Blood Lead Levels in Malaysian Urban and Rural Pregnant Women

Abstract A cross-sectional study was carried out in Malaysia to determine blood lead levels in a group of 60 pregnant women living in an urban area and another group of 63 pregnant women from a rural district. The mean blood lead level of the urban women (17·3 μg/100 ml) was significantly higher than that of the rural women (15·5 μg/100 ml). The higher urban levels probably reflect greater environmental exposure to lead. The study did not demonstrate any statistical relationship of blood lead levels with age or duration of pregnancy.