Blood Lead Levels Among Pregnant Women: Historical Versus Contemporaneous Exposures

Marie Lynn Miranda, Sharon E. Edwards, Geeta K. Swamy, Christopher J. Paul and Brian Neelon
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Marie Lynn Miranda: Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Box 90328, Durham, NC 27708, USA
Sharon E. Edwards: Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Box 90328, Durham, NC 27708, USA
Geeta K. Swamy: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, 2608 Erwin Rd, Suite 200 Durham, NC 27705, USA
Christopher J. Paul: Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Box 90328, Durham, NC 27708, USA
Brian Neelon: Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Box 90328, Durham, NC 27708, USA

IJERPH, 2010, vol. 7, issue 4, 1-12

Abstract: Blood lead among pregnant women, even at modest levels, may impair offspring cognitive development. We examine whether blood lead levels (BLLs) result from current versus historic exposures, among a cohort of pregnant women. Cumulative logit models were used to characterize the relationship between maternal risk factors and higher BLLs. Maternal blood lead levels more likely result from lead remobilization from historic versus contemporaneous exposures. Even if all lead sources were abated immediately, women and their fetuses would experience lead exposure for decades. This work emphasizes the importance of addressing sources of environmental lead exposure in the United States and internationally.

Keywords: blood lead; pregnancy; birth outcomes; lead exposure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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