentrations of Cu, Fe, Se, Mn, Zn, Pb and Cd in blood samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry，and that of Hg was detected by automatic mercury analyser.The correlation of each element in maternal blood and umbilical cord blood was explored with Spearman correlation analysis. Results The mass concentrations of Cu, Se, Zn, Pb and Cd in maternal blood were 1 493.0 μg/L, 126.2 μg/L, 6 260.0 μg/L, 57.2 μg/L and 1.1 μg/L,respectively, and were significantly higher than those in umbilical cord blood (614.6 μg/L, 107.6 μg/L, 2 150.0 μg/L, 35.0 μg/L and 0.6 μg/L, respectively)（P<0.01）. The mass concentrations of Fe, Mn and Hg were 432.6 μg/L, 52.9 μg/L and 1.5 μg/L, respectively in maternal blood, and were significantly lower than those in umbilical cord blood (512.2 μg/L, 77.1 μg/L and 2.4 μg/L, respectively)（P<0.01）. The mass concentrations of Hg in 3 maternal blood samples (1.2%) and 9 cord blood samples (3.4%) exceeded the recommended reference standard of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (5.8 μg/L), the mass concentrations of Pb in 30 maternal blood samples (12.0%) and 15 cord blood samples (5.8%) exceeded the recommended reference standard of Federal Occupational and Environmental Hygiene Committee (100 μg/L),and the mass concentrations of Cd in 14 maternal blood samples (5.6%) and 9 cord blood samples (3.5%)exceeded the recommended reference standard of U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (5 μg/L). Except Fe, the mass concentrations of all the other elements in maternal blood were positively related with those in umbilical cord blood （P<0.01）. Conclusion The levels of Pb, Cd and Hg may exceed the recommended reference standard in maternal blood and umbilical cord blood of some pregant women and fetuses, and the levels of trace elements and heavy metal elements in maternal blood may be associated with those in umbilical cord blood. Regular monitoring of levels of heavy metal elements and appropriate supplement of trace elements are needed during pregnancy.

Key words: trace elements, heavy elements, cord blood, pregnant woman