What studies have been done in Trail investigating Pb exposure for pregnant women and newborns?

The Trail Community Lead Task Force did a study of the blood lead levels of pregnant women and their newborns born in Trail from November 1993 to December 1995. This was a time when children’s blood lead levels in Trail were more than four times higher than they are today. Key findings from that study showed that children born in Trail start out with blood lead close to the “normal background”. In addition, mothers who grew up in Trail did not appear to be exposed to any greater extent than those growing up outside of Trail. Results should still be true today.
We encourage people planning a pregnancy or currently pregnant to discuss blood lead testing with their primary care or maternal care provider. Blood lead testing during pregnancy is optimally done after 20 weeks gestation.

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