Reproductive System & Sexual Disorders: Current Research
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-038X
ISSN: 2161-038X
Shimaa M Motawei and Hossam E Gouda
Mansoura University, Egypt
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, NY, USA
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Reprod Syst Sex Disord
Heavy metal toxicity is a prevalent health problem particularly in developing countries. Mercury and cadmium are toxic elements that have no physiologic functions in human body. They should not be present in the human body by any concentration. Copper, on the other hand, is one of the elements that are essential for normal cell functions and a deficiency as well as an excess of which can cause adverse health effects. This study was done to test blood levels of mercury, cadmium, and copper in pregnant women in Dakahlia, Egypt. Using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, blood levels of cadmium, mercury, and copper were measured in 150 pregnant women attending to the antenatal care in Mansoura University Hospital in Dakahlia governorate, Egypt. The mean �?± SD of blood mercury, cadmium, and copper levels were found to be far from their levels in the population surveys carried in developed countries like United States of America (USA) and Canada. Heavy metal intoxication and accumulation is a major health hazard. Developing countries, including Egypt, still lack many of the regulatory policies and legislations to control sources of pollution exposure. This should be dealt with in order to solve this problem and limit its health consequences.
Email: Shimaa_motawei@yahoo.com