Lead content of fetal tissues after maternal intoxication

A female employee was exposed to lead dust for 8 h daily from 4. 5. 1982 to 20. 5. 1982. During this time conception occurred (1st day of last menses 4. 5. 82). Acute symptoms of lead intoxication were not observed in this subject but were in other employees. Measurements of lead content were started after the end of exposure and continued for 6 months until normal values were obtained. Because of the half-life of nearly 20 days for lead elimination from blood the estimated body burden at the end of exposure was about 1200 ppb. The fetal tissue samples contained between 0.4 (brain) and 7.9 (liver) micrograms lead/g dry weight. The fetal lead was mainly stored in bone, blood and liver. From the results given a delayed elimination of fetal lead is suggested.