Influence of high lead and cadmium soil content on human reproductive outcome

The influence of lead and cadmium on human reproductive outcome was studied in areas of Eastern Poland with high specific soil contamination with these heavy metals. By personal interviews, information on socioeconomic background factors as well as obstetrical and gynecological histories were obtained from 136 women living in villages with high amounts of lead and cadmium and from 269 women of nearby villages with no increased content of these metals. Physical examination and estimations of blood concentrations of lead and cadmium were also performed in 89 and 175 women from these areas, respectively. In the contaminated areas, there were significantly fewer women with three or more pregnancies (39 vs. 52%) and deliveries at full term (35 vs. 44%) than in nearby villages with normal concentrations of these heavy metals, and the weight of preterm newborns was lower (1930 vs. 2225 g). Furthermore, hypertension was more common (15 vs. 22%) and of higher magnitude (mean blood pressure 140 vs. 129 mmHg) in the study group than in the control women. The mean blood concentrations of lead in the two groups. 675 and 621 micrograms/dl did not differ statistically, whereas the concentrations of cadmium of 29 and 25 micrograms/dl were significantly higher in the study than in the control group. There was a significant correlation between cadmium levels and number of preterm deliveries. These results suggest that cadmium and lead could be factors of importance in reproductive outcome.