Birth Defects Related to Prenatal Exposure to Essential and Toxic Elements

Background All naturally occurring metals and other elements are present in at least trace concentrations in soil, water, air, and organisms. Accumulation of these elements can lead to developmental delays, neurological damage, and even death. Although the toxicities associated with metals such as lead or mercury are well-demonstrated, little data exists regarding birth defects and maternal environmental exposures to other trace essential or toxic elements. Methodology A prospective case-control study of 23 patients delivering at the University of Mississippi Medical Center with prenatally diagnosed birth defects (N = 18) was performed. Control participants (N = 5) were selected for comparison. Maternal and fetal serum concentrations of essential and toxic elements were measured at delivery and analyzed for associations with fetal birth defects, geographic location, patient demographics, and perinatal outcomes. Results Copper and zinc levels were higher in maternal groups compared to fetal levels. Manganese levels were higher in fetal samples. We were unable to demonstrate any associations between birth defects and toxic element levels. On secondary analysis, higher levels of copper were found in the maternal serum of mothers who lived in an urban location (p = 0.03), while magnesium levels were found to be higher in mothers in rural locations (p < 0.01). Conclusions Although there was a significant difference between levels of copper and magnesium based on the geographic locations of mothers and offspring, there was no direct correspondence between maternal and neonatal element levels and the development of birth defects in our study.