Concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, and zinc in human placentas from two cities in Ukraine. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Ukraine is a highly industrialized country with major environmental problems and deteriorating reproductive health. Heavy metals are known reproductive toxins; a study was undertaken to determine whether they were present at sufficient concentrations to be playing a major role in these health problems. Placental concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, and zinc were determined in 200 women from the general population of two urban areas of Ukraine, Kyiv and Dniprodzerzhinsk. Arsenic was detected in only 5% of the samples, lead in 22%, and mercury in 28%. Cadmium was detected in almost all samples, with a median of 5.2 ng/g. Concentrations of lead, mercury, and cadmium were low compared to those reported elsewhere, while zinc and copper concentrations were comparable.

published proceedings

  • J Toxicol Environ Health A

author list (cited authors)

  • Zadorozhnaja, T. D., Little, R. E., Miller, R. K., Mendel, N. A., Taylor, R. J., Presley, B. J., & Gladen, B. C.

citation count

  • 64

complete list of authors

  • Zadorozhnaja, TD||Little, RE||Miller, RK||Mendel, NA||Taylor, RJ||Presley, BJ||Gladen, BC

publication date

  • January 2000