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Oluyemi K, Rechtman E, Invernizzi A, Gennings C, Renzetti S, Patrono A, Cagna G, Reichenberg A, Smith DR, Lucchini RG, Wright RO, Placidi D, Horton MK. Sex-specific associations between co-exposure to multiple metals and externalizing symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 250:118443. [PMID: 38365053 PMCID: PMC11102844 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Externalizing disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), account for the majority of the child/adolescent referrals to mental health services and increase risk for later-life psychopathology. Although the expression of externalizing disorders is more common among males, few studies have addressed how sex modifies associations between metal exposure and adolescent externalizing symptoms. This study aimed to examine sex-specific associations between co-exposure to multiple metals and externalizing symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood. Among 150 adolescents and young adults (55% female, ages: 15-25 years) enrolled in the Public Health Impact of Metals Exposure (PHIME) study in Brescia, Italy, we measured five metals (manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni)) in four biological matrices (blood, urine, hair, and saliva). Externalizing symptoms were assessed using the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) Youth Self-Report (YSR) or Adult Self Report (ASR). Using generalized weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, we investigated the moderating effect of sex (i.e., assigned at birth) on associations between the joint effect of exposure to the metal mixture and externalizing symptoms, adjusting for age and socioeconomic status. We observed that metal mixture exposure was differentially associated with aggressive behavior in males compared to females (β = -0.058, 95% CI [-0.126, -0.009]). In males, exposure was significantly associated with more externalizing problems, and aggressive and intrusive behaviors, driven by Pb, Cu and Cr. In females, exposure was not significantly associated with any externalizing symptoms. These findings suggest that the effect of metal exposure on externalizing symptoms differs in magnitude between the sexes, with males being more vulnerable to increased externalizing symptoms following metal exposure. Furthermore, our findings support the hypothesis that sex-specific vulnerabilities to mixed metal exposure during adolescence/young adulthood may play a role in sex disparities observed in mental health disorders, particularly those characterized by externalizing symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristie Oluyemi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Nash Family Department of Neuroscience Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA; The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Elza Rechtman
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Azzurra Invernizzi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chris Gennings
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stefano Renzetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandra Patrono
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Cagna
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Abraham Reichenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Donald R Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Roberto G Lucchini
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel School of Public Health, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Biomedical, Metabolic Sciences and Neurosciences, University of Modena, Italy
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Donatella Placidi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Megan K Horton
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Issah I, Duah MS, Arko-Mensah J, Bawua SA, Agyekum TP, Fobil JN. Exposure to metal mixtures and adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes: A systematic review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168380. [PMID: 37963536 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168380] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to metal mixtures is associated with adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes like low birth weight, preterm birth, and small for gestational age. However, prior studies have used individual metal analysis, lacking real-life exposure scenarios. OBJECTIVES This systematic review aims to evaluate the strength and consistency of the association between metal mixtures and pregnancy and birth outcomes, identify research gaps, and inform future studies and policies in this area. METHODS The review adhered to the updated Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) checklist, along with the guidelines for conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies of etiology (COSMOS-E). Our data collection involved searching the PubMed, MEDLINE, and SCOPUS databases. We utilized inclusion criteria to identify relevant studies. These chosen studies underwent thorough screening and data extraction procedures. Methodological quality evaluations were conducted using the NOS framework for cohort and case-control studies, and the AXIS tool for cross-sectional studies. RESULTS The review included 34 epidemiological studies, half of which focused on birth weight, and the others investigated neonate size, preterm birth, small for gestational age, miscarriage, and placental characteristics. The findings revealed significant associations between metal mixtures (including mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), barium (Ba), cesium (Cs), copper (Cu), selenium (Se), and chromium (Cr)) and adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, demonstrating diverse effects and potential interactions. CONCLUSION In conclusion, this review consistently establishes connections between metal exposure during pregnancy and adverse consequences for birth weight, gestational age, and other vital birth-related metrics. This review further demonstrates the need to apply mixture methods with caution but also shows that they can be superior to traditional approaches. Further research is warranted to deeper understand the underlying mechanisms and to develop effective strategies for mitigating the potential risks associated with metal mixture exposure during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim Issah
- West Africa Center for Global Environmental & Occupational Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Department of Surgery, Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale, Ghana.
| | - Mabel S Duah
- West Africa Center for Global Environmental & Occupational Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - John Arko-Mensah
- West Africa Center for Global Environmental & Occupational Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Serwaa A Bawua
- West Africa Center for Global Environmental & Occupational Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Thomas P Agyekum
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
| | - Julius N Fobil
- West Africa Center for Global Environmental & Occupational Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana; Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
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Invernizzi A, Renzetti S, Rechtman E, Ambrosi C, Mascaro L, Corbo D, Gasparotti R, Tang CY, Smith DR, Lucchini RG, Wright RO, Placidi D, Horton MK, Curtin P. Neuro-environmental interactions: a time sensitive matter. Front Comput Neurosci 2024; 17:1302010. [PMID: 38260714 PMCID: PMC10800942 DOI: 10.3389/fncom.2023.1302010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The assessment of resting state (rs) neurophysiological dynamics relies on the control of sensory, perceptual, and behavioral environments to minimize variability and rule-out confounding sources of activation during testing conditions. Here, we investigated how temporally-distal environmental inputs, specifically metal exposures experienced up to several months prior to scanning, affect functional dynamics measured using rs functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Methods We implemented an interpretable XGBoost-shapley additive explanation (SHAP) model that integrated information from multiple exposure biomarkers to predict rs dynamics in typically developing adolescents. In 124 participants (53% females, ages, 13-25 years) enrolled in the public health impact of metals exposure (PHIME) study, we measured concentrations of six metals (manganese, lead, chromium, copper, nickel, and zinc) in biological matrices (saliva, hair, fingernails, toenails, blood, and urine) and acquired rs-fMRI scans. Using graph theory metrics, we computed global efficiency (GE) in 111 brain areas (Harvard Oxford atlas). We used a predictive model based on ensemble gradient boosting to predict GE from metal biomarkers, adjusting for age and biological sex. Results Model performance was evaluated by comparing predicted versus measured GE. SHAP scores were used to evaluate feature importance. Measured versus predicted rs dynamics from our model utilizing chemical exposures as inputs were significantly correlated (p < 0.001, r = 0.36). Lead, chromium, and copper contributed most to the prediction of GE metrics. Discussion Our results indicate that a significant component of rs dynamics, comprising approximately 13% of observed variability in GE, is driven by recent metal exposures. These findings emphasize the need to estimate and control for the influence of past and current chemical exposures in the assessment and analysis of rs functional connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azzurra Invernizzi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Stefano Renzetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elza Rechtman
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Claudia Ambrosi
- Department of Neuroscience, Neuroradiology Unit, ASST Cremona, Cremona, Italy
| | | | - Daniele Corbo
- Department of Medical Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Gasparotti
- Department of Medical Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cheuk Y. Tang
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Donald R. Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Roberto G. Lucchini
- Department of Neuroscience, Neuroradiology Unit, ASST Cremona, Cremona, Italy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel School of Public Health, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Robert O. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Donatella Placidi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Megan K. Horton
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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Lane JM, Curtin P, Chelonis JJ, Pantic I, Martinez-Medina S, Téllez-Rojo MM, Wright RO. Prenatal manganese biomarkers and operant test battery performance in Mexican children: Effect modification by child sex. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 236:116880. [PMID: 37574101 PMCID: PMC10919280 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Manganese (Mn) is essential to healthy neurodevelopment, but both Mn deficiency and over-exposure have been linked to prefrontal cortex (PFC) impairments, the brain region that regulates cognitive and neurobehavioral processes responsible for spatial memory, learning, motivation, and time perception. These processes facilitated by attention, inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility are often sexually dimorphic and complex, driven by multiple interconnected neurologic and cognitive domains. OBJECTIVE We investigated the role of child sex as an effect modifier of the association between prenatal Mn exposure and performance in an operant testing battery (OTB) that assessed multiple cognitive and behavioral functional domains. METHODS Children (N = 575) aged 6-8 years completed five OTB tasks. Blood and urinary Mn measurements were collected from mothers in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Multiple regression models estimated the association between Mn biomarkers at each trimester with OTB performance while adjusting for socio-demographic covariates. Covariate-adjusted weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models were used to estimate the association of a Mn multi-media biomarker (MMB) mixture with OTB performance. Interaction terms were used to estimate modification effect by child sex. RESULTS Higher blood Mn exposure was associated with better response rates (more motivation) on the progressive ratio task and higher overall accuracy on the delayed matching-to-sample task. In the WQS models, the MMB mixture was associated with better response rates (more motivation) on the progressive ratio task. Additionally, for the linear and WQS models, we observed a modification effect by child sex in the progressive ratio and delayed matching-to-sample tasks. Higher prenatal Mn biomarker levels were associated with improved task performance for girls and reduced performance in boys. CONCLUSION Higher prenatal blood Mn concentrations and the MMB mixture predicted improved performance on two of five operant tasks. Higher prenatal Mn concentrations regulated executive functions in children in a sexually dimorphic manner. Higher prenatal Mn exposure is associated with improved performance on spatial memory and motivation tasks in girls, suggesting that Mn's nutritional role is sexually dimorphic, and should be considered when making dietary and/or environmental intervention recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamil M Lane
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Paul Curtin
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - John J Chelonis
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, FDA, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Ivan Pantic
- Division of Community Interventions Research, National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Sandra Martinez-Medina
- Division of Community Interventions Research, National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Martha M Téllez-Rojo
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA
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Invernizzi A, Renzetti S, Rechtman E, Ambrosi C, Mascaro L, Corbo D, Gasparotti R, Tang CY, Smith DR, Lucchini RG, Wright RO, Placidi D, Horton MK, Curtin P. Neuro-Environmental Interactions: a time sensitive matter. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.04.539456. [PMID: 37205412 PMCID: PMC10187306 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.04.539456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The assessment of resting state (rs) neurophysiological dynamics relies on the control of sensory, perceptual, and behavioral environments to minimize variability and rule-out confounding sources of activation during testing conditions. Here, we investigated how temporally-distal environmental inputs, specifically metal exposures experienced up to several months prior to scanning, affect functional dynamics measured using rs functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). We implemented an interpretable XGBoost-Shapley Additive Explanation (SHAP) model that integrated information from multiple exposure biomarkers to predict rs dynamics in typically developing adolescents. In 124 participants (53% females, ages: 13-25 years) enrolled in the Public Health Impact of Metals Exposure (PHIME) study, we measured concentrations of six metals (manganese, lead, chromium, cupper, nickel and zinc) in biological matrices (saliva, hair, fingernails, toenails, blood and urine) and acquired rs-fMRI scans. Using graph theory metrics, we computed global efficiency (GE) in 111 brain areas (Harvard Oxford Atlas). We used a predictive model based on ensemble gradient boosting to predict GE from metal biomarkers, adjusting for age and biological sex. Model performance was evaluated by comparing predicted versus measured GE. SHAP scores were used to evaluate feature importance. Measured versus predicted rs dynamics from our model utilizing chemical exposures as inputs were significantly correlated ( p < 0.001, r = 0.36). Lead, chromium, and copper contributed most to the prediction of GE metrics. Our results indicate that a significant component of rs dynamics, comprising approximately 13% of observed variability in GE, is driven by recent metal exposures. These findings emphasize the need to estimate and control for the influence of past and current chemical exposures in the assessment and analysis of rs functional connectivity.
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Invernizzi A, Rechtman E, Oluyemi K, Renzetti S, Curtin P, Colicino E, Ambrosi C, Mascaro L, Patrono A, Corbo D, Cagna G, Gasparotti R, Reichenberg A, Tang CY, Smith DR, Placidi D, Lucchini RG, Wright RO, Horton MK. Topological network properties of resting-state functional connectivity patterns are associated with metal mixture exposure in adolescents. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1098441. [PMID: 36814793 PMCID: PMC9939635 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1098441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Adolescent exposure to neurotoxic metals adversely impacts cognitive, motor, and behavioral development. Few studies have addressed the underlying brain mechanisms of these metal-associated developmental outcomes. Furthermore, metal exposure occurs as a mixture, yet previous studies most often consider impacts of each metal individually. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the relationship between exposure to neurotoxic metals and topological brain metrics in adolescents. Methods In 193 participants (53% females, ages: 15-25 years) enrolled in the Public Health Impact of Metals Exposure (PHIME) study, we measured concentrations of four metals (manganese, lead, copper, and chromium) in multiple biological media (blood, urine, hair, and saliva) and acquired resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. Using graph theory metrics, we computed global and local efficiency (global:GE; local:LE) in 111 brain areas (Harvard Oxford Atlas). We used weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models to examine association between metal mixtures and each graph metric (GE or LE), adjusted for sex and age. Results We observed significant negative associations between the metal mixture and GE and LE [βGE = -0.076, 95% CI (-0.122, -0.031); βLE= -0.051, 95% CI (-0.095, -0.006)]. Lead and chromium measured in blood contributed most to this association for GE, while chromium measured in hair contributed the most for LE. Discussion Our results suggest that exposure to this metal mixture during adolescence reduces the efficiency of integrating information in brain networks at both local and global levels, informing potential neural mechanisms underlying the developmental toxicity of metals. Results further suggest these associations are due to combined joint effects to different metals, rather than to a single metal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azzurra Invernizzi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Elza Rechtman
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kristie Oluyemi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Stefano Renzetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paul Curtin
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Elena Colicino
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | | | | | - Alessandra Patrono
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Daniele Corbo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Cagna
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Gasparotti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Abraham Reichenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Cheuk Y. Tang
- Department of Medical Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Donald R. Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Donatella Placidi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto G. Lucchini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel School of Public Health, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Robert O. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Megan K. Horton
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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Li S, Yang C, Yi X, Wei R, Aschner M, Jiang Y, Ou S, Yao C. Effects of Sub-chronic Lead Exposure on Essential Element Levels in Mice. Biol Trace Elem Res 2023; 201:282-293. [PMID: 35133610 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-022-03137-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Lead (Pb), a corrosion-resistant heavy non-ferrous metal, is one of the most common environmental neurotoxic metals. The effects of Pb on other essential metal elements are contradictory. Therefore, this in vivo study addressed the effects of sub-chronic Pb exposure on the distribution of other divalent metals, exploring the relationships between Pb levels in blood, teeth, bones, hair, and brain tissues. Thirty-two healthy male C57BL/6 mice received intragastric administration (i.g.) with 0, 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg Pb acetate, once a day for 8 weeks. Levels of Pb and other metal elements [including iron(Fe), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), and calcium(Ca)] in the whole blood, teeth, the right thighbone, hair, and brain tissues (including cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and hypothalamus) were detected with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Pb levels in all detected organs were increased after Pb-exposed for 8 weeks. The results of relationship analysis between Pb levels in the tissues and lifetime cumulative Pb exposure (LCPE) showed that Pb levels in the blood, bone, and hair could indirectly reflect the Pb accumulation in the murine brain. These measures might serve as valuable biomarkers for chronic Pb exposure reflective of the accumulation of Pb in the central nervous system (CNS). Sub-chronic Pb exposure for 8 weeks altered Ca, Cu, Fe, and Zn levels, but no effects were noted on Mg levels in any of the analyzed tissues. Pb decreased Ca in teeth, Cu in thighbone and teeth, Zn in whole blood and hair, and Fe in hair. In contrast, Pb increased Ca levels in corpus striatum and hypothalamus, Cu levels in striatum, Zn levels in teeth, and Fe levels in hippocampus, thighbone, and teeth. The Pb-induced changes in metal ratios in various tissues may serve as valuable biomarkers for chronic Pb exposure as they are closely related to the accumulations of Pb in the murine CNS. The results suggest that altered distribution of several essential metal elements may be involved in Pb-induced neurotoxicity. Additional studies should address the interaction between Pb and essential metal elements in the CNS and other organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaojun Li
- Teaching and Research Section of Hygienic Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Rd, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, People's Republic of China.
- Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
| | - Chun Yang
- Teaching and Research Section of Hygienic Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Rd, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiang Yi
- Teaching and Research Section of Hygienic Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Rd, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Ruokun Wei
- Teaching and Research Section of Hygienic Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Rd, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Yueming Jiang
- Teaching and Research Section of Hygienic Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Rd, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Shiyan Ou
- Teaching and Research Section of Hygienic Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, No. 22 Shuangyong Rd, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, People's Republic of China
- Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Highly Prevalent Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Chaocong Yao
- Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery, Hezhou People's Hospital, No. 150 Xiyue Rd, Hezhou, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
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Relationship of Blood and Urinary Manganese Levels with Cognitive Function in Elderly Individuals in the United States by Race/Ethnicity, NHANES 2011-2014. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10040191. [PMID: 35448452 PMCID: PMC9025725 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10040191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Manganese (Mn) is an essential metal with a biphasic relationship with health outcomes. High-level exposure to Mn is associated with manganism, but few data explore the effects of chronic, lower-level Mn on cognitive function in adults. We sought to determine the relationship between blood/urinary manganese levels and cognitive function in elderly individuals using 2011-2014 data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Weighted multivariate regression models were used to determine correlations, adjusting for several covariates. Blood Mn was inversely associated with the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) immediate learning of new verbal information (p-value = 0.04), but lost significance after adjusting for medical history (p-value = 0.09). In addition, blood Mn was inversely associated with Animal Fluency scores after adjusting for all covariates. Urinary Mn was inversely associated with CERAD immediate learning after adjusting for all covariates (p-value = 0.01) and inversely associated with the Digit Symbol Substitution Test scores (p-value = 0.0002), but lost significance after adjusting for medical history (p-value = 0.13). Upon stratifying by race/ethnicity, other Races and Non-Hispanic (NH)-Blacks had significantly higher blood Mn levels when compared to NH-Whites. Collectively, these findings suggest that increased blood and urinary Mn levels are associated with poorer cognitive function in an elderly US population.
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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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10
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Zheng J, Li M, Tang B, Luo W, Ma Y, Ren M, Yu Y, Luo X, Mai B. Levels, Spatial Distribution, and Impact Factors of Heavy Metals in the Hair of Metropolitan Residents in China and Human Health Implications. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:10578-10588. [PMID: 34296597 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Chronic exposure to low levels of heavy metals threatens human health. However, few studies evaluated the health effects and spatial distributions of chronic exposure to heavy metals in metropolitan residents throughout mainland China using unified sampling methods and evaluation indicators at the national level. Here, the concentrations and spatial distributions of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Sb, Pb, and Hg) in the hair of 1202 metropolitan residents from mainland China were analyzed, and differences in age and sex were evaluated. Most target metals exhibited higher concentrations in the hair of residents from South Central China. Generally, male hair had higher As and Se concentrations, whereas female hair had higher Cd and Pb levels (p < 0.05). A significant pairwise correlation existed between most metals in hair, especially Cd-Pb (r = 0.638, p < 0.05). The Se/heavy metal molar ratio is used as an indicator to assess the detoxification ability. The results demonstrated that protecting metropolitan residents in South Central China from heavy metals in their daily life is crucial, particularly for Hg, Pb, and Cr with Se/(Hg, Pb, or Cr) molar ratios < 1. This is the first study to comprehensively consider the antagonistic effects of Se and heavy metals using the molar ratio of Se/heavy metals to evaluate health implications and propose health management policies for metropolitan residents in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zheng
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Guangzhou 510655, P. R. China
| | - Min Li
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Guangzhou 510655, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Resources Utilization and Protection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P. R. China
| | - Bin Tang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Guangzhou 510655, P. R. China
| | - Weikeng Luo
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Guangzhou 510655, P. R. China
| | - Yan Ma
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Guangzhou 510655, P. R. China
| | - Mingzhong Ren
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Guangzhou 510655, P. R. China
| | - Yunjiang Yu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Guangzhou 510655, P. R. China
| | - Xiaojun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Resources Utilization and Protection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China
| | - Bixian Mai
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Resources Utilization and Protection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Control, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China
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11
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Nephrotoxic Metal Mixtures and Preadolescent Kidney Function. CHILDREN-BASEL 2021; 8:children8080673. [PMID: 34438564 PMCID: PMC8391795 DOI: 10.3390/children8080673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to metals including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As), may impair kidney function as individual toxicants or in mixtures. However, no single medium is ideal to study multiple metals simultaneously. We hypothesized that multi-media biomarkers (MMBs), integrated indices combining information across biomarkers, are informative of adverse kidney function. Levels of Pb, Cd, and As were quantified in blood and urine in 4–6-year-old Mexican children (n = 300) in the PROGRESS longitudinal cohort study. We estimated the mixture effects of these metals, using weighted quantile sum regression (WQS) applied to urine biomarkers (Umix), blood biomarkers (Bmix), and MMBs, on the cystatin C-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and serum cystatin C assessed at 8–10 years of age, adjusted for covariates. Quartile increases in Umix and the MMB mixture were associated with 2.5% (95%CI: 0.1, 5.0) and 3.0% (95%CI: 0.2, 5.7) increased eGFR and −2.6% (95% CI: −5.1%, −0.1%) and −3.3% (95% CI: −6.5%, −0.1%) decreased cystatin C, respectively. Weights indicate that the strongest contributors to the associations with eGFR and serum cystatin C were Cd and Pb, respectively. MMBs detected mixture effects distinct from associations with individual metals or media-type, highlighting the benefits of incorporating information from multiple exposure media in mixtures analyses.
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12
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Van Horne YO, Farzan SF, Johnston JE. Metal-mixtures in toenails of children living near an active industrial facility in Los Angeles County, California. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2021; 31:427-441. [PMID: 33935287 PMCID: PMC8893014 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-021-00330-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children residing in communities near metalworking industries are vulnerable to multiple toxic metal exposures. Understanding biomarkers of exposure to multiple toxic metals is important to characterize cumulative burden and to distinguish potential exposure sources in such environmental justice neighborhoods impacted by industrial operations. Exposure to metal mixtures has not been well-characterized among children residing in the United States, and is understudied in communities of color. METHODS In this study we used toenail clippings, a noninvasive biomarker, to assess exposure to arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), selenium (Se), and vanadium (V). We used nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) to identify "source" signatures and patterns of exposure among predominantly working class Latinx children residing near an industrial corridor in Southeast Los Angeles County. Additionally, we investigated the association between participant demographic, spatial, and dietary characteristics with identified metal signatures. RESULTS Through NMF, we identified three groupings (source factors) for the metal concentrations in children's toenails. A grouping composed of Sb, Pb, As, and Cd, was identified as a potential industrial source factor, reflective of known airborne elemental emissions in the industrial corridor. We further identified a manganese source factor primarily composed of Mn, and a potential dietary source factor driven by Se and Hg. We observed differences in the industrial source factor by age of participants, while the dietary source factor varied by neighborhood. CONCLUSION Utilizing an unsupervised dimension reduction technique (NMF), we identified a "source signature" of contamination in toenail samples from children living near metalworking industry. Investigating patterns and sources of exposures in cumulatively burdened communities is necessary to identify appropriate public health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshira Ornelas Van Horne
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shohreh F Farzan
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jill E Johnston
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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13
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Oliveira AS, Costa EAC, Pereira EC, Freitas MAS, Freire BM, Batista BL, Luz MS, Olympio KPK. The applicability of fingernail lead and cadmium levels as subchronic exposure biomarkers for preschool children. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 758:143583. [PMID: 33243496 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Preschool children are exposed daily to metals in their homes and at daycare centers (DCC). Metal exposure and health effects are associated even at low levels, and children comprise a group of public health concern. Nail metals have been studied for exposure biomonitoring and compared to other biological media. The aim of this study was to explore the applicability of preschool fingernail lead and cadmium as subchronic exposure biomarkers. Nail lead and cadmium levels (NLL and NCL) of 602 preschool children (age: 1-4 years) who attended 21 DCC in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2013 were analyzed. Results were compared against blood lead and cadmium levels (BLL and BCL) found in a previous study. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses were performed for both samples. DCC and metal contaminated sites (MCS) were georeferencing. Logistic regression tests were applied to verify associations between nail metal levels and risk factors (sex, age, maternal education, secondary smoking, DCC geographic district, vehicle flow density, relative altitude and distance between DCC and nearest MCS) (p < 0.05). BLL was stratified by exposure level (low: <5 μg.dL-1; high: >13.9 μg.dL-1; medium: ≥5 μg.dL-1 and ≤13.9 μg.dL-1) and also tested the associations in order to verify if nail lead levels are affected by exposure intensity defined by blood metals concentrations. Radius distance and relative altitude of DCC to nearest MCS were associated with high NLL and NCL. Abnormal appearance of nails was associated with high NLL and low NCL. Lead and cadmium exposure magnitude had no significant impact on NLL. NLL should only be used for initial screening, and when financial resources are scarce, especially in areas located near contaminated sites. Preschool children were co-exposed to both lead and cadmium, reinforcing the need for broader studies evaluating exposure to environmental pollutants for more than one chemical element.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Oliveira
- Departamento de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715, Cerqueira César, CEP 01246-904 São Paulo, SP, Brazil..
| | - E A C Costa
- Centro de Engenharia, Modelagem e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Avenida dos Estados, 5001, Santa Terezinha, CEP 09210-580 Santo André, SP, Brazil.
| | - E C Pereira
- Departamento de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715, Cerqueira César, CEP 01246-904 São Paulo, SP, Brazil..
| | - M A S Freitas
- Laboratório de Processos Metalúrgicos, Centro de Tecnologia em Metalurgia e Materiais, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Almeida Prado, 532, Cidade Universitária, Butantã, CEP 05508-901 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - B M Freire
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Avenida dos Estados, 5001, Santa Terezinha, CEP 09210-580 Santo André, SP, Brazil.
| | - B L Batista
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Avenida dos Estados, 5001, Santa Terezinha, CEP 09210-580 Santo André, SP, Brazil.
| | - M S Luz
- Laboratório de Processos Metalúrgicos, Centro de Tecnologia em Metalurgia e Materiais, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Almeida Prado, 532, Cidade Universitária, Butantã, CEP 05508-901 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - K P K Olympio
- Departamento de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715, Cerqueira César, CEP 01246-904 São Paulo, SP, Brazil..
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14
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Levin-Schwartz Y, Claus Henn B, Gennings C, Coull BA, Placidi D, Horton MK, Smith DR, Lucchini RG, Wright RO. Integrated measures of lead and manganese exposure improve estimation of their joint effects on cognition in Italian school-age children. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 146:106312. [PMID: 33395951 PMCID: PMC7785864 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Every day humans are exposed to mixtures of chemicals, such as lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn). An underappreciated aspect of studying the health effects of mixtures is the role that the exposure biomarker media (blood, hair, etc.) may play in estimating the effects of the mixture. Different biomarker media represent different aspects of each chemical's toxicokinetics, thus no single medium can fully capture the toxicokinetic profile for all the chemicals in a mixture. A potential solution to this problem is to combine exposure data across different media to derive integrated estimates of each chemical's internal concentration. This concept, formalized as a multi-media biomarker (MMB) has proven effective for estimating the health impacts of Pb exposure, but may also be useful to estimate mixture effects, such as the joint effects of metals like Pb and Mn, while factoring in how the association changes based upon the biomarker media. Levels of Pb and Mn were quantified in five media: blood, hair, nails, urine, and saliva in the Public Health Impact of Metals Exposure (PHIME) project, a study of Italian adolescents aged 10-14 years. MMBs were derived for both metals using weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression across the five media. Age-adjusted Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) IQ scores, measured at the same time as the exposure measures, were the primary outcome and models were adjusted for sex and socioeconomic status. The levels Pb and Mn were relatively low, with median blood Pb of 1.27 (IQR: 0.84) μg/dL and median blood Mn of 1.09 (IQR: 0.45) μg/dL. Quartile increases in a Pb-Mn combination predicted decreased Full Scale IQ of 1.9 points (95% CI: 0.3, 3.5) when Pb and Mn exposure levels were estimated using MMBs, while individual regressions for each metal were not associated with Full Scale IQ. Additionally, a quartile increase in the WQS index of Pb and Mn, measured using MMBs, were associated with reductions in Verbal IQ by 2.8 points (1.0, 4.5). Weights that determine the contributions of the metals to the joint effect highlighted that the contribution of the Pb-Mn was 72-28% for Full Scale IQ and 42-58% for Verbal IQ. We found that the joint effects of Pb and Mn are strongly affected by the medium used to measure exposure and that the joint effects of the Pb and Mn MMBs on cognition were the stronger than any individual biomarker. Thus, increase power and accuracy for measuring mixture effects compared to individual biomarkers. As the number of chemicals in mixtures increases, appropriate biomarker selection will become increasingly important and MMBs are a natural way to reduce bias in such analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Levin-Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Birgit Claus Henn
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chris Gennings
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brent A Coull
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Donatella Placidi
- Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Megan K Horton
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Donald R Smith
- Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Roberto G Lucchini
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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15
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Rechtman E, Curtin P, Papazaharias DM, Renzetti S, Cagna G, Peli M, Levin-Schwartz Y, Placidi D, Smith DR, Lucchini RG, Wright RO, Horton MK. Sex-specific associations between co-exposure to multiple metals and visuospatial learning in early adolescence. Transl Psychiatry 2020; 10:358. [PMID: 33087698 PMCID: PMC7578810 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-01041-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The predisposition, severity, and progression of many diseases differ between males and females. Sex-related differences in susceptibility to neurotoxicant exposures may provide insight into the cause of the observed discrepancy. Early adolescence, a period of substantial structural and functional brain changes, may present a critical window of vulnerability to environmental exposures. This study aimed to examine sex-specific associations between co-exposure to multiple metals and visuospatial memory in early adolescence. Manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and copper (Cu) were measured in blood, urine, hair, nails, and saliva of 188 participants (88 girls; 10-14 years of age). Visuospatial memory skills were assessed using a computerized maze task, the virtual radial arm maze (VRAM). Using generalized weighted quantile sum regression, we investigated sex-specific associations between the combined effect of exposure to the metal mixture and visuospatial working memory and determined the contribution of each component to the outcome. The results suggest that sex moderates the association between the metal mixture and visuospatial learning for all outcomes measured. In girls, exposure was associated with slower visuospatial learning and driven by Mn and Cu. In boys, exposure was associated with faster visuospatial learning, and driven by Cr. These results suggest that (a) the effect of metal co-exposure on learning differs in magnitude, and in the direction between sexes, and (b) early adolescence may be a sensitive developmental period for metal exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elza Rechtman
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Paul Curtin
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Demetrios M Papazaharias
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stefano Renzetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Cagna
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Peli
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Yuri Levin-Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Donatella Placidi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Donald R Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Roberto G Lucchini
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- School of Public Health, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Megan K Horton
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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