Lead, Cadmium, Copper and Zinc Concentrations in Blood and Hair of Mothers of Children with Locomotor System Malformations

    January 2003 in “ Polish Journal of Environmental Studies ”
    Janusz Popko, S Olszewśki, Katarzyna Hukałowicz, Renata Markiewicz‐Żukowska, Maria H. Borawska, Paweł Szeparowicz
    TLDR Higher lead levels were found in mothers of children with malformations.
    The study compared cadmium, copper, and zinc concentrations in the blood and hair of 51 women who delivered children with locomotor system malformations and 46 women who gave birth to healthy children, finding no statistically significant differences. However, lead concentrations were notably higher in the blood and hair of women with affected children (109.63 μg/L and 1.31 μg/g) compared to the control group (66.45 μg/L and 0.58 μg/g). After 12 months, lead levels in 17 women from the affected group decreased to 60.73 μg/L in blood and 1.20 μg/g in hair. A significant correlation was observed between lead and copper levels in the mothers' hair.
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