Lead and Pregnancy
Lead and Pregnancy
Lead may be a contributing factor of adverse health outcomes before, during and after pregnancy in New Jersey, including preterm birth.
In 2023, 9.3% of babies born in New Jersey (roughly 1 in 11 babies) were preterm (born before 37 weeks of gestation).
There is no safe level of lead exposure in the body.
Even low levels of lead can lead to health risks for you and your baby.
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High blood pressure disorders (preeclampsia and eclampsia)
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Increased risk of hemorrhaging (excessive bleeding)
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Kidney Disease
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Miscarriage
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Stillbirth
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Premature birth
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Low birth weight.
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Developmental delays
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Learning and behavioral problems
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Damage to the brain, kidneys, or nervous system
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This can lead to decreased ability to pay attention, lower IQ, and underperformance in school.
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Anemia
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Preeclampsia and Eclampsia
Preeclampsia and eclampsia are pregnancy-related conditions involving high blood pressure that can cause serious health problems for both the pregnant individual and their baby.
Studies indicate the risks of preeclampsia and eclampsia increase as blood lead levels increase.
Signs & Symptoms
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Sudden spike in blood pressure (at or greater than 140/90 mmHg)
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Increased swelling in hands and face
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Headaches
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Stomach pain
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Nausea
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Protein in urine
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Weight gain of more than 5 pounds in a week
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If severe enough, Preeclampsia may develop into eclampsia which can result in seizures or coma.
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Preeclampsia can lead to organ damage or failure, pregnancy loss, and stroke.
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HELLP (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes, and Low Platelets) syndrome is a pregnancy complication that breaks down red blood cells, elevates liver enzymes, and reduces platelet counts which may cause bleeding problems.
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Postpartum preeclampsia and eclampsia can develop after childbirth, and if not treated quickly, may result in death.
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Lack of oxygen and nutrients resulting in poor fetal growth.
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Preterm birth or stillbirth
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Increased risk of long-term health issues such as learning disorders, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, deafness, and blindness.
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Delayed developmental milestones, learning disabilities, and behavioral issues.
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Death
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Testing for Lead During Pregnancy
Testing for lead exposure is an effective intervention to reduce the risk of harmful health effects of lead in a pregnant person’s body and their developing baby. A blood lead test is the only way to confirm if you or your child has lead poisoning.
A blood lead test measures how much lead is in your blood stream. It is performed by a medical professional as either a finger prick or a vein blood draw.
Pregnant individuals and their unborn baby and children under the age of 6 are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of lead.
Talk to Your Doctor if You are Pregnant and Answer “Yes” to Any of These Questions:
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Have you ever lived in, currently live in, or recently renovated a home older than 1980?
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Does anyone in your household work in construction, painting, recycling, legal firearm use, fishing, ceramics, automotive repair, lead remediation, or manufacturing?
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Do you have hobbies or activities that might expose you to lead? (e.g. construction, refinishing furniture, candle making, ceramic painting, stained glass, etc.)
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Were you born outside of the United States in a country or territory with known lead exposure risks or have you recently traveled to another country
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Do you use any imported or antique pottery, ceramics, or cookware for preparing, storing or serving food?
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Do you use traditional or imported remedies, cosmetics, or spices such as kohl, azarcon, greta, turmeric, or tamarind?
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Do you use any non-commercially produced or imported food products, candy, or spices?
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Have you ever eaten non-food items? (e.g. “earth” materials, soil from your current environment or home country)
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Have you or a family member ever been told you had elevated blood lead levels?
Let your doctor know when, where, and what you may have been exposed to.
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Example:
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I use makeup/spices purchased outside the country
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I work for a construction company
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We lived in a home built before 1980; it had chipped paint
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I’m renovating/renovated my home
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Testing is often recommended during the first trimester of pregnancy. Your doctor may order follow-up or additional tests in the third trimester if:
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You have an elevated blood lead level.
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Your answers to any of the screening questions are yes, change to “yes”, or develop symptoms.
Third trimester testing is used to detect lead in your body that was stored in your bones from past exposure. Lead can remobilize into your blood stream during pregnancy. As your baby is developing, your body pulls calcium from your bones to nurture the unborn baby. If lead is present, it would be pulled from your bones along with the calcium which then passes to your baby through the placenta.
By New Jersey law, professionals are required to perform a blood lead test on pregnant persons during their first and third trimester under certain circumstances.
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No level of lead in the blood is safe! Always discuss your results with your doctor to decide on the next steps. Lead exposure builds over time and will continue unless you address the source.
