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

Abstract

Cadmium, copper and zinc concentrations in the blood and hair of 51 women after delivery of children with locomotor system malformations (Group I) and, as a control, 46 women who gave birth to healthy children (Group II) were different but none of the values were statistically significant. However, lead concentrations in the blood and the hair of women from the Group I (median: 109.63 μg/L and 1.31 μg/g) were notably higher than in Group II (median: 66.45 μg/L and 0.58 μg/g, respectively). Maternal lead concentrations in the blood of 17 women from Group I decreased to 60.73 μg/L, and in their hair to 1.20 μg/g after 12 months. We observed a significant correlation between lead concentrations and copper levels in the hair of the mothers.