Relationship among the birth defect and heavy metal such as arsenic, cadmium, zinc and copper

The incidence of birth defect in China is still high, which is not only affected by genetic factors, but also affected by heavy metals in surrounding that prejudices foetus' normal development. Heavy metal is a kind of inorganic pollutants with high toxicity. Excessive intake of lead, cadmium, arsenic or mercury, and the insufficient intake of zinc, calcium and copper may both lead to at least 1 kind of birth defect. The interactions between heavy metals also affect the outcomes of pregnancy. This paper reviewed different relationships between heavy metals and birth defect recording to relevant achievements such as animal experimentations and epidemiologic study made by researches from at home and abroad in recent years. It is advised to intake adequate zinc and copper and avoid being exposed to harmful metals to make sure the effective reduction of the incidences of birth defects. This paper will also point out the direction of future research about the relationship among the birth defects and heavy metal. Key words: Heavy metal; Pregnancy; Birth defect