Abstract
Prenatal and early-life exposure to lead (Pb) is hypothesized to have adverse effects on childhood health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prenatal exposure to Pb and its adverse effects on mothers and their infants who are residents of industrial (exposed) and domestic areas (referents) in Karachi, Pakistan. The biological samples (scalp hair and blood) of mother-infants pairs were analyzed for Pb levels by atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave-assisted acid digestion method. The Pb levels in scalp hair and blood samples of exposed mothers were found in the range of 7.52-8.70 mu g/g and 115-270 mu g/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than those values obtained for referent mothers (p<0.001). The Pb levels in the blood (umbilical cord) and hair of neonates of exposed mother that were found in the range of 83-178 mu g/L and 4.95-7.23 mu g/g, respectively, were significantly higher than the obtained values of referent neonates (p>0.001). The correlation between maternal and cord blood of both groups was found in the range of 0.708-0.724 (p<0.01). It was observed that there were higher Pb burdens in exposed mothers and their infants as compared to referent mothers-neonates.