INTRAUTERINE TOXIC METALS EXPOSURE AND NEXT GENERATIONAL EFFECTS ON NEONATAL ANTHROPOMETRIC DETERMINANTS IN ABAKALIKI, SOUTH EAST NIGERIA.

Introduction: Growth restriction has been associated with the risk of none communicable disease. Many anthropometric determinants like birth weight, birth length, and pondoral Index, are related to maternal suboptimal nutrition and infants' deficiency of some essential heavy metals.
Objective: The specific objective of this study is to determine the extent of toxic metals in the cord blood, birth outcomes, and their effect on the biophysical profiles of neonates.
Methods: The cord blood of 30 preterm, 30 term newborns, and 60 maternal veinous blood were analysed using an Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (Analyst 200 Perkin-Elmer, USA). Metals such as aluminum, antimony, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury were determined by measuring the levels of these metals in cord blood and maternal blood respectively.
Results: Findings thus suggest that preterms are particularly susceptible to toxicity on somatic parameters.
Conclusions: Therefore, safety measures should be taken to prevent human contamination and exposure during pregnancy.
Competing Interests: The Authors declare that no competing interest exists
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