Lead and Iron Levels in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood in Basrah, Iraq

Authors

Balqees Kadhim Hasan, Department of Human Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq
Jafar Sadek Abdulazeez, Department of Pediatrics, Basrah Maternity and Children Hospital, Basrah Health Directorate, Basrah, Iraq
Meaad Kadhum Hassan, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Basrah, Basrah, IraqFollow
Hamid Jaddoah Abbas, Department of Biochemistry, Al-Zahraa Medical College, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq
Lamia Mustafa Al-Naama, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq

Abstract

Objectives: Lead can pass from a mother to her developing foetus and is associated with well-established risks for the foetus. This study aimed to evaluate maternal and cord iron and lead levels and study the association of maternal and cord blood lead levels (BLLs) with newborn anthropometric measurements. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Basra Maternity and Children Hospital, Basrah, Iraq, and included women and their newborns over the period from January through June 2023. Blood samples from mothers and umbilical cords were collected and sent to determine the complete blood count and lead and iron levels. Linear regression and Pearson correlation were used to assess the association of maternal and cord BLLs with different maternal and neonatal variables. Results: A total of 140 women and their newborns were included in this study. There was a significantly lower maternal haemoglobin (10.6 ± 1.4 g/dL) and serum iron (93.5 ± 44.8 μg/dL) levels compared to newborn levels (13.3 ± 1.8 g/dL and 135.0 ±
76.5 μg/dL, respectively; P <0.001). A significant negative correlation between maternal haemoglobin and cord BLLs (R2 = 0.12; P < 0.001) and a significant positive correlation between maternal and cord iron (B = 0.41; P < 0.05) levels and maternal BLLs with both cord iron (B = 4.78; P <0.05) and cord BLLs (R2 = 0.29; P <0.001) were reported. Furthermore, the Pearson correlation revealed a significant negative correlation between cord BLLs and infant birth weight (R2 = 0.06; P = 0.01). Conclusions: This study found that maternal BLLs were positively associated with both cord iron and cord BLLs. The cord BLL was negatively associated with maternal haemoglobin levels and infant birth weight. Preventive measures to reduce human lead exposure and monitor lead levels in pregnant women are important.

Publication Date

5-16-2025

First Page

319

Last Page

327

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Hasan, Balqees Kadhim; Abdulazeez, Jafar Sadek; Hassan, Meaad Kadhum; Abbas, Hamid Jaddoah; and Al-Naama, Lamia Mustafa (2025) "Lead and Iron Levels in Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood in Basrah, Iraq," Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal: Vol. 25: 319-327.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18295/2075-0528.2840