Estimation of Cadmium Concentration in Blood Serum of Mothers and Umbilical Cord

Abstract

Determining the level of concentration of cadmium in the blood of the umbilical cord of neonatal and their mothers may serve as an indicator of the extent of the pollution of the environment with this element. It may also indicate the extent of the exposure to this element especially that this element has the capability of passing through placenta. This study aims at determining the concentration of (Cadmium, Zinc and Copper) and the concentration of Glutathione in the blood of the umbilical cord of neonatal and their mothers in Tikrit city and Arbeda town which is an agricultural town. For this study, 160 samples of mothers blood and of the umbilical cords of their neonatal were collected and 50 blood samples were collected as a control group. Metal elements were discovered in the blood of the mothers and their neonatal by using the atomic absorption spectrometer. The results of the current study showed that the rate of mothers and neonatal who have the cadmium in their blood was higher in Tikrit city than those in Arbeda town. The results also showed a significant decrease P<0.05 in the concentration of zinc and glutathione in the serum of pregnant women and the umbilical cord compared to the control group. An increase in copper concentration rate in the blood of pregnant women and umbilical cord compared to the control group.