Effect of Passive Smoking in Pregnancy on Blood Lead Level and Auditory Development of Newborn / 环境与健康杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To understand whether passive-smoking during pregnancy is related to the level of intrauterine lead exposure and the development of auditory. Methods 105 pregnant women and their newborn who met the requirement of the investigation through questionnaire were divided into the control group and the exposure group (including heavy group and slight group).The umbilical cord blood lead level was used to assess the intrauterine exposure of fetus, the 3rd-day positive rate of otoacoustic emission (OAE) was used as the indicator of the damage rate of auditory. Results The geometrics mean of the umbilical cord blood lead level and the positive rate of OAE were significantly higher in the research groups (33.88 ?g/L and 31.88%) compared with the control group (21.38 ?g/L and 11.11%). A positive correlation existed between the blood lead level of the mother and that of the newborn. Conclusion Passive smoking in pregnancy can increase the umbilical cord blood lead level and have an adverse effect on the auditory development of newborn.The blood lead level of pregnant women can be used as an indicator of intrauterine lead exposure of fetus.