[Effects of amalgam fillings on the mercury concentrations in amniotic fluid and breast milk]. / Der Einfluss von Amalgamfüllungen auf die Quecksilberkonzentrationen in Fruchtwasser und Muttermilch.

Human amniotic fluid was gained from 95 pregnant women by amniocentesis (group 1) and from 20 women during delivery (group 2). The concentrations of inorganic mercury in amniotic fluid as assessed directly by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry (CV-AAS) averaged 0.29 +/- 0.1 microgram/l in group 1 and 0.86 +/- 0.25 microgram/l in group 2. Surface areas of dental amalgam fillings were also estimated in these women and ranged between 0 and 930 mm2. There was no correlation between the surface area of maternal amalgam fillings and the concentrations of inorganic mercury in amniotic fluid (r = -0.122 and -0.069, respectively). Furthermore, no positive correlation existed between amalgam fillings and the concentration of total mercury in maternal blood (4.48 +/- 2.33 micrograms/l) and in neonatal blood (3.28 +/- 1.57 micrograms/l) as measured by CV-AAS in group 2 (r = -0.4 and -0.12, respectively). Concentrations of total mercury were also measured by CV-AAS in the breast milk of 86 women, five to ten days after delivery. These concentrations averaged 1.9 +/- 1.6 micrograms/l and were also not significantly correlated to the maternal amalgam surface areas (r = 0.188). In conclusion, maternal amalgam fillings are of no importance for the mercury load of the fetus and the neonate.

Effect of smoking on cadmium and lead concentrations in human amniotic fluid.

The amniotic fluids of 155 pregnant women, non-smokers (n = 128) and smokers (n = 27), were investigated on their cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) concentrations. The mean +/- s range of Cd in the amniotic fluid of non-smokers amounted to 2.58 +/- 1.36 ng/l, that of smokers to 7.29 +/- 2.39 micrograms/l. Moreover, there was a correlation between the extent of daily cigarette consumption and Cd levels. With Pb, higher concentrations were found ranging between 23.98 +/- 9.41 ng/l for non-smokers and 21.53 +/- 7.16 micrograms/l for smokers. No correlations were seen between age, week of pregnancy, blood pressure, disorders of pregnancy and the amniotic Cd or Pb concentrations. Thus, the maternal and fetal risks of the higher Cd levels in the amniotic fluid of smoking women remain unanswered.

[Cadmium and lead concentrations in the amniotic fluid of pregnant smokers and non-smokers]. / Cadmium- und Bleikonzen-trationen im Fruchtwasser von rauchenden und nicht-rauchenden Gravida.

Many studies showed the unhealthy effect of smoking on the fetus. Several mechanisms for the unfavorable effect are discussed. In the last few years interest has been shown in the occurrence of heavy metals such as cadmium and lead in smoke. In animal experiments high doses of cadmium showed mutations, teratogenicity and low doses showed retardation of fetal growth. Amniotic fluid examinations of smoking and non-smoking pregnant women showed that there is no barrier to cadmium from the placenta. A direct correlation between cigarette smoking and cadmium concentration in the amniotic fluid was found. Cadmium was discussed as a reason for hypertension. But this was not verified in our study. There were no correlations between the cadmium and lead content of amniotic fluid and the gestational age, and disturbances of the pregnancy nor a correlation to the incidence of abortions. The lead concentration in the amniotic fluid of smokers and non-smokers showed no significant difference. This is attributed to the ubiquitous exposition to lead with increasing pollution of the environment. The relatively small additional amounts of lead in cigarettes do not increase the amount of lead in the amniotic fluid.