Lactation and lead body burden turnover: A pilot study in Mexico

A pilot study was conducted in Morelos, Mexico in March 1999 to assess the body burden of lead in 24 Mexican women of childbearing age. Lead levels we re measured in whole blood and at three bone sites: two primarily trabecula r (calcaneus and patella) and one primarily cortical (tibia). Demographic a nd reproductive characteristics of the women and potential sources of lead exposure were gathered by a direct interview, An inverse relationship was n oted between months of lactation and age-adjusted calcaneus lead level (P = 0.001). No association was observed between age-adjusted patella or tibia lean level and months of lactation (P = 0.15). Blood lead levels were posit ively associated with the use of lead-glazed ceramics (P = 0.01), Bone and blood lead levels were observed to be 77% higher in these rural Mexican wom en than in urban New York City women, This Pilot study provides further lim ited evidence for the hypothesis that lead mobilization occurs during lacta tion.