| Summary: | Human exposure to lead, a persistent inorganic metal, can pose a significant risk to health and can arise from several sources e.g. lead-based paint, soil, dust, water pipes, and traditional cosmetics/remedies. A principal concern of lead exposure is for the foetus because without noticeable symptoms in the child lead can lower IQ, Standard Assessment Test (SATs) scores, and may increase the involvement in crime. The aim of this study was to evaluate lead exposure in South Asian infants. The hypothesis was that, living in the same environment, the South Asian 'mother-foetus unit' is more exposed to lead than white counterparts, because of their cultural orientation and lifestyle. To assess mothers' exposure to lead, a lifestyle questionnaire survey was compiled and completed by all participants (South Asians, n=98; white, n=38). Meconium (newborn's first stool) was chosen · as the biomatrix for measuring lead, because meconium accumulates throughout pregnancy and is likely to reflect the transfer of chemicals across the placenta. Matched samples of maternal antenatal blood and cord-blood were also collected with meconium to measure lead by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry. Measured lead concentrations in blood were below the current tolerable threshold of 5 I-Ig/dl. Significant differences were observed between participant groups in the lead levels in blood and meconium (p<O.0005); while a strong positive correlation existed between lead in the two biomatrices (r=O.65, df=97, p<O.0005). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed significant associations between lifestyle variables and lead in antenatal blood and meconium, specific to the bio-matrix being considered. Based on these findings, policy recommendations were developed for South Asian women aimed at reducing lead exposure of the foetus. Key issues on which to raise awareness were dietary habits, taking multivitamins and calcium supplements during pregnancy, and from where they purchased vegetables, canned food, and cosmetics.
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