RESUMO
In order to evaluate the role of heavy metals in the reproductive status, a complex hygienic evaluation of total daily entry of lead, cadmium, zinc, and copper in the organism, biomonitoring of metals in indicator biosubstrates, and epidemiological follow-up of the reproductive function were carried out in 6962 healthy women living in industrial cities of the Dnepropetrovsk region. Total daily entry of lead is 0.27 mg, that of cadmium 0.029 mg, which meets the WHO requirements. However the entry of copper and particularly zinc is 1.5-3 times below the physiological norm. Biomonitoring showed high concentrations of lead and cadmium in the body. Regular entry of abiotic metals even in low concentrations in the presence of deficiency of essential metals is fraught with risk of reproductive diseases, which was proven mathematically for all stages of the reproductive function: gestation, labor, and neonatal period.
