[Sources of lead in pregnant women in the Valley of Mexico].

Lead levels in samples of the groups at highest risk to the effects of lead exposure, pregnant women and their infants, are higher than levels known to produce developmental retardation in children in a considerable proportion of the sample tested in Mexico City. Modeling of prenatal factors predicting maternal lead during pregnancy shows the strong effect of the use of low-temperature ceramics on lead level. The data also suggests an important contribution from air lead.

Neurobehavioral deficits after low level lead exposure in neonates: the Mexico City pilot study.

Gestation age and ability of the baby to self-quiet and to be consoled during the first 30 days of life decrease when mother's blood lead levels rise from 36 weeks of pregnancy to birth of child. These effects appear to be independent of the absolute lead levels of mother and child (N = 42). Since pre- and perinatal stress predicts higher maternal birth lead, further work could determine the relative contributions of undetected stress during pregnancy and elevated lead levels upon subsequent development.