Association between Blood Lead Levels and Delta-Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase in Pregnant Women

Osmel La-Llave-León, Edna M. Méndez-Hernández, Francisco X. Castellanos-Juárez, Eloísa Esquivel-Rodríguez, Fernando Vázquez-Alaniz, Ada Sandoval-Carrillo, Gonzalo García-Vargas, Jaime Duarte-Sustaita, Jorge L. Candelas-Rangel and José M. Salas-Pacheco
Additional contact information
Osmel La-Llave-León: Institute of Scientific Research, Juarez University of the State of Durango, AV. Universidad y Fanny Anitua s/n. Col. Centro, C. P. 34000 Durango, Mexico
Edna M. Méndez-Hernández: Institute of Scientific Research, Juarez University of the State of Durango, AV. Universidad y Fanny Anitua s/n. Col. Centro, C. P. 34000 Durango, Mexico
Francisco X. Castellanos-Juárez: Institute of Scientific Research, Juarez University of the State of Durango, AV. Universidad y Fanny Anitua s/n. Col. Centro, C. P. 34000 Durango, Mexico
Eloísa Esquivel-Rodríguez: Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Juarez University of the State of Durango, Cuauhtemoc, 223 North, Col. Centro, C. P. 34000 Durango, Mexico
Fernando Vázquez-Alaniz: General Hospital 450, Health Services, C. P. 34000 Durango, Mexico
Ada Sandoval-Carrillo: Institute of Scientific Research, Juarez University of the State of Durango, AV. Universidad y Fanny Anitua s/n. Col. Centro, C. P. 34000 Durango, Mexico
Gonzalo García-Vargas: Faculty of Health Sciences, Juarez University of the State of Durango, Gomez Palacio la Salle 1 y Sixto Ugalde, s/n, Col. Revolucion, C. P. 35050 Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
Jaime Duarte-Sustaita: Faculty of Health Sciences, Juarez University of the State of Durango, Gomez Palacio la Salle 1 y Sixto Ugalde, s/n, Col. Revolucion, C. P. 35050 Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
Jorge L. Candelas-Rangel: Faculty of Health Sciences, Juarez University of the State of Durango, Gomez Palacio la Salle 1 y Sixto Ugalde, s/n, Col. Revolucion, C. P. 35050 Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
José M. Salas-Pacheco: Institute of Scientific Research, Juarez University of the State of Durango, AV. Universidad y Fanny Anitua s/n. Col. Centro, C. P. 34000 Durango, Mexico

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-10

Abstract: Blood lead levels (BLLs) and delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity are considered biomarkers of lead exposure and lead toxicity, respectively. The present study was designed to investigate the association between BLLs and ALAD activity in pregnant women from Durango, Mexico. A total of 633 pregnant women aged 13–43 years participated in this study. Blood lead was measured by a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. ALAD activity was measured spectrophotometrically. Mean blood lead was 2.09 ± 2.34 µg/dL; and 26 women (4.1%) crossed the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended level of 5 µg/dL. ALAD activity was significantly lower in women with levels of lead ?5 µg/dL compared to those with BLLs < 5 µg/dL ( p = 0.002). To reduce the influence of extreme values on the statistical analysis, BLLs were analyzed by quartiles. A significant negative correlation between blood lead and ALAD activity was observed in the fourth quartile of BLLs (r = ?0.113; p < 0.01). Among women with blood lead concentrations ?2.2 µg/dL ALAD activity was negatively correlated with BLLs (r = ?0.413; p < 0.01). Multiple linear regression demonstrated that inhibition of ALAD in pregnant women may occur at levels of lead in blood above 2.2 µg/dL.

Keywords: blood lead levels; delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity; pregnant women; lead exposure; lead toxicity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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