Occupational and Environmental Health: Recognizing and Preventing Disease and Injury - Multiple Choice Questions - Learn & Prevent

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the Occupational and Environmental Health exam with our multiple-choice questions designed to help you recognize and prevent disease and injury. Study effectively and gain confidence for your upcoming test!

Practice this question and more.

Which heavy metal, when excessively exposed to in the past, can release significant amounts into a woman's bloodstream during pregnancy from stored amounts in bone?

Iron
Magnesium
Lead
Zinc

The correct answer is: Lead

While iron is an important nutrient during pregnancy and is needed to make hemoglobin for carrying oxygen in the blood and for the baby's development, it is not a heavy metal. Magnesium is a mineral that helps with muscle and nerve function, but it is not known to be stored in high amounts in bone. Zinc is required for proper immune system function but is not a heavy metal. Lead, on the other hand, is a heavy metal that can be stored in bone as a result of past exposure and can be released into a woman's bloodstream during pregnancy. This can be harmful to both the mother and the developing baby. It is important for pregnant women to limit their exposure to lead and have their levels monitored by a doctor.