Lead readily crosses the placental barrier and concentrates in the developing infant's organs where it may damage the developing nervous system. The primary objective of the research under this contract is to investigate the relative contribution to the infant in utero of mother's current environmental lead compared with mobilization of lead from maternal stores, especially bone lead. Investigating the stable lead isotopic profile (i.e., ratio of 204/206/207 and 208 lead) of environmental lead exposures concurrent with pregnancy, and contrasting these lead profiles with those of lead exposures that occurred earlier in the pregnant woman's life makes it possible to separate lead sources. Such profiles may be distinctly characteristic of particular geographic locations, as occurs at several locations in Australia; e.g., Port Pirie and Tasmania. It is possible to differentiate whether the lead reaching the fetus is coming predominately from current sources or previous body stores. In Phase I of this work, the isotopic profile of stable lead in these Australian locations will be characterized and the number of women ages 20-35 who move between these locations will be determined. If isotopic ratios are sufficiently different given the number of women potentially available as subjects, Phase II will investigate the biokinetics of lead during pregnancy to determine the source of lead to the developing infant. The infants will also be evaluated during the first six months of life to determine the contribution of maternal lead sources for the infant.

Project Start
1990-06-30
Project End
1991-07-29
Budget Start
1992-07-16
Budget End
1993-01-30
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Adelaide
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Adelaide
State
Country
Australia
Zip Code
5034
Gulson, Brian; Taylor, Alan; Eisman, John (2016) Bone remodeling during pregnancy and post-partum assessed by metal lead levels and isotopic concentrations. Bone 89:40-51
Gulson, Brian (2008) Stable lead isotopes in environmental health with emphasis on human investigations. Sci Total Environ 400:75-92
Gulson, Brian L; Mizon, Karen J; Korsch, Michael J et al. (2006) Low blood lead levels do not appear to be further reduced by dietary supplements. Environ Health Perspect 114:1186-92
Gulson, Brian L; Mizon, Karen J; Korsch, Michael J et al. (2003) Mobilization of lead from human bone tissue during pregnancy and lactation--a summary of long-term research. Sci Total Environ 303:79-104
Gulson, B L; Mizon, K J; Palmer, J M et al. (2001) Longitudinal study of daily intake and excretion of lead in newly born infants. Environ Res 85:232-45
Gulson, B L; Mizon, K J; Korsch, M J et al. (2001) Dietary intakes of selected elements from longitudinal 6-day duplicate diets for pregnant and nonpregnant subjects and elemental concentrations of breast milk and infant formula. Environ Res 87:160-74
Gulson, B L; Mizon, K J; Palmer, J M et al. (2000) Urinary lead isotopes during pregnancy and postpartum indicate no preferential partitioning of endogenous lead into plasma. J Lab Clin Med 136:236-42
Gulson, B L; Mizon, K J; Korsch, M J et al. (2000) Limited seasonality effects on blood lead for a small cohort of female adults and children. Sci Total Environ 253:119-26
Gulson, B L; Mizon, K J; Palmer, J M et al. (2000) Urinary excretion of lead during pregnancy and postpartum. Sci Total Environ 262:49-55
Gulson, B L; Mahaffey, K R; Jameson, C W et al. (1999) Impact of diet on lead in blood and urine in female adults and relevance to mobilization of lead from bone stores. Environ Health Perspect 107:257-63

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