Select toxic metals status of pregnant women with history of pregnancy complications in Benin City, South-South Nigeria

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. © JASEM http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v20i1.1

Assessment of DNA damage in relation to heavy metal induced oxidative stress in females with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL)

“…Data on heavy metals investigated in the current report yielded interesting finding. Intriguingly, elevated levels of serum As and Sb in RPL group was observed in relation to control ( P < 0.001) and in line with earlier finding ( Otebhi and Osadolor, 2016 ). Furthermore, heavy metals investigated demonstrated significant positive correlation with 8-OHdG (DNA damage) and a significant negative correlation with total antioxidant status.…”

A unique investigation of thallium, tellurium, osmium, and other heavy metals in recurrent pregnancy loss: A novel approach

“…8 Increased levels of mercury in RPL found in the current study are similar to those in a previous report. 8 Data obtained in the current study are in accordance with a Turkish study, 28 but with some discrepancies. We found increased levels of cadmium and mercury in RPL cases compared with healthy controls.…”

“…At placental levels, mercury disrupts various physiologic events like amino acid transfer, placental oxygen consumption, enzyme activity, hormonal secretion, and membrane fluidity. 8 Increased levels of mercury in RPL found in the current study are similar to those in a previous report. 8 Data obtained in the current study are in accordance with a Turkish study, 28 but with some discrepancies.…”

“…Effects of heavy metal exposure can be acute or chronic 6,7 . Besides several health complications, the major threat of heavy metal poisoning is the risk of fertility/pregnancy loss following high exposures to these heavy metals 8,9 . A few important heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury are termed as endocrine disrupting compounds because they disrupt the endocrine system 10 .…”

Heavy Metal Mixture Exposure and Effects in Developing Nations: An Update

“…Blood samples were analyzed for heavy metals and results found indicated high levels of serum metals (Cd, Cr and Pb), which could cause recurrent spontaneous abortion. Additionally, Otebhi and Osadolor [136] reported a considerable increase in the blood toxic metals (Pb, Hg, Cd, and As) levels in pregnant women with a history of pregnancy complications compared with women who are also pregnant but without any record of pregnancy complications. Their findings were in conformity with other studies [135,137] where similar reports were closely related with spontaneous abortion.…”