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Gonzalez-Martin R, Grau-Perez M, Sebastian-Leon P, Diaz-Gimeno P, Vidal C, Tellez-Plaza M, Dominguez F. Association of blood cadmium and lead levels with self-reported reproductive lifespan and pregnancy loss: The national health and nutrition examination survey 1999-2018. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 233:116514. [PMID: 37392826 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium and lead are known to interfere with the endocrine function. Thus, hormonally regulated processes such as menarche, menopause and pregnancy are likely influenced by chronic exposure to these metals. In US post-menopausal women, who already completed their reproductive lifespan, we evaluated the association between blood cadmium and lead levels with self-reported reproductive lifespan and personal history of pregnancy loss. We selected 5317 post-menopausal women participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999-2018. Blood cadmium and lead levels were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Reproductive lifespan was defined as the number of years between self-reported age at menarche and menopause. Personal history of pregnancy loss was defined as number of self-reported pregnancy losses out of the self-reported number of pregnancies. The fully adjusted mean difference in reproductive lifespan (95% confidence interval [CI]) comparing the 80th to the 20th percentiles of blood cadmium and lead distributions was, respectively, 0.50 (0.10, 0.91) and 0.72 (0.41, 1.03) years. Ever smoker showed stronger association of blood lead with reproductive lifespan. For self-reported pregnancy loss, the corresponding fully adjusted relative prevalence (95% CI) was 1.10 (0.93, 1.31) for cadmium and 1.10 (1.00, 1.21) for lead, and remained similar after additional adjustment for reproductive lifespan. In never smokers, the relative prevalence was 1.07 (1.04, 1.11) and 1.16 (1.05, 1.28) for blood cadmium and lead, respectively. These findings suggest that blood cadmium and lead exposures increase reproductive lifespan and prevalence of pregnancy loss in the general population. Additional studies are needed to improve the understanding of mechanisms and prevention potential of metals-related pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Gonzalez-Martin
- IVI Foundation/ISS LaFe Biomedical Research Institute, Avenida Fernando Abril Martorell, 106, 46026, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Maria Grau-Perez
- Area of Cardiometabolic and Renal Risk. Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Hospital Clinic de Valencia INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Patricia Sebastian-Leon
- IVI Foundation/ISS LaFe Biomedical Research Institute, Avenida Fernando Abril Martorell, 106, 46026, Valencia, Spain
| | - Patricia Diaz-Gimeno
- IVI Foundation/ISS LaFe Biomedical Research Institute, Avenida Fernando Abril Martorell, 106, 46026, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carmen Vidal
- IVI Foundation/ISS LaFe Biomedical Research Institute, Avenida Fernando Abril Martorell, 106, 46026, Valencia, Spain; IVI/RMA Valencia, Plaza de la Policía Local, 3. 46015, Valencia, Spain
| | - Maria Tellez-Plaza
- Area of Cardiometabolic and Renal Risk. Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Hospital Clinic de Valencia INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain; Department of Chronic Diseases Epidemiology, National Center for Epidemiology, Carlos III Health Institutes, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Dominguez
- IVI Foundation/ISS LaFe Biomedical Research Institute, Avenida Fernando Abril Martorell, 106, 46026, Valencia, Spain
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Levine L, Hall JE. Does the environment affect menopause? A review of the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on menopause. Climacteric 2023; 26:206-215. [PMID: 37011670 DOI: 10.1080/13697137.2023.2173570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine disrupting chemicals are widely distributed in our environment. Humans are exposed to these compounds not only through their occupations, but also through dietary consumption and exposure to contaminated water, personal care products and textiles. Chemicals that are persistent in the body and in our environment include dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls. Non-persistent chemicals including bisphenol A, phthalates and parabens are equally as important because they are ubiquitous in our environment. Heavy metals, including lead and cadmium, can also have endocrine disrupting properties. Although difficult to study due to their variety of sources of exposures and mechanisms of action, these chemicals have been associated with early menopause, increased frequency of vasomotor symptoms, altered steroid hormone levels and markers of diminished ovarian reserve. Understanding the impacts of these exposures is important given the potential for epigenetic modification, which can alter gene function and result in multi-generational effects. This review summarizes findings in humans and animals or cell-based models from the past decade of research. Continued research is needed to assess the effects of mixtures of chemicals, chronic exposures and new compounds that are continuously being developed as replacements for toxic chemicals that are being phased out.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Levine
- Clinical Research Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - J E Hall
- Clinical Research Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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Coyte RM, Harkness JS, Darrah TH. The Abundance of Trace Elements in Human Bone Relative to Bone Type and Bone Pathology. GEOHEALTH 2022; 6:e2021GH000556. [PMID: 35663618 PMCID: PMC9148180 DOI: 10.1029/2021gh000556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
As the global population ages and the proportion of individuals afflicted with musculoskeletal disease spirals upward, there is an increasing interest in understanding and preventing bone-related diseases. Bone diseases, such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, are known to be influenced by a variety of factors including age, gender, nutrition, and genetics, but are also inherently linked to the human body's ability to produce biominerals of suitable quality. Because the crystal lattice structure and mineralogy of bone hydroxyapatite is surprisingly analogous to geological hydroxyapatite, trace element levels and exposure have long been proposed to influence the structure of biominerals as they do geological minerals (e.g., strontium substitution changes the crystal lattice of bone minerals, while toxic lead disrupt bone cellular processes leading to bone disease). Here, we explore the distribution of trace elements in human bones to evaluate the distribution of these elements with respect to bone type (cortical vs. trabecular) and bone disease (osteoarthritis vs. osteoporosis). We find higher concentrations of many metabolically active transition metals, as well as lead, in cortical bone compared to trabecular bone. When compared to patients who have osteoarthritis, and thus presumably normal bone minerals, osteoporosis patients have higher concentrations of scandium and chromium (Cr) in trabecular bone, and Cr and lead in cortical bone. Lower concentrations of barium and titanium are associated with osteoporotic trabecular bone. This survey is an exploratory cross-sectional geochemical examination of several trace element concentrations previously understudied in human bone minerals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M. Coyte
- School of Earth SciencesThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOHUSA
| | - Jennifer S. Harkness
- School of Earth SciencesThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOHUSA
- Now at California Water Science CenterU.S. Geological SurveySacramentoCAUSA
| | - Thomas H. Darrah
- School of Earth SciencesThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOHUSA
- Global Water InstituteThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOHUSA
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Wang X, Ding N, Harlow SD, Randolph JF, Mukherjee B, Gold EB, Park SK. Urinary metals and metal mixtures and timing of natural menopause in midlife women: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 157:106781. [PMID: 34311223 PMCID: PMC8490279 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106781] [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: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to metals and metal mixtures may influence ovarian aging. However, epidemiologic evidence of their potential impact is lacking. OBJECTIVE We prospectively examined the associations of 15 urinary metal concentrations and their mixtures with natural menopause in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation Multi-Pollutant Study. METHODS The study population consisted of 1082 premenopausal women from multiple racial/ethnic groups, aged 45-56 years at baseline (1999-2000), with the median follow-up of 4.1 years. Urinary concentrations of 15 metals, including arsenic, barium, cadmium, cobalt, cesium, copper, mercury, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, lead, antimony, tin, thallium, and zinc, were measured at baseline. Natural menopause was defined as the final bleeding episode prior to at least 12 months of amenorrhea, not due to surgery or hormone therapy. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine associations between individual metal concentrations and timing of natural menopause. The associations between metal mixtures and natural menopause were evaluated using elastic net penalized Cox regression, and an environmental risk score (ERS) was computed to represent individual risks of natural menopause related to metal mixtures. RESULTS The median age at natural menopause was 53.2 years. Using the Cox proportional hazards models, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) (and its 95% confidence interval (CI)) for natural menopause was 1.32 (1.03, 1.67) for arsenic and 1.36 (1.05, 1.76) for lead, comparing the highest with the lowest quartiles of metal concentrations. The predicted ages at natural menopause in the highest and lowest quartiles were 52.7 and 53.5 years for arsenic; and 52.9 and 53.8 years for lead. A significant association between ERS and menopause was also observed. Women in the highest vs. the lowest quartiles of ERS had an HR of 1.71 (1.36, 2.15), equivalent to a 1.6 year earlier median time to natural menopause. CONCLUSION This study suggests that arsenic, lead, and metal mixtures are associated with earlier natural menopause, a risk factor for adverse health outcomes in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Ning Ding
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Siobán D Harlow
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - John F Randolph
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Bhramar Mukherjee
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Ellen B Gold
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Sung Kyun Park
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
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White AJ, O'Brien KM, Niehoff NM, Jackson BP, Karagas MR, Weinberg CR, Keil AP. Toenail metal concentrations and age at menopause: A prospective study. Environ Epidemiol 2020; 4:e0104. [PMID: 32832842 PMCID: PMC7423523 DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Menopause timing is related to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. Lead has been associated with an earlier age at menopause, but no study has considered exposure to other metals or multiple metals simultaneously. METHODS At baseline, we measured toenail concentrations of 16 metals for 903 premenopausal women in the Sister Study (2003-2009). Age at menopause was ascertained through follow-up questionnaires. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between individual metals and age at menopause. We used quantile-g-computation to examine the association between age at menopause and the joint effect of a simultaneous increase in (1) all metals and for subgroups of metals categorized as (2) essential or (3) non-essential. RESULTS For individual metals, we observed negligible associations except for an interquartile range increase in lead which was modestly associated with an earlier age at menopause (HR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.05). In the mixture analyses, a quartile increase in all metals was associated with a later age at menopause (HR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.64, 1.02). The metals with the largest negative contributions (i.e., associated with a later age at menopause) were chromium and nickel. The joint effect for the essential metals remained inverse (HR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.64, 1.07), but was attenuated for nonessential metals (HR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.76, 1.24). CONCLUSIONS Although no individual metal was strongly associated with age at menopause, our joint effect analysis suggests that having low levels of essential metals could be associated with an earlier age at menopause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra J White
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Katie M O'Brien
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Nicole M Niehoff
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Brian P Jackson
- Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Margaret R Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology and Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| | - Clarice R Weinberg
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Alexander P Keil
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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Dolan LC, Flannery BM, Hoffman-Pennesi D, Gavelek A, Jones OE, Kanwal R, Wolpert B, Gensheimer K, Dennis S, Fitzpatrick S. A review of the evidence to support interim reference level for dietary lead exposure in adults. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2020; 111:104579. [PMID: 31945454 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2020.104579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
FDA developed the interim reference level (IRL) for lead of 3 μg/day in children and 12.5 μg/day in women of childbearing age (WOCBA) to better protect the fetus from lead toxicity. These IRLs correspond to a blood lead level (BLL) of 0.5 μg/dL in both populations. The current investigation was performed to determine if the IRL for WOCBA should apply to the general population of adults. A literature review of epidemiological studies was conducted to determine whether a BLL of 0.5 μg/dL is associated with adverse effects in adults. Some studies reported adverse effects over a wide range of BLLs that included 0.5 μg/dL adding uncertainty to conclusions about effects at 0.5 μg/dL; however, no studies clearly identified this BLL as an adverse effect level. Results also showed that the previously developed PTTDI for adults of 75 μg/day lead may not be health protective, supporting use of a lower reference value for lead toxicity in this population group. Use of the 12.5 μg/day IRL as a benchmark for dietary lead intake is one way FDA will ensure that dietary lead intake in adults is reduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie C Dolan
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Brenna M Flannery
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Dana Hoffman-Pennesi
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Alexandra Gavelek
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Olivia E Jones
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Richard Kanwal
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Beverly Wolpert
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Kathleen Gensheimer
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Sherri Dennis
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Suzanne Fitzpatrick
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, MD, USA
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Pizzorno J. Time to Change Standard of Care to Include Screening for Common Disease-Inducing Toxicants. Integr Med (Encinitas) 2019; 18:8-13. [PMID: 32549838 PMCID: PMC7219443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Foundational to the standard of care is diagnosis of overt disease as well as testing for early predictors of future disease. Obvious examples of the later include measurement of blood pressure and cholesterol. The time has come to add to this thinking early detection of the environmental causes of disease. Substantial research now shows that metal and chemical contamination of the environment has resulted in body loads of these toxicants at high enough levels to induce disease. The time has come to add screening for toxicant load to the standard of care.
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De Franciscis P, La Manna V, Labriola D, Genovese G, Miraglia N, Schiattarella A, Colacurci N, Torella M. Menopausa precoce e metalli pesanti. GAZZETTA MEDICA ITALIANA ARCHIVIO PER LE SCIENZE MEDICHE 2019. [DOI: 10.23736/s0393-3660.18.03791-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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9
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Tagne-Fotso R, Leroyer A, Howsam M, Dehon B, Richeval C, Nisse C. Current sources of lead exposure and their relative contributions to the blood lead levels in the general adult population of Northern France: The IMEPOGE Study, 2008-2010. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2016; 79:245-265. [PMID: 27074096 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2016.1149131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
There is justification for limiting lead (Pb) exposure as much as possible, given its impact on health at low concentrations. Consequently, the aim of this study was to measure blood lead levels (BLL) and examine exposure factors related to BLL variations in the general adult population of northern France, a current and past industrial area. Two thousand inhabitants of northern France, aged between 20 and 59 years, were recruited using the quota method with caution. Blood lead levels were quantified by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS), and variation factors were studied separately in men and women using multivariate stepwise linear and logistic regression models. The geometric mean of the BLL was 18.8 μg/L (95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.3-19.3). Occupational factors affected BLL only in men and represented 14% of total explained variance of BLL. External occupational factors significantly increasing mean levels of BLL were tobacco, consumption of some beverages (wine, coffee, tea, and/or tap water), raw vegetables, housing characteristics (built prior to 1948, Pb piping in the home) and do-it-yourself or leisure activities (paint stripping or rifle shooting). Consumption habits accounted together for 25% and 18% of the total explained variance, respectively, in men and women. Industrial environment did not significantly contribute to BLL variations. Blood lead levels observed in the general population of this industrial part of France did not appear to be excessively elevated compared to values found internationally. Nonetheless, these BLL remain a public health issue in regard to nonthreshold toxicity attributed to Pb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romuald Tagne-Fotso
- a Univ. Lille, EA 4483 -IMPECS-IMPact de l'Environnement Chimique sur la Santé humaine , Département Universitaire de Médecine et Santé au Travail , Lille , France
| | - Ariane Leroyer
- a Univ. Lille, EA 4483 -IMPECS-IMPact de l'Environnement Chimique sur la Santé humaine , Département Universitaire de Médecine et Santé au Travail , Lille , France
- b CHU Lille, Pôle de Santé Publique , Lille , France
| | - Mike Howsam
- c Univ. Lille, Centre Universitaire de Mesures et d'Analyses , Lille , France
| | - Betty Dehon
- d CHU Lille , Laboratoire de Toxicologie et Génopathies , Lille , France
| | - Camille Richeval
- d CHU Lille , Laboratoire de Toxicologie et Génopathies , Lille , France
| | - Catherine Nisse
- a Univ. Lille, EA 4483 -IMPECS-IMPact de l'Environnement Chimique sur la Santé humaine , Département Universitaire de Médecine et Santé au Travail , Lille , France
- b CHU Lille, Pôle de Santé Publique , Lille , France
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Kim Y, Lobdell DT, Wright CW, Gocheva VV, Hudgens E, Bowler RM. Blood metal concentrations of manganese, lead, and cadmium in relation to serum ferritin levels in Ohio residents. Biol Trace Elem Res 2015; 165:1-9. [PMID: 25578336 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-014-0223-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2014] [Accepted: 12/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to assess ferritin-specific profiles of blood metal concentrations such as manganese, lead, and cadmium and to evaluate whether ferritin may affect the behavior of the blood metals in relation to menstruation, menopause, or sex in Ohio residents. Recruited participants included residents from Marietta, East Liverpool, and Mt. Vernon, OH, USA, who were aged 30-75 years and lived at least 10 years in their respective town. The levels of the neurotoxic metals such as manganese, cadmium, and lead were assayed in whole blood. Serum was analyzed for ferritin level [as a biomarker of iron (Fe) status]. An association between blood metal concentrations and independent variables (age, serum ferritin, manganese exposure status, and sex) by multiple regression analysis was assessed, controlling for various covariates such as BMI, educational level, smoking, and alcohol drinking status. Overall, the geometric means of blood manganese, cadmium, and lead levels of all participants (n = 276) were 9.307 μg/L, 0.393 μg/L, and 1.276 μg/dL, respectively. Log serum ferritin concentrations were inversely associated with log blood manganese concentration (β = -0.061 log ferritin and β = 0.146 categorical ferritin) and log blood cadmium concentrations (β = -0.090 log ferritin and β = 0.256 categorical ferritin). Log serum ferritin concentrations were not associated with log blood lead concentrations. Variables of age, sex, and exposure status were not associated with log manganese concentrations; however, log blood cadmium concentrations were higher in older population, women, and smokers. Log blood lead concentrations were higher in older population, men, and postmenopausal women. Our study showed that iron deficiency is associated with increased levels of blood manganese and cadmium, but not blood lead, in Ohio residents. These metals showed different toxicokinetics in relation to age, sex, and menopausal status despite similar relationships between ferritin and metal concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangho Kim
- University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, 682-060, South Korea
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11
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Yuk JS, Lee JH, Jeon JD, Kim TJ, Lee MH, Park WI. Menopause and blood mercury levels: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2008-2011. Biol Trace Elem Res 2014; 162:1-7. [PMID: 25382663 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-014-0171-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/31/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the association between menopause and blood mercury concentrations in South Korean women. Women aged ≥20 years who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2011 were included in this study. Primary and secondary analyses included women aged ≥20 years (n = 1,642) and 45-55 years (i.e., perimenopausal; n = 325), respectively. For all analyses, the mercury levels were log-transformed. The linear regression model for mercury levels was adjusted for age, body mass index, household income, menopausal status, hormone replacement therapy, use of oral contraceptives, smoking history, alcohol intake, physical activity, number of pregnancies, serum ferritin levels, and fish consumption. After adjusting for covariates, log-transformed blood mercury levels were significantly lower in women who were menopausal [β-coefficient -0.1488; 95 % confidence interval -0.2586, -0.0389; P = 0.01) than in those who were premenopausal. A similar relationship was identified in perimenopausal women (β-coefficient -0.1753; 95 % confidence interval -0.3357, -0.015; P = 0.03). The blood mercury concentration was lower in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women. There was a significant positive correlation between blood mercury concentrations and both the frequency of alcohol intake and serum ferritin levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Sung Yuk
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Eulji University, 96 Dunsanseo-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon, 302-799, South Korea
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12
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Lee BK, Kim Y. Sex-specific Profiles of Blood Metal Levels Associated with Metal-Iron Interactions. Saf Health Work 2014; 5:113-7. [PMID: 25379323 PMCID: PMC4213922 DOI: 10.1016/j.shaw.2014.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Revised: 04/26/2014] [Accepted: 06/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms by which iron is absorbed are similar to those of divalent metals, particularly manganese, lead, and cadmium. These metals, however, show different toxicokinetics in relation to menarche or menopause, although their interaction with iron is the same. This review focuses on the kinetics of these three toxic metals (manganese, lead, and cadmium) in relation to menarche, pregnancy, and menopause. The iron–manganese interaction is the major factor determining sex-specific differences in blood manganese levels throughout the whole life cycle. The effects of estrogen overshadow the association between iron deficiency and increased blood lead concentrations, explaining why women, despite having lower ferritin concentrations, have lower blood lead concentrations than men. Iron deficiency is associated with elevated cadmium levels in premenopausal women, but not in postmenopausal women or men; these findings indicate that sex-specific differences in cadmium levels at older ages are not due to iron–cadmium interactions, and that further studies are required to identify the source of these differences. In summary, the potential causes of sex-specific differences in the blood levels of manganese, lead, and cadmium differ from each other, although all these three metals are associated with iron deficiency. Therefore, other factors such as estrogen effects, or absorption rate as well as iron deficiency, should be considered when addressing environmental exposure to toxic metals and sex-specific differences in the blood levels of these metals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yangho Kim
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea
- Corresponding author. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 290-3 Cheonha-Dong, Dong-Gu, Ulsan 682-060, Korea.
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13
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Eum KD, Weisskopf MG, Nie LH, Hu H, Korrick SA. Cumulative lead exposure and age at menopause in the Nurses' Health Study cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2014; 122:229-34. [PMID: 24398113 PMCID: PMC3948024 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1206399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2012] [Accepted: 01/03/2014] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early menopause has been associated with many adverse health outcomes, including increased risk of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. Lead has been found to be adversely associated with female reproductive function, but whether exposures experienced by the general population are associated with altered age at menopause has not been explored. OBJECTIVE Our goal was to assess the association between cumulative lead exposure and age at natural menopause. METHODS Self-reported menopausal status and bone lead concentration measured with K-shell X-ray fluorescence-a biomarker of cumulative lead exposure-were obtained from 434 women participants in the Nurses' Health Study. RESULTS The mean (± SD) age at natural menopause was 50.8 ± 3.6 years. Higher tibia lead level was associated with younger age at menopause. In adjusted analyses, the average age of menopause for women in the highest tertile of tibia lead was 1.21 years younger (95% CI: -2.08, -0.35) than for women in the lowest tertile (p-trend = 0.006). Although the number of cases was small (n = 23), the odds ratio for early menopause (< 45 years of age) was 5.30 (95% CI: 1.42, 19.78) for women in the highest tertile of tibia lead compared with those in the lowest tertile (p-trend = 0.006). There was no association between patella or blood lead and age at menopause. CONCLUSIONS Our results support an association between low-level cumulative lead exposure and an earlier age at menopause. These data suggest that low-level lead exposure may contribute to menopause-related health outcomes in older women through effects on age at menopause. CITATION Eum KD, Weisskopf MG, Nie LH, Hu H, Korrick SA. 2014. Cumulative lead exposure and age at menopause in the Nurses' Health Study Cohort. Environ Health Perspect 122:229–234; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1206399
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki-Do Eum
- Department of Environmental Health, and
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Nieboer E, Tsuji LJS, Martin ID, Liberda EN. Human biomonitoring issues related to lead exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2013; 15:1824-1829. [PMID: 23970117 DOI: 10.1039/c3em00270e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Lead as a toxic environmental metal has been an issue of concern for 30-40 years. Even though the exposures experienced by the general public have been significantly reduced, so have the acceptable blood lead concentrations assessed to safeguard health (specifically of children). The impact of these concurrent changes are reviewed and discussed in terms of the following: blood lead as the primary biomarker of exposure; pertinent toxicokinetic issues including modelling; legacy and newer sources of this toxic metal; improvements in lead quantification techniques and its characterization (chemical forms) in exposure media; and in vivo markers of lead sources. It is concluded that the progress in the quantification of lead and its characterization in exposure media have supported the efforts to identify statistical associations of lead in blood and tissues with adverse health outcomes, and have guided strategies to reduce human exposure (especially for children). To clarify the role of lead as a causative factor in disease, greater research efforts in biomarkers of effect and susceptibility seem timely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evert Nieboer
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, HSC 4N59, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada.
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