OPEN Correlates of prenatal heavy metal

Overview

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metals (molybdenum, manganese, cobalt, copper, zinc, and selenium) in cord blood samples (N = 74).
indicating prenatal exposure. Lead (md: 5.45 µg/L, p95: 22.4 µg/L) and mercury (md: 0.7 µg/L, p95:
2.01 µg/L) were among the highest detected toxicants. Essential metals such as zinc, copper, and
The mean age of participants is 31.9 ± 3.91, with a minimum age of 24 and a maximum of 42. Most women were
between 30 and 33 years old (47.95%) (Table 1). The mean BMI classification indicated that most participants
(64.79%) were of normal weight (18.5–24.9 kg/m²), while 29.58% were overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25) and
In terms of education level, 41.67% of women held a bachelor’s degree, 40.28% had a master’s degree, 16.67%
had a high school diploma or lower, and 1.39% had a doctorate. Male spouses had similar educational levels, with
46.83% holding a bachelor’s degree, 30.56% having a master’s degree, 22.22% completing high school or lower,
and 1.39% holding a doctorate. Concerning employment status, 75% of women were employed, with 72.73%
working full-time. In contrast, 95.83% of male spouses were employed, with 66.67% in full-time positions and
28.99% self-employed. Household monthly income data revealed that 48.61% of participants reported earnings
2.78% less than $800. Additionally, 16.67% of participants preferred not to disclose their income. Regarding
financial contribution to the household, 54.17% of couples reported sharing financial responsibilities equally,
while 43.06% identified the husband as the primary breadwinner. Social status, assessed using the MacArthur
Subjective Social Status Scale, showed that 51.39% of participants rated their status as medium within their
community and 45.83% as high. On the other hand, 44.44% perceived their social status compared to the rest of
the country as high, 38.89% as medium, and 13.89% as low.
Table 2 presents descriptive statistics for the toxic and essential heavy metals measured in 74 cord blood
Normal weight (18.5–24.9) 46 (64.79%)
Women’s level of education (N = 73) Male spouse level of education (N = 73)
Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent 30/72 (41.67%) Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent 33/72 (46.83%)
Master’s degree or its equivalent 29/72 (40.28%) Master’s degree or its equivalent 22/72 (30.56%)
Doctorate degree or its equivalent 1/72 (1.39%) Doctorate degree or its equivalent 1/72 (1.39%)
Women’s employment status (N = 73) Male spouse employment status (N = 73)
Total household monthly income in LBP (N = 72)
MacArthur subjective social status score (N = 72)
in 79.9% and 98.6% of samples, respectively. Among toxic metals, mercury (mean = 0.83 µg/L), chromium
(mean = 0.79 µg/L) and lead (mean = 0.72 µg/dL) had the highest average concentrations. For essential HMs,
zinc (mean = 1948 µg/L), copper (mean = 534 µg/L), and selenium (mean = 114.99 µg/L) were most abundant.
Heavy metal (LOD) (LOQ) frequency (n,%) p50 p90 range (p25-p75) Min - max Mean (SD)
Toxic heavy metals (N = 74)
Arsenic (µg/L) 0.007 0.023 74 (100%) 0.237 1.11 0.112–0.477 0.056–4.62 0.486 (0.782)
Chromium (µg/L) 0.09 0.3 74 (100%) 0.59 0.79 0.53–0.65 0.44-15 0.7897 (1.6659)
Nickel (µg/L) 0.04 0.13 74 (100%) 0.55 0.74 0.24–0.55 0.1–12.7 0.6264 (1.4635)
Cadmium (µg/L) 0.007 0.023 59 (79.9%) 0.009 0.16 0.007–0.013 0.0035–0.042 0.1038 (0.0066)
Mercury (µg/L) 0.006 0.02 74 (100%) 0.71 1.55 0.455–1.13 0.155–2.41 0.8343 (0.5233)
Thallium (µg/L) 0.0009 0.003 74 (100%) 0.0082 0.012 0.071 − 0.0106 0.0045–0.0334
Cobalt (µg/L) 0.005 0.017 74 (100%) 0.122 0.234 0.097–0.169 0.044–0.574 0.1479 (0.0821)
Selenium (µg/L) 0.06 0.2 74 (100%) 114 133 106–126 85.8–144 114.99 (13.075)
Table 2. Descriptive statistics of heavy metal concentrations in cord blood (N = 74).
metal concentrations in cord blood samples (Table 3). Several toxic metals were linked to household exposures.

Methods (brief)

metals (molybdenum, manganese, cobalt, copper, zinc, and selenium) in cord blood samples (N = 74).
health-related, and dietary factors. All toxic heavy metals were detected in cord blood samples,
samples. All metals were detected in all of the samples except for cadmium and antimony, which were detected
in 79.9% and 98.6% of samples, respectively. Among toxic metals, mercury (mean = 0.83 µg/L), chromium
Heavy metal (LOD) (LOQ) frequency (n,%) p50 p90 range (p25-p75) Min - max Mean (SD)
metal concentrations in cord blood samples (Table 3). Several toxic metals were linked to household exposures.
samples from Lebanese newborns and identifies several sociodemographic, health-related, and dietary factors
of fetal exposure. All tested metals were detected in every blood sample, except Antimony and Cadmium, which
The median concentration of Thallium in our cord blood samples was 0.008 µg/L, lower than concentrations
during pregnancy. The sample size was modest and not fully representative of Lebanon, which may reduce
respiratory distress syndrome. Cord blood samples collected at delivery were used to assess prenatal exposure,
Within the EELI study, demographic, environmental, health, and socioeconomic data were collected using
including cord blood, venous blood, meconium and colostrum samples, were obtained prenatally and at delivery.
Sample collection and analysis
Cord blood samples were collected immediately after delivery using standardized procedures developed prior
consistent collection and handling practices, limited sample manipulation, immediate transport on ice, and
storage at − 80 °C until analysis to minimize contamination. As such, samples were drawn into heparinized
collection tubes and transported on ice to the research laboratory within 6 h of delivery. Upon arrival, samples

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Commit	Date	Change	Description
b01ec52c	2026-08-04	major	2 sections added
d49e450f	2026-08-03	major	5 sections added; narrative text revised