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Ashrap P, Watkins DJ, Mukherjee B, Rosario-Pabón Z, Vélez-Vega CM, Alshawabkeh A, Cordero JF, Meeker JD. Performance of urine, blood, and integrated metal biomarkers in relation to birth outcomes in a mixture setting. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 200:111435. [PMID: 34097892 PMCID: PMC8403638 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies on the health effects of metal mixtures typically utilize biomarkers measured in a single biological medium, such as blood or urine. However, the ability to evaluate mixture effects are limited by the uncertainty whether a unified medium can fully capture exposure for each metal. Therefore, it is important to compare and assess metal mixtures measured in different media in epidemiology studies. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to examine the mixture predictive performance of urine and blood metal biomarkers and integrated multi-media biomarkers in association with birth outcomes. METHODS In our analysis of 847 women from the Puerto Rico PROTECT Cohort, we measured 10 essential and non-essential metals in repeated and paired samples of urine and blood during pregnancy. For each metal, we integrated exposure estimates from paired urine and blood biomarkers into multi-media biomarkers (MMBs), using intraclass-correlation coefficient (ICC) and weighted quantile sum (WQS) approaches. Using Ridge regressions, four separate Environmental risk scores (ERSs) for metals in urine, blood, MMBICC, and MMBWQS were computed as a weighted sum of the 10 metal concentrations. We then examined associations between urine, blood, and multi-media biomarker ERSs and birth outcomes using linear and logistic regressions, adjusting for maternal age, maternal education, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), and second-hand smoke exposure. The performance of each ERS was evaluated with continuous and tertile estimates and 95% confidence intervals of the odds ratio of preterm birth using area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS Pb was the most important contributor of blood ERS as well as the two integrated multi-media biomarker ERSs. Individuals with high ERS (3rd tertile) showed increased odds of preterm birth compared to individuals with low ERS (1st tertile), with 2.8-fold (95% CI, 1.49 to 5.40) for urine (specific gravity corrected); 3.2- fold (95% CI, 1.68 to 6.25) for blood; 3.9-fold (95% CI, 1.72 to 8.66) for multi-media biomarkers composed using ICC; and 5.2-fold (95% CI, 2.34 to 11.42) for multi-media biomarkers composed using WQS. The four ERSs had comparable predictive performances (AUC ranging from 0.64 to 0.68) when urine is examined with specific gravity corrected concentrations. CONCLUSIONS Within a practical metal panel, measuring metals in either urine or blood may be an equally good approach to evaluate the metals as a mixture. Applications in practical study design require validation of these methods with other cohorts, larger panels of metals and within the context of other adverse health effects of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pahriya Ashrap
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Deborah J Watkins
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Bhramar Mukherjee
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Zaira Rosario-Pabón
- University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR, USA
| | - Carmen M Vélez-Vega
- University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR, USA
| | - Akram Alshawabkeh
- College of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - José F Cordero
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States
| | - John D Meeker
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
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An H, Wang B, Li Z, Jin Y, Ren M, Yu Y, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Yan L, Li Z, Ren A, Ye R, Li K. Distribution of mercury in serum and blood cells and risk of spontaneous preterm birth: A nested case-control study in China. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 217:112228. [PMID: 33892343 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between maternal mercury (Hg) intake and the risk of spontaneous preterm birth (SPB) remains unclear. We conducted a nested case-control study from a prospective cohort in Shanxi Province, China, to explore their associations. In total, 126 pregnant women with SPB (cases) and 348 controls with term delivery were included. We measured the Hg concentrations in their serum (Hgs) and blood cell (Hgc) fractions and calculated the concentration ratio of Hg in serum to Hg in blood cells (Hgs/c). We found that only the Hgs/c in the case group was slightly higher than that in control group. The OR of Hgs/c associated with SPB risk was 1.57 [95%CI: 0.99-2.46] with adjusting confounders. After stratification by sampling time, the association above was only statistically significant in the first trimester. High Hgs/c may increase the risk of SPB in the first trimester among women with relatively low Hg exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang An
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Bin Wang
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Zhiyi Li
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, PR China
| | - Yu Jin
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Mengyuan Ren
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Yanxin Yu
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China
| | - Yali Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Le Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Lailai Yan
- Department of Laboratorial Science and Technology, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Zhiwen Li
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Aiguo Ren
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Rongwei Ye
- Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China.
| | - Kexin Li
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, PR China.
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Kirwa K, Feric Z, Manjourides J, Alshawabekeh A, Vega CMV, Cordero JF, Meeker JD, Suh HH. Preterm birth and PM 2.5 in Puerto Rico: evidence from the PROTECT birth cohort. Environ Health 2021; 20:69. [PMID: 34116688 PMCID: PMC8196435 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00748-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preterm birth (PTB, birth before 37 weeks of gestation) has been associated with adverse health outcomes across the lifespan. Evidence on the association between PTB and prenatal exposure to air pollutants is inconsistent, and is especially lacking for ethnic/racial minority populations. METHODS We obtained data on maternal characteristics and behaviors and PTB and other birth outcomes for women participating in the Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT) cohort, who lived in municipalities located along the North Coast of Puerto Rico. We assessed pre-natal PM2.5 exposures for each infant based on the nearest US Environmental Protection Agency monitor. We estimated prenatal phthalate exposures as the geometric mean of urinary measurements obtained during pregnancy. We then examined the association between PM2.5 and PTB using modified Poisson regression and assessed modification of the association by phthalate exposure levels and sociodemographic factors such as maternal age and infant gender. RESULTS Among 1092 singleton births, 9.1% of infants were born preterm and 92.9% of mothers had at least a high school education. Mothers had a mean (standard deviation) age of 26.9 (5.5) years and a median (range) of 2.0 (1.0-8.0) pregnancies. Nearly all women were Hispanic white, black, or mixed race. Median (range) prenatal PM2.5 concentrations were 6.0 (3.1-19.8) μ g/m3. Median (interquartile range) prenatal phthalate levels were 14.9 (8.9-26.0) and 14.5 (8.4-26.0), respectively, for di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and di-isobutyl phthalate (DiBP). An interquartile range increase in PM2.5 was associated with a 1.2% (95% CI 0.4, 2.1%) higher risk of PTB. There was little difference in PTB risk in strata of infant sex, mother's age, family income, history of adverse birth outcome, parity, and pre-pregnancy body mass index. Pregnancy urinary phthalate metabolite levels did not modify the PM2.5-PTB association. CONCLUSION Among ethnic minority women in Puerto Rico, prenatal PM2.5 exposure is associated with a small but significant increase in risk of PTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kipruto Kirwa
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Zlatan Feric
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA USA
| | | | - Akram Alshawabekeh
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA USA
| | | | - José F. Cordero
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA USA
| | - John D. Meeker
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA
| | - Helen H. Suh
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Anderson Hall, 200 College Avenue, Medford, MA 02155 USA
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Padmanabhan V, Moeller J, Puttabyatappa M. Impact of gestational exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals on pregnancy and birth outcomes. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2021; 92:279-346. [PMID: 34452689 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2021.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
With the advent of industrialization, humans are exposed to a wide range of environmental chemicals, many with endocrine disrupting potential. As successful maintenance of pregnancy and fetal development are under tight hormonal control, the gestational exposure to environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) have the potential to adversely affect the maternal milieu and support to the fetus, fetal developmental trajectory and birth outcomes. This chapter summarizes the impact of exposure to EDCs both individually and as mixtures during pregnancy, the immediate and long-term consequences of such exposures on the mother and fetus, the direct and indirect mechanisms through which they elicit their effects, factors that modify their action, and the research directions to focus future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacob Moeller
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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Lee MS, Eum KD, Golam M, Quamruzzaman Q, Kile ML, Mazumdar M, Christiani DC. Umbilical Cord Blood Metal Mixtures and Birth Size in Bangladeshi Children. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:57006. [PMID: 33989040 PMCID: PMC8121379 DOI: 10.1289/ehp7502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies have evaluated environmental exposure to toxic metals such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), or lead (Pb) on birth size; however, information on potential effects of exposures to metal mixtures is limited. OBJECTIVES We assessed the association between metal mixtures (As, Cd, Mn, Pb) in umbilical cord blood and neonate size in Bangladeshi children. METHODS In this birth cohort study, pregnant women who were ≥18 years of age with an ultrasound-confirmed singleton pregnancy of ≤16wk gestation were recruited from two Bangladesh clinics between 2008 and 2011. Neonate size metrics were measured at the time of delivery. Metals in cord blood were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We employed multivariable linear regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to estimate associations of individual metals and metal mixtures with birth size parameters. RESULTS Data from 1,088 participants was assessed. We found a significant negative association between metal mixture and birth length and head circumference when all metal concentrations were above the 60th and 55th percentiles, respectively, compared with the median. An interquartile range (IQR) increase in log Cd concentration {log[Cd (in micrograms per deciliter)] IQR=2.51} was associated with a 0.13-standard deviation (SD) decrease in mean birth length (95% CI: -0.25, -0.02) and a 0.17-SD decrease in mean head circumference (95% CI: -0.28, -0.05), based on linear regression models adjusted for covariates and the other metals. An IQR increase in log Mn concentration {log[Mn (in micrograms per deciliter)] IQR=0.69} was associated with a 0.07-SD decrease in mean birth weight (95% CI: -0.15, 0.002). DISCUSSION Metal mixtures in cord blood were associated with reduced birth size in Bangladeshi children. Results from linear regression models adjusted and the BKMR mixtures analyses suggest adverse effects of Cd and Mn, as individual metal exposures, on birth size outcomes. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7502.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi-Sun Lee
- Environmental and Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ki-Do Eum
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - Molly L. Kile
- College of Public Health and Human Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Maitreyi Mazumdar
- Environmental and Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David C. Christiani
- Environmental and Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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56
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Howe CG, Claus Henn B, Farzan SF, Habre R, Eckel SP, Grubbs BH, Chavez TA, Faham D, Al-Marayati L, Lerner D, Quimby A, Twogood S, Richards MJ, Meeker JD, Bastain TM, Breton CV. Prenatal metal mixtures and fetal size in mid-pregnancy in the MADRES study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 196:110388. [PMID: 33129852 PMCID: PMC8079562 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal growth is predictive of health later in life. Both toxic and essential metals influence fetal growth, but most studies have focused on these elements individually and used birth weight as an indicator of fetal growth. The objective of the current study was to investigate the impact of a mixture of metals on fetal size in mid-pregnancy in a predominately lower income Hispanic pregnancy cohort in Los Angeles. METHODS For our primary analysis, we focused on six elements that have previously been associated individually with fetal size, including arsenic (As), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), molybdenum (Mo), and tin (Sn), measured in maternal urine samples collected in early pregnancy (median: 12.4 weeks gestation). In an exploratory analysis, we additionally included cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), antimony (Sb), and thallium (Tl). Using covariate-adjusted Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) as our main mixture modeling approach, we examined the impact of these metals on fetal biometry measures obtained between 18 and 22 weeks gestation, with a focus on estimated fetal weight (EFW). RESULTS BKMR identified Mo and Ba as the mixture components that contributed most to associations with EFW. Linear associations were observed for both metals. An increase in Mo from the 25th to 75th percentile was associated with a 0.114 (95% credible interval (CI): 0.019, 0.247) SD higher EFW, equivalent to a 7.4 g difference. Similar associations were observed between Mo and the other fetal measures evaluated. In contrast, an increase in Ba from the 25th to 75th percentile was associated with a -0.076 (95% CI: 0.217, 0.066) SD lower EFW, equivalent to a 4.9 g difference. Similar inverse associations were observed for Ba in relation to abdominal circumference and biparietal diameter. BKMR also identified a possible interaction between Ba and Mo in relation to head circumference, suggesting that the positive associations between Mo and this outcome may be attenuated at high levels of Ba, which was consistent with findings from linear regression (Pinteraction = 0.03). In an exploratory analysis accounting for a larger mixture of metals, Mo and Ba consistently contributed most to associations with EFW. An inverse association was also identified between Sb and EFW. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that Mo may promote fetal growth, while Ba and Sb may reduce fetal growth, in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin G Howe
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA; Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Birgit Claus Henn
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shohreh F Farzan
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rima Habre
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sandrah P Eckel
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Brendan H Grubbs
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Thomas A Chavez
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dema Faham
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Laila Al-Marayati
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eisner Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Alyssa Quimby
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sara Twogood
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - John D Meeker
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Theresa M Bastain
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carrie V Breton
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Silver MK, Fernandez J, Tang J, McDade A, Sabino J, Rosario Z, Vélez Vega C, Alshawabkeh A, Cordero JF, Meeker JD. Prenatal Exposure to Glyphosate and Its Environmental Degradate, Aminomethylphosphonic Acid (AMPA), and Preterm Birth: A Nested Case-Control Study in the PROTECT Cohort (Puerto Rico). ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:57011. [PMID: 34009015 PMCID: PMC8132611 DOI: 10.1289/ehp7295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glyphosate (GLY) is the most heavily used herbicide in the world. Despite nearly ubiquitous exposure, few studies have examined prenatal GLY exposure and potentially adverse pregnancy outcomes. Preterm birth (PTB) is a risk factor for neonatal mortality and adverse health effects in childhood. OBJECTIVES We examined prenatal exposure to GLY and a highly persistent environmental degradate of GLY, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), and odds of PTB in a nested case-control study within the ongoing Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT) pregnancy cohort in northern Puerto Rico. METHODS GLY and AMPA in urine samples collected at 18 ± 2 (Visit 1) and 26 ± 2 (Visit 3) wk gestation (53 cases/194 randomly selected controls) were measured using gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate associations with PTB (delivery < 37 wk completed gestation). RESULTS Detection rates in controls were 77.4% and 77.5% for GLY and 52.8% and 47.7% for AMPA, and geometric means (geometric standard deviations) were 0.44 (2.50) and 0.41 ( 2.56 ) μ g / L for GLY and 0.25 (3.06) and 0.20 ( 2.87 ) μ g / L for AMPA, for Visits 1 and 3, respectively. PTB was significantly associated with specific gravity-corrected urinary GLY and AMPA at Visit 3, whereas associations with levels at Visit 1 and the Visits 1-3 average were largely null or inconsistent. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for an interquartile range increase in exposure at Visit 3 were 1.35 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.83) and 1.67 (95% CI: 1.26, 2.20) for GLY and AMPA, respectively. ORs for Visit 1 and the visit average were closer to the null. DISCUSSION Urine GLY and AMPA levels in samples collected near the 26th week of pregnancy were associated with increased odds of PTB in this modestly sized nested case-control study. Given the widespread use of GLY, multiple potential sources of AMPA, and AMPA's persistence in the environment, as well as the potential for long-term adverse health effects in preterm infants, further investigation in other populations is warranted. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7295.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica K. Silver
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jennifer Fernandez
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jason Tang
- NSF International, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | | | - Zaira Rosario
- University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA
| | - Carmen Vélez Vega
- University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA
| | - Akram Alshawabkeh
- College of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - José F. Cordero
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - John D. Meeker
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Nwanaji-Enwerem JC, Colicino E, Gao X, Wang C, Vokonas P, Boyer EW, Baccarelli AA, Schwartz J. Associations of Plasma Folate and Vitamin B6 With Blood DNA Methylation Age: An Analysis of One-Carbon Metabolites in the VA Normative Aging Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 76:760-769. [PMID: 33027507 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glaa257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
One-carbon metabolism is an important contributor to aging-related diseases; nevertheless, relationships of one-carbon metabolites with novel DNA methylation-based measures of biological aging remain poorly characterized. We examined relationships of one-carbon metabolites with 3 DNA methylation-based measures of biological aging: DNAmAge, GrimAge, and PhenoAge. We measured plasma levels of 4 common one-carbon metabolites (vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine) in 715 VA Normative Aging Study participants with at least 1 visit between 1999 and 2008 (observations = 1153). DNA methylation age metrics were calculated using the HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. We utilized Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression models adjusted for chronological age, lifestyle factors, age-related diseases, and study visits to determine metabolites important to the aging outcomes. Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression models allowed for the estimation of the relationships of single metabolites and the cumulative metabolite mixture with methylation age. Log vitamin B6 was selected as important to PhenoAge (β = -1.62 years, 95% CI: -2.28, -0.96). Log folate was selected as important to GrimAge (β = 0.75 years, 95% CI: 0.41, 1.09) and PhenoAge (β = 1.62 years, 95% CI: 0.95, 2.29). Compared to a model where each metabolite in the mixture is set to its 50th percentile, the log cumulative mixture with each metabolite at its 30th (β = -0.13 years, 95% CI: -0.26, -0.005) and 40th percentile (β = -0.06 years, 95% CI: -0.11, -0.005) was associated with decreased GrimAge. Our results provide novel characterizations of the relationships between one-carbon metabolites and DNA methylation age in a human population study. Further research is required to confirm these findings and establish their generalizability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamaji C Nwanaji-Enwerem
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and MD/PhD Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Elena Colicino
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Xu Gao
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
| | - Cuicui Wang
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Pantel Vokonas
- VA Normative Aging Study, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and the Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts
| | - Edward W Boyer
- Division of Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Andrea A Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
| | - Joel Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
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Ashrap P, Aker A, Watkins DJ, Mukherjee B, Rosario-Pabón Z, Vélez-Vega CM, Alshawabkeh A, Cordero JF, Meeker JD. Psychosocial status modifies the effect of maternal blood metal and metalloid concentrations on birth outcomes. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 149:106418. [PMID: 33548848 PMCID: PMC7897320 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metal exposure and psychosocial stress in pregnancy have each been associated with adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight, but no study has examined the potential interaction between them. OBJECTIVES We examined the modifying effect of psychosocial stress on the association between metals and birth outcomes among pregnant women in Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT) birth cohort study. METHODS In our analysis of 682 women from the PROTECT study, we measured 16 essential and non-essential metals in blood samples at two time points. We administered questionnaires to collect information on depression, perceived stress, social support, and life experience during pregnancy. Using K-means clustering, we categorized pregnant women into one of two groups: "good" and "poor" psychosocial status. We then evaluated whether the effect of blood metals (geometric average) on adverse birth outcomes (gestational age, preterm birth [overall and spontaneous], birth weight z-score, small for gestation [SGA], large for gestation [LGA]) vary between two clusters of women, adjusting for maternal age, maternal education, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), and second-hand smoke exposure. RESULTS Blood manganese (Mn) was associated with an increased odds ratio (OR) of overall preterm birth (OR/interquartile range [IQR] = 2.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.25, 6.12) and spontaneous preterm birth (OR/IQR: 3.68, 95% CI: 1.20, 6.57) only among women with "poor" psychosocial status. The association between copper (Cu) and SGA was also statistically significant only among women having "poor" psychosocial status (OR/IQR: 2.81, 95% CI: 1.20, 6.57). We also observed associations between nickel (Ni) and preterm birth and SGA that were modified by psychosocial status during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS Presence of "poor" psychosocial status intensified the adverse associations between Mn and preterm birth, Cu and SGA, and protective effects of Ni on preterm. This provides evidence that prenatal psychosocial stress may modify vulnerability to metal exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pahriya Ashrap
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Amira Aker
- Department of Health and Society, University of Toronto Scarborough, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Deborah J Watkins
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Bhramar Mukherjee
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Zaira Rosario-Pabón
- University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR, United States
| | - Carmen M Vélez-Vega
- University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR, United States
| | - Akram Alshawabkeh
- College of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - José F Cordero
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - John D Meeker
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
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Hu JMY, Arbuckle TE, Janssen P, Lanphear BP, Zhuang LH, Braun JM, Chen A, McCandless LC. Prenatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemical mixtures and infant birth weight: A Bayesian analysis using kernel machine regression. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 195:110749. [PMID: 33465343 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnant women are regularly exposed to a multitude of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). EDC exposures, both individually and as mixtures, may affect fetal growth. The relationship of EDC mixtures with infant birth weight, however, remains poorly understood. We examined the relations between prenatal exposure to EDC mixtures and infant birth weight. METHODS We used data from the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) Study, a pan-Canadian cohort of 1857 pregnant women enrolled between 2008 and 2011. We quantified twenty-one chemical concentrations from five EDC classes, including organochlorine compounds (OCs), metals, perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phenols and phthalate metabolites that were detected in >70% of urine or blood samples collected during the first trimester. In our primary analysis, we used Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models to assess variable importance, explore EDC mixture effects, and identify any interactions among EDCs. Our secondary analysis used traditional linear regression to compare the results with those of BKMR and to quantify the changes in mean birth weight in relation to prenatal EDC exposures. RESULTS We found evidence that mixtures of OCs and metals were associated with monotonic decreases in mean birth weight across the whole range of exposure. trans-Nonachlor from the OC mixture and lead (Pb) from the metal mixture had the greatest impact on birth weight. Our linear regression analysis corroborated the BKMR results and found that a 2-fold increase in trans-nonachlor and Pb concentrations reduced mean birth weight by -38 g (95% confidence interval (CI): -67, -10) and -39 g (95% CI: -69, -9), respectively. A sex-specific association for OC mixture was observed among female infants. PFAS, phenols and phthalates were not associated with birth weight. No interactions were observed among the EDCs. CONCLUSIONS Using BKMR, we observed that both OC and metal mixtures were associated with decreased birth weight in the MIREC Study. trans-Nonachlor from the OC mixture and Pb from the metal mixture contributed most to the adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice M Y Hu
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - Tye E Arbuckle
- Population Studies Division, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Patricia Janssen
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Liheng H Zhuang
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Shih YH, Chen HY, Christensen K, Handler A, Turyk ME, Argos M. Prenatal exposure to multiple metals and birth outcomes: An observational study within the National Children's Study cohort. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 147:106373. [PMID: 33422966 PMCID: PMC7855942 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to metals may play an important role in fetal growth. However, the epidemiologic evidence for certain metals is sparse, and most of the existing research has focused on evaluating single metals in highly exposed target populations. OBJECTIVES We evaluated associations of cadmium, lead, manganese, selenium, and total mercury exposures during pregnancy with fetal growth using data from mother-infant pairs participating in the National Children's Study. METHODS Prenatal metal exposures were measured using maternal blood collected from 6 to 32 weeks of gestation. Birth outcomes, including gestational age, birthweight, birth length, head circumference, and ponderal index, were ascertained through physical measurement at birth or abstraction from medical records. Regression coefficients and their 95% confidence intervals were estimated from multivariable linear regression models in the overall study population as well as among male and female infants. We further evaluated pairwise metal-metal interactions. RESULTS Sex-specific associations were observed for lead, with inverse associations for birthweight, birth length, head circumference, and gestational age observed only among female infants. Sex-specific associations were also observed for selenium, with a positive association for birthweight observed among male infants; selenium was also positively associated with ponderal index and inversely associated with birth length among female infants. Overall, total mercury was inversely associated with birthweight and ponderal index, and the association with birthweight was stronger among female infants. No significant associations were observed with cadmium and manganese. In the metal-metal interaction analyses, we found evidence of a synergistic interaction between lead and total mercury and antagonistic interaction between selenium and total mercury with selected birth outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that prenatal exposure to metals may be related to birth outcomes, and infant sex may modify these associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hsuan Shih
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
| | - Hua Yun Chen
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
| | | | - Arden Handler
- Division of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
| | - Mary E Turyk
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
| | - Maria Argos
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, United States.
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Rivera-Núñez Z, Ashrap P, Barrett ES, Watkins DJ, Cathey AL, Vélez-Vega CM, Rosario Z, Cordero JF, Alshawabkeh A, Meeker JD. Association of biomarkers of exposure to metals and metalloids with maternal hormones in pregnant women from Puerto Rico. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 147:106310. [PMID: 33321388 PMCID: PMC7856269 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metal(loid)s have been associated to adverse birth outcomes in experimental and epidemiological studies, but the underlying mechanism(s) are not well understood. Endocrine disruption may be a mechanism by which the metal(loid)s impact birth outcomes. METHODS Pregnant women were recruited through the Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT). Urine, blood, demographic and pregnancy-related data were collected at recruitment and subsequent visits. Sixteen metal(loid)s were analyzed in urine and blood samples, while nine maternal hormones (corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG), estriol (E3), progesterone, testosterone, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), total triiodothyronine (T3), total thyroxine (T4), and free thyroxine (fT4)) were measured in serum samples from 815 singleton pregnancies. Linear mixed models with random intercepts were used to examine associations between metal(loid)s in blood and urine with hormone concentrations. RESULTS Arsenic blood concentrations were significantly associated with increased levels in CRH (%Δ: 23.0, 95%CI: 8.4-39.6) and decreased levels in testosterone (%Δ: -16.3, 95%CI: -26.2--5.1). Cobalt, manganese, and lead blood concentrations were associated with small increases in SHBG (%Δ range: 3.3-4.2), E3 (%Δ range: 3.9-8.7) and progesterone (%Δ range: 4.1-6.3) levels, respectively. Nickel blood concentration was inversely associated with testosterone levels (%Δ -13.3, 95%CI: -18.7--7.6). Significant interactions were detected for the association between nickel and study visit in relation to CRH (p < 0.02) and testosterone levels (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION Our analysis suggests that metal(loid)s may act as endocrine disruptors by altering prenatal hormone levels. This disruption may depend on specific windows of exposure during pregnancy. Additionally, some essential metal(loid)s such as managense and cobalt may be contributors to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. The study of metal(loid)s as endocrine disruptors is in the early stages of epidemiological research and future studies are needed to further investigate these associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zorimar Rivera-Núñez
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health and Rutgers Environmental and Occupational Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Pahriya Ashrap
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Emily S Barrett
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health and Rutgers Environmental and Occupational Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Deborah J Watkins
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Amber L Cathey
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Carmen M Vélez-Vega
- Graduate Program of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR, USA
| | - Zaira Rosario
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - José F Cordero
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - John D Meeker
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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Ashrap P, Watkins DJ, Milne GL, Ferguson KK, Loch-Caruso R, Fernandez J, Rosario Z, Vélez-Vega CM, Alshawabkeh A, Cordero JF, Meeker JD. Maternal Urinary Metal and Metalloid Concentrations in Association with Oxidative Stress Biomarkers. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10010114. [PMID: 33467519 PMCID: PMC7830802 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10010114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Metal exposure has been associated with a wide range of adverse birth outcomes and oxidative stress is a leading hypothesis of the mechanism of action of metal toxicity. We assessed the relationship between maternal exposure to essential and non-essential metals and metalloids in pregnancy and oxidative stress markers, and sought to identify windows of vulnerability and effect modification by fetal sex. In our analysis of 215 women from the PROTECT birth cohort study, we measured 14 essential and non-essential metals in urine samples at three time points during pregnancy. The oxidative stress marker 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) and its metabolite 2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-15-15-F2t-IsoP, as well as prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), were also measured in the same urine samples. Using linear mixed models, we examined the main effects of metals on markers of oxidative stress as well as the visit-specific and fetal sex-specific effects. After adjustment for covariates, we found that a few urinary metal concentrations, most notably cesium (Cs) and copper (Cu), were associated with higher 8-iso-PGF2α with effect estimates ranging from 7.3 to 14.9% for each interquartile range, increase in the metal concentration. The effect estimates were generally in the same direction at the three visits and a few were significant only among women carrying a male fetus. Our data show that higher urinary metal concentrations were associated with elevated biomarkers of oxidative stress. Our results also indicate a potential vulnerability of women carrying a male fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pahriya Ashrap
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (P.A.); (D.J.W.); (R.L.-C.); (J.F.)
| | - Deborah J. Watkins
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (P.A.); (D.J.W.); (R.L.-C.); (J.F.)
| | - Ginger L. Milne
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Nashville, TN 37232, USA;
| | - Kelly K. Ferguson
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, NC 27709, USA;
| | - Rita Loch-Caruso
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (P.A.); (D.J.W.); (R.L.-C.); (J.F.)
| | - Jennifer Fernandez
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (P.A.); (D.J.W.); (R.L.-C.); (J.F.)
| | - Zaira Rosario
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (Z.R.); (J.F.C.)
| | - Carmen M. Vélez-Vega
- UPR Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, San Juan, PR 00921, USA;
| | - Akram Alshawabkeh
- College of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - José F. Cordero
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (Z.R.); (J.F.C.)
| | - John D. Meeker
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (P.A.); (D.J.W.); (R.L.-C.); (J.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-734-764-7184
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Zhou Z, Yu D, Chen G, Li P, Wang L, Yang J, Rao J, Lin D, Fan D, Wang H, Gou X, Guo X, Suo D, Huang F, Liu Z. Fasting Plasma Glucose Mediates the Prospective Effect of Maternal Metal Level on Birth Outcomes: A Retrospective and Longitudinal Population-Based Cohort Study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:763693. [PMID: 34867806 PMCID: PMC8635137 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.763693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Previously, we found that the presence of maternal serum metals before the 24th week of gestation prospectively increased fasting plasma glucose (FPG) at 24-28 weeks. We further explored the prospective association between levels of metals and neonatal outcomes and assessed the mediating effects of FPG on these relationships. METHODS A total of 7,644 pregnant women were included in a retrospective cohort study, and the relationships between metals [manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and magnesium (Mg)] and birth outcomes were explored. Quantile and linear regressions were performed to detect the shifts and associations between metals and neonatal size distribution focused on the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles. Mediation analysis was performed to assess the mediating effect of FPG on metals and birth outcomes. RESULTS After adjustment, a 50% increase in Mn and Zn levels was related to a 0.136-cm (95% CI: 0.067-0.205) and 0.120-cm (95% CI: 0.046-0.193) increase in head circumference, respectively. Based on head circumference distribution, the magnitude of the association with Mn was smaller at the upper tail, while the magnitude of correlation with Zn was greater at the upper tail. A 50% increase in Mn and Zn levels was related to a 0.135-cm (95% CI: 0.058-0.212) and 0.095-cm (95% CI: 0.013-0.178) increase in chest circumference, respectively. The magnitude of the association with Mn increased with increasing chest circumference, while the magnitude of correlation with Zn decreased with increasing chest circumference. FPG explained 10.00% and 17.65% of the associations of Mn with head and chest circumference. A positive indirect effect of Zn associated with head circumference (0.004, 95% CI: 0.002-0.006) and chest circumference (0.005, 95% CI: 0.003-0.008) through FPG was also observed, and the estimated proportion of the mediating effect was 13.79% and 26.32%, respectively. CONCLUSION Maternal serum Mn and Zn levels before the 24th week of gestation may prospectively increase the circumference of the neonatal head and chest. FPG at 24-28 weeks had positive mediating effects on these relationships. Further research is needed to identify a balance between maternal blood glucose and birth size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixing Zhou
- Foshan Fetal Medicine Research Institute, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
- Department of Obstetrics, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Dandan Yu
- Department of Obstetrics, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Gengdong Chen
- Foshan Fetal Medicine Research Institute, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
- Department of Obstetrics, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Pengsheng Li
- Foshan Fetal Medicine Research Institute, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
- Department of Obstetrics, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Lijuan Wang
- Department of Obstetrics, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Obstetrics, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Jiaming Rao
- Foshan Fetal Medicine Research Institute, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
- Department of Obstetrics, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Dongxin Lin
- Foshan Fetal Medicine Research Institute, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
- Department of Obstetrics, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Dazhi Fan
- Foshan Fetal Medicine Research Institute, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
- Department of Obstetrics, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Haiyan Wang
- Foshan Fetal Medicine Research Institute, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
- Department of Obstetrics, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Xiaoyan Gou
- Foshan Fetal Medicine Research Institute, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
- Department of Obstetrics, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Xiaoling Guo
- Foshan Fetal Medicine Research Institute, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
- Department of Obstetrics, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Dongmei Suo
- Department of Obstetrics, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
- *Correspondence: Zhengping Liu, ; Fang Huang, ; Dongmei Suo,
| | - Fang Huang
- Department of Obstetrics, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
- *Correspondence: Zhengping Liu, ; Fang Huang, ; Dongmei Suo,
| | - Zhengping Liu
- Foshan Fetal Medicine Research Institute, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
- Department of Obstetrics, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
- *Correspondence: Zhengping Liu, ; Fang Huang, ; Dongmei Suo,
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Xu C, Xu J, Zhang X, Xu S, Liu Q, Weng Z, Gu A. Serum nickel is associated with craniosynostosis risk: Evidence from humans and mice. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 146:106289. [PMID: 33276314 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To date, few studies have explored the effects of exposure to metal mixtures on adverse developmental outcomes, and no reported studies have linked metal exposure to craniosynostosis (CS). The purpose of this study is to investigate the association between metal exposure and the risk of CS by conducting epidemiological and experimental studies. METHODS Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure the concentrations of 6 metals (chromium [Cr], nickel [Ni], tin [Sn], arsenic [As], thallium [Tl], and lead [Pb]) in serum samples from 174 CS patients and 85 control individuals. Non-syndromic patients with isolated sagittal suture closure were selected as the case group, and healthy children matched by sex and age were selected as controls. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were used to account for joint metal effects. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to explore the association between metal concentration and CS occurrence, with adjustment for potential confounders. During pregnancy, mice were exposed to Ni (0, 0.05, or 0.1 g/kg/day) until weaning, and the widths of the sutures and shapes of the skull were analysed by micro-CT 3D imaging and histological analysis. MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with Ni (0, 0.005, or 0.05 μg/mL) for 72 h. Alkaline phosphate (ALP) staining and Alizarin red staining were performed to observe the development of osteoblasts. The expression levels of osteoblast-related genes were also detected. RESULTS A positive association between the metal mixture and CS risk was observed based on population data; the Ni group had the highest conditional posterior inclusion probability (PIP), at 0.8416, and in the fully adjusted model, the highest Ni exposure level had a more significant association with CS (coefficient = 2.65, 95% CI: 0.29, 5.02) than the lowest Ni exposure level. The mean widths of the sagittal sutures in mice were 8.8 ± 0.6 mm in the control group, 8.0 ± 0.8 mm in the 0.05 g/kg/day group and 6.8 ± 0.4 mm in the 0.1 g/kg/day group. After Ni exposure, ALP gene expression in skull tissue was increased, and ALP activity was increased in MC3T3-E1 cells. Moreover, increased collagen content in mouse skull sections and elevated osteocalcin (OCN) expression in MC3T3-E1 cells were observed in the Ni-treated groups compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to provide evidence that increased serum Ni was associated with an increased risk of CS. Early life exposure to Ni promoted osteogenesis during skull growth, which may contribute to the development of CS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of the Ministry of Education, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of the Ministry of Education, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Department of Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of the Ministry of Education, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuqin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of the Ministry of Education, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of the Ministry of Education, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhenkun Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of the Ministry of Education, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Aihua Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of the Ministry of Education, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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Nwanaji-Enwerem JC, Colicino E, Specht AJ, Gao X, Wang C, Vokonas P, Weisskopf MG, Boyer EW, Baccarelli AA, Schwartz J. Individual species and cumulative mixture relationships of 24-hour urine metal concentrations with DNA methylation age variables in older men. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 186:109573. [PMID: 32361261 PMCID: PMC7363532 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, toxic metal exposures are a well-recognized risk factor for many adverse health outcomes. DNA methylation-based measures of biological aging are predictive of disease, but have poorly understood relationships with metal exposures. OBJECTIVE We performed a pilot study examining the relationships of 24-h urine metal concentrations with three novel DNA methylation-based measures of biological aging: DNAmAge, GrimAge, and PhenoAge. METHODS We utilized a previously established urine panel of five common metals [arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), and mercury (Hg)] found in a subset of the elderly US Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study cohort (N = 48). The measures of DNA methylation-based biological age were calculated using CpG sites on the Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) was used to determine metals most important to the aging outcomes and the relationship of the cumulative metal mixture with the outcomes. Individual relationships of important metals with the biological aging outcomes were modeled using fully-adjusted linear models controlling for chronological age, renal function, and lifestyle/environmental factors. RESULTS Mn was selected as important to PhenoAge. A 1 ng/mL increase in urine Mn was associated with a 9.93-year increase in PhenoAge (95%CI: 1.24, 18.61, p = 0.03). The cumulative urine metal mixture was associated with increases in PhenoAge. Compared to a model where each metal in the mixture is set to its 50th percentile value, every one-unit increase of the cumulative mixture with each metal at its 70th percentile was associated with a 2.53-year increase in PhenoAge (95%CI: 0.10, 4.96, P<0.05). CONCLUSION Our results add novel evidence that metals detected in urine are associated with increases in biological aging and suggest that these DNA methylation-based measures may be useful for identifying individuals at-risk for diseases related to toxic metal exposures. Further research is necessary to confirm these findings more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamaji C Nwanaji-Enwerem
- Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and MD/PhD Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Elena Colicino
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Aaron J Specht
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xu Gao
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cuicui Wang
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pantel Vokonas
- VA Normative Aging Study, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and the Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marc G Weisskopf
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Edward W Boyer
- Division of Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrea A Baccarelli
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joel Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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