Development of a New Method for the Determination of Manganese, Cadmium, Mercury and Lead in Whole Blood and Amniotic Fluid by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry
Environmental exposure to metals among women, revealed
their adverse effects on pregnancy. During this stage, blood levels
of some metals increase so research on heavy metals transference
from the mother’s blood to the developing foetus is of special interest
and much attention has been paid to this matter. The amniotic fluid
can be considered as a valuable marker of this prenatal exposure to
exogenous factors. The aim of this study was to develop a method
for the simultaneous determination of Mn, Cd, Hg, and Pb in whole
maternal blood and amniotic fluid by ICP-MS. Strategies were given
to minimise memory effects related to mercury and two widespread
digestion procedures (open-vessel and microwave-assisted) were
compared. Several quality controls, such as methodological and
reagent blanks, spiked samples and duplicates were used to test
the goodness of the developed method. Once optimised, the
method was applied for the monitoring of Mn, Cd, Hg and Pb in 15
maternal blood and amniotic fluid samples obtained at delivery after
informed consent. This study establishes that heavy metals pass into
and accumulate in amniotic fluid and maternal blood. Thus, mean
concentrations of Mn were similar in the two biological fluids studied,
21.6 ng/mL in maternal blood and 20.5 ng/mL in amniotic fluid. Mean
Cd and mercury levels in blood and amniotic fluid were 1.3 and 6.3
ng/mL and 3.4 and 3.8 ng/mL, respectively. Concentrations of Pb were
16.4 ng/mL in blood and 13.7 ng/mL in amniotic fluid. Further studies
are needed to evaluate the long-term health effects derived from this
exposure.Plan Propio of the University of SevilleFundación Farmacéutica Avenzoa