Contents and localization of heavy metals in human placentae

The placenta was used as an exposure index for the risk evaluation of prenatal fetal chemical exposure. Full-term placenta samples collected at maternity hospitals in 4 regions of different environmental pollutants and traffic density were examined for lead and cadmium contents using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The results showed similar lead contents in placental samples from all selected regions, except for a small town with a lower traffic density. The findings may implicate traffic-related environmental lead pollution, rather than industrial sources. The highest concentration of cadmium was shown to be in the samples collected from the region with the highest proportion of smoking mothers (including passive smoking). Simultaneously, the placental samples were processed histochemically to determine the location of lead in the placental tissue (using light microscopy). The degree of placental metal contamination was done semiquantitatively, and the difference between the rural and industrial region was statistically compared. Parallel quantitative AAS analyses and semiquantitative histochemical lead analyses of human placental samples revealed analogous results regarding the level of placental contamination with metals.