Toxic and essential elements in blood from delivering women in selected areas of Sao Paulo State, Brazil

This study was designed to evaluate the degree of environmental contamination and possible exposure of pregnant women to toxic elements in seven selected areas of São Paulo State, Brazil. The overall median concentration of Mo in maternal blood was 0.53 μg L−1, highly significant differences found between sites (p < 0.0001). Cd was found to be low overall − 0.09 μg L−1 (0.01–0.58 μg L−1) – with mothers from the Coastal and Rural 1 sites having the highest levels (p < 0.016). Median Hg concentration was 0.60 μg L−1 (0.06 μg L−1–4.35 μg L−1); median Pb level was 16.2 μg L−1 (3.5–57.7 μg L−1) and no differences between sites were observed for both metals. Median Mn level was 16.7 μg L−1 (7.0–39.7 μg L−1), being highest in Urban 2 site (p<0.016). Concentrations of maternal Co were found to range between 0.06 μg L−1 and 1.1 μg L−1 (median 0.25 μg L−1) and As level was 0.60 μg L−1 (0.10–3.8 μg L−1) overall, with no statistical significance between sites for Co and As. Median Se concentrations were found to be 64 μg L−1 (36–233 μg L−1), with the highest median levels found in Urban 3 site; site differences were statistically significant...