Lead Level in Umbilical Cord Blood and its Effects on Newborns Anthropometry

High concentration of blood lead is accompanied by adverse health effects on growth of foetus and the newborn.

The aim of this study was to determine umbilical cord blood lead level and its relationship with birth weight, length and head circumference of the newborns in Abadan, Iran.

In this cross-sectional study, 3 ml blood was collected from the umbilical cord vein in 147 newborns, immediately after the birth. Blood lead was measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Data collection instruments included demographic questionnaire (age of mother, gestational age, newborn gender, job and education of mother) and also data registration form (umbilical cord blood lead concentration, weight, length, and head circumference of newborn). Data was analyzed with SPSS software version 16.0.

The mean of umbilical cord blood lead was determined 0.65±0.32 µg/dl (0.3-1.35 µg/dl). The decrease of birth weight with increased blood lead level was small and was not statistically significant. There was reverse significant correlation between umbilical cord blood lead level and birth length and head circumference. There was no significant correlation between blood lead and other variables such as age, weight, education and job of mother and gestational age.

Umbilical blood lead level was determined <5 µg/ dl. Excess of umbilical cord blood lead caused decreasing birth weight, length and head circumference of the newborns.