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Select toxic metals status of pregnant women with history of pregnancy complications in Benin City, South-South Nigeria.
OTEBHI, G. E. & OSADOLOR, H. B.
Abstract
Toxic metals are part of the most important groups of environmental pollutants
that can bind to vital cellular components and interfere with their functions via inhalation,
foods, water etc. The serum levels of toxic metals (lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic) in
pregnant women with history of pregnancy complications, pregnant women without history of
pregnancy complication and non-pregnant women in Benin City, South – South Nigeria was
investigated in this paper, with total of 135 healthy women comprising of 45 pregnant
women with history of previous pregnancy complications, 45 pregnant women without
history of pregnancy complications and 45 non-pregnant women without history of pregnancy
complications (controls). Some demographic characteristics and 4ml of blood samples were
obtained from each subject for the analysis of lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic by
standard methods. Pregnant women with history of pregnancy complications recorded a
highly significant increase in the toxic metal (lead) mean value of 25.81μg/dl as against
23.70μg/dl for pregnant women without history of pregnancy complications and 11.23μg/dl
for non-pregnant (control) women without history of pregnancy complications as well as
significant increases in the mean values of other toxic metals (mercury, cadmium and arsenic)
compared with controls (p<0.001). The selected toxic metals (Pb, Hg, Cd and As) may be
involved in the development of pregnancy complications among pregnant women in Benin
City, South– South Nigeria. Lead in particular may pose threat to mothers and fetuses as its
mean values in the two groups of pregnant women were well above normal.
Keywords
Toxic metals; pregnant women; History of pregnancy complications
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