[Evaluation of transplacental gradient for cadmium and lead].

The aim of the study was to determine the concentration of lead and cadmium in blood of 83 pregnant women from Szczecin and in umbilical cord blood of their newborns. Mean concentration of lead in women was 2.56 micrograms/dl and in umbilical cord blood was 2.01 micrograms/dl. The mean concentration of cadmium in women was 0.056 microgram/dl and umbilical cord blood was 0.21 microgram/dl. A positive correlation was noted between lead concentration in maternal and umbilical cord blood (r = 0.59). The similar correlation between cadmium concentration in maternal blood and umbilical cord blood was observed. The transplacental gradient for lead was 78.52%, and for cadmium--37.5% respectively.