Abstract:
Objectives To analyse the exposure and to explore the influening factors on the levels of Ni, Co, Cu, As and Se in maternal and cord blood.
Methods A total of 60 pairs of maternal blood and cord blood samples were collected in May 2011 to October 2011 both in a polluted area with higher concentrations of Ni, Co, Cu, As and Se and in a control area with lower concentrations of these elements. The concentrations of elements were determined by ICP-MS; the relationship of these elements between maternal and cord blood was also analyzed. The influencing factors were collected by questionnaires and analyzed.
Results The concentration of Ni, As and Se of cord blood samples in the polluted area and the concentration of Ni of cord blood samples in the control area were significantly higher than those in maternal blood (P < 0. 01). The concentration of Cu in cord blood samples were significantly lower than those in the maternal blood both in polluted and control area (P < 0. 05). There were positive correlations in the concentrations of Co, Cu and Se between maternal and cord blood in the polluted and control area (P < 0. 05). The multiple regression analysis showed that the area of living, length of local residency, physical status during pregnancy and the profession of spouse might be the factors affecting the concentration of blood Ni, Co, Cu, As and Se.
Conclusions Pregnant women and fetuses living in the polluted area surveyed in this study have been exposed to heavy elements. The main influencing factors of the exposure in the mothers and fetuses were the length of living in polluted area and the profession of their spouses.