A Cohort Study On The Effect Of Environmental Lead Pollution On Reproductive Process And Development In Offspring

Objective To study the effect of environmental lead pollution on reproductive process and development in offspring ( time to pregnancy, pregnant outcome, growth and development of fetus in uterus, physical growth and intelligence development of offspring).Method Prospective cohort study was followed-up among the newly-wedding couples with the intention to pregnancy and living around a lead and zinc smelt factory from Dec. 1996 to Dec. 1998 until delivery, then their offspring. Meanwhile, we assayed contents of lead, cadmium, zinc, copper and calcium in baseline blood, mid-pregnancy blood, umbilical cord blood, blood of infants.Result (1)Geometric mean of Female BBLL and male BBLL and infants BLL were 62.71 +2.18 u g/1,72.93+2.06 u g/l,130.39+ 1.88 y g/1 respectively, and the proportion that BLL were higher than 100u g/1 were 32.38%.38.09%,43.03% respectively, infants BLL increased gradually with age. BLL were higher for boys than for girls.(2)The distribution of TTP between high and low lead groups of female baseline blood was significant different. Cox regression analysis showed fecundity discreased when the female BBLL over 100 u g/1. Birth lenght of neonate, the Z score for infant height and chest circumference, growth rate in stature of infants. DQ of adaptive behavior in high group is lower than low lead group in female baseline blood. (3)Birth weight and head circumference of neonate. the Z score for infant chest circumference, growth rate in stature of infant. DQ of infant adaptive behavior in high lead group is lower than low lead group in male baseline blood. Male BBLL of infertility in 1 year is higher than fertility. (4)The single correlative and the multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that there was negative association between physical indicators of neonate .theZ score for infant physical growth indicators and growth rate in stature of infant, DQ of 5 infant behavior and different blood lead level.Conclusion: There are adverse effect of environmental lead pollution on fecundity, pregnancy outcomes, physical growth and intelligence development in offspring.