On the occasion of two international conferences on environment and health held in Barcelona (Spain) and Cincinatti (United States), the National Institute for Public Health Surveillance (Invs) presented the first results of the perinatal component of the national biomonitoring program. This program monitors the presence and effects in the body of chemicals, including environmental pollutants.
This perinatal component of the program assesses the degree of exposure of pregnant women (and therefore of their unborn baby) to the three pollutants: lead, mercury and bisphenol A.
Lead exposure
Exposure to lead was estimated through a bioassay (blood lead level) in samples of cord blood collected from 1968 mothers at the time of delivery.
Lead was detected in all samples, with an average concentration of 8.30 μg / L. Levels lower than those measured in previous studies carried out in France and abroad. “They are thus part of the trend of decreasing blood lead levels observed in France and Europe since the 1990s, following in particular the ban on leaded petrol” adds the Invs.
Mercury exposure
Exposure to mercury was estimated through a bioassay in hair samples taken from 1,799 new mothers in the days following childbirth.
Almost 98% of them had detectable concentrations of mercury in the hair, with an average of 0.40 μg / g of hair. Here too, these levels are lower or equivalent to those measured in previous studies carried out in France and in Europe. However, they are higher than those measured in the United States. “This gap can potentially be explained by different consumption habits seafood which are the main factors of exposure to mercury “explains Invs.
Exposure to bisphenol A
Exposure to BPA was estimated through a biological assay of urine samples taken from 1764 mothers upon admission to the maternity ward.
More than 90% of them had detectable concentrations of BPA with an average of 0.70 μg / L. These results are lower than those measured in previous studies carried out in France and abroad. “A decrease mainly due to the gradual substitution of BPA in plastics and resins in contact with foodstuffs “according to Invs.
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