"Preliminary study of maternal blood lead level in cases of abortion"

Abstract

Abortion is defined as termination of pregnancy by any means before the fetus is sufficiently developed to survive i.e. before 20 weeks gestation based on the first day of the last menstrual period. (J) About 15 - 20 % of pregnancies terminate in abortion. About 80 % of spontaneous pregnancy losses occur in the first trimester and are called early abortion (3), the rest occurs between the thirteen and twenty week and are called late abortions. (J)

Abortion can be classified into two main groups, either

spontaneous or induced abortion. Spontaneous abortion can be further sub classified into five subgroups; threatened, inevitable, incomplete, missed and recurrent abortion. <7l

The etiology of abortion may be fetal, maternal or paternal Environmental pollutants play a definite role in the etiology of abortion. Lead is one of the environmental pollutants with a long history as a health hazard. <49) Man is exposed to lead through a number of sources either

occupationally 161>,lead paint 163

air pollution 165

water 1671

s il 168 or

food. 169)

Lead is absorbed mainly from the gastrointestinal tract and lungs; from

61

blood, it diffuses into soft tissues then into bone. <

l It is excreted via the

bile into the small intestine and hence eliminated in feces. <781