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# Prenatal serum lead leads to worse birth outcomes
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/prenatal_serum_lead_leads_to_worse_birth_outcomes_0707150838/
- Published: 2015-07-07T21:37:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:22:06.000Z
- Description: In a UK birth cohort reported in BJOG, mean maternal serum lead at 5 ug/dl or higher doubled the risk of preterm delivery, and higher lead levels correlated with lower birthweight, smaller head circumference and shorter crown-heel length.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Chemical, Food Safety, #vivvo-import

Tuesday July 7, 2015 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study in BJOG - an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that high concentrations of prenatal serum lead can cause damage to the baby.

The study based on data from a prospective birth cohort in the UK showed that maternal blood lead had adverse effects on preterm delivery, birthweight, head circumference and crown-heel length.

Specifically, the mean serum lead at 5 ug/dl or higher was found to increase the risk of preterm delivery by 100%. Higher levels of serum lead was also significantly correlated with decreased birth weight, head circumference and crown-heel length.

Lead is toxic. High levels of lead in the blood can delay the physical and or mental development in children and infants. The toxic metal can also cause deficits in attention span and learning abilities in children.

The [maximum contaminant level goal ](http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/lead.cfm?ref=foodconsumer.org#What%20are%20lead%E2%80%99s%20health%20effects?)for lead in drinking water is zero, which means that there is no safe level of lead, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. When the lead level is higher than 15 parts per billion (ppb), the water system is required to take actions.

The best thing a pregnant woman can do is use a quality water filter that can remove heavy metals including lead and mercy among other toxic substances. (David Liu)

[Taylor CM, Golding J, Emond AM. Adverse effects of maternal lead levels on birth outcomes in the ALSPAC study: a prospective birth cohort study. BJOG 2015;122:322–328.](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.12756/full?ref=foodconsumer.org)