Maternal and umbilical cord blood lead levels: an Istanbul study

Current mean lead concentrations in umbilical cords and in maternal blood in Istanbul were 1.69 +/- 0.91 (standard deviation) microg/dl and 2.37 +/- 0.89 microg/dl, respectively. These levels were much lower than values reported in previous years. Umbilical cord blood lead levels, which correlated significantly with mothers' blood lead levels, were approximately 70% of the latter. The drastic decrease in blood lead levels likely reflects the reduction in use of tetraalkyl lead in gasoline subsequent to 1989.