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Naspolini NF, Vanzele PAR, Tótolo P, Schüroff PA, Fatori D, Vicentini Neto SA, Barata-Silva C, dos Santos LMG, Fujita A, Passos-Bueno MR, Beltrão-Braga PCB, Campos AC, Carvalho ACPLF, Polanczyk GV, Moreira JC, Taddei CR. Lead contamination in human milk affects infants' language trajectory: results from a prospective cohort study. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1450570. [PMID: 39193201 PMCID: PMC11347280 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1450570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Infants growing up in low- and middle-income countries are at increased risk of suffering adverse childhood experiences, including exposure to environmental pollution and lack of cognitive stimulation. In this study, we aimed to examine the levels of metals in the human milk of women living in São Paulo City, Brazil, and determine the effects on infants' neurodevelopment. For such, a total of 185 human milk samples were analyzed for arsenic (As), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We applied the Bayley scales of infant and toddler development Third Edition (Bayley-III) to assess developmental milestones. In our analysis, we found a mean (standard deviation) concentration of As in human milk equal to 2.76 (4.09) μg L-1, followed by Pb 2.09 (5.36) and Hg 1.96 (6.68). Cd was not detected. We observed that infants exposed to Pb presented language trajectories lower than non-exposed infants (β = -0.413; 95% CI -0.653, -0.173) after adjustment for infant age, maternal education, socioeconomic status, infant sex, and sample weights. Our results report As, Pb, and Hg contamination in human milk, and that infant exposure to Pb decreased infants' language development. These results evidence maternal-child environmental exposure and its detrimental impact on infants' health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pedro A. R. Vanzele
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro Tótolo
- Institute of Mathematics and Statistics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Daniel Fatori
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratorio de Psicopatologia e Terapeutica Psiquiatrica LIM-23, Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Santos Alves Vicentini Neto
- Department of Chemistry, National Institute for Quality Control in Health (INCQS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (INCQS/Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Barata-Silva
- Department of Chemistry, National Institute for Quality Control in Health (INCQS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (INCQS/Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lisia Maria Gobbo dos Santos
- Department of Chemistry, National Institute for Quality Control in Health (INCQS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (INCQS/Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - André Fujita
- Institute of Mathematics and Statistics, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Division of Network AI Statistics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Maria Rita Passos-Bueno
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patricia C. B. Beltrão-Braga
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Institut Pasteur de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alline C. Campos
- Department of Pharmacology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - André C. P. L. F. Carvalho
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Institute of Mathematics and Computer Sciences, University of São Paulo, Sao Carlos, Brazil
| | - Guilherme V. Polanczyk
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Josino Costa Moreira
- Department of Chemistry, National Institute for Quality Control in Health (INCQS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (INCQS/Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carla R. Taddei
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Boffetta P, Sambati L, Sassano M. Systematic review of studies on exposure to arsenic in drinking water and cognitive and neurobehavioral effects. Crit Rev Toxicol 2024; 54:174-193. [PMID: 38533692 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2023.2297751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
An association between exposure to arsenic (As) and neurologic and behavioral effects has been reported in some studies, but no systematic review is available of the evidence linking As in drinking water and neurobehavioral effects after consideration of study quality and potential confounding, with focus on low-level circumstances of exposure. We conducted a systematic review and reported it in compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, through a search of the databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase. We included in the review the studies reporting results based on exposure from drinking water in humans. Endpoints were heterogeneous across studies, so we classified them into eight broad domains and developed an ad-hoc system to evaluate their methodological quality, based on three tiers. It was not possible to conduct meta-analysis because of the heterogeneity in exposure assessment and in the definition and assessment of outcomes. The search identified 18,518 articles. After elimination of duplicates and irrelevant articles, we retained 106 articles which reported results on As exposure and neurobehavioral effects, of which 22 reported risk estimates from exposure in drinking water (six among adults and 16 among children). None of the studies was conducted blindly. Among the studies in adults, two, which were conducted in highly exposed populations, were classified as high quality. These two studies were broadly consistent in reporting an association between exposure to As and decline in cognitive function; however, they provide no evidence of an association for exposure below 75 μg/L. The four lower-quality studies were based on populations with low exposure; these studies reported associations with inconsistent outcomes, few of which remained statistically significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. Among the five high-quality studies of children, one reported an association between As in drinking water and intellectual function, whereas none of the other studies reported an association with different neurobehavioral indicators, after adjusting for potential confounders and multiple comparisons. Out of seven intermediate-quality studies, three reported an association with cognitive function or other outcomes; but sources of bias were not adequately controlled. The remaining studies were negative. The four low-quality studies did not contribute to the overall evidence because of methodological limitations. Our assessment of the available literature showed a lack of evidence for a causal association between exposure to As in drinking water and neurobehavioral effects. To clarify whether such an association exists, further studies prospectively evaluating changes in both the concentration of As in drinking water during the life course, and neurobehavioral outcomes, as well as appropriately controlling for potential confounders, are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Boffetta
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Luisa Sambati
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michele Sassano
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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3
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Schrenk D, Bignami M, Bodin L, Chipman JK, del Mazo J, Grasl‐Kraupp B, Hogstrand C, Hoogenboom L(R, Leblanc J, Nebbia CS, Nielsen E, Ntzani E, Petersen A, Sand S, Vleminckx C, Wallace H, Barregård L, Benford D, Broberg K, Dogliotti E, Fletcher T, Rylander L, Abrahantes JC, Gómez Ruiz JÁ, Steinkellner H, Tauriainen T, Schwerdtle T. Update of the risk assessment of inorganic arsenic in food. EFSA J 2024; 22:e8488. [PMID: 38239496 PMCID: PMC10794945 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The European Commission asked EFSA to update its 2009 risk assessment on arsenic in food carrying out a hazard assessment of inorganic arsenic (iAs) and using the revised exposure assessment issued by EFSA in 2021. Epidemiological studies show that the chronic intake of iAs via diet and/or drinking water is associated with increased risk of several adverse outcomes including cancers of the skin, bladder and lung. The CONTAM Panel used the benchmark dose lower confidence limit based on a benchmark response (BMR) of 5% (relative increase of the background incidence after adjustment for confounders, BMDL05) of 0.06 μg iAs/kg bw per day obtained from a study on skin cancer as a Reference Point (RP). Inorganic As is a genotoxic carcinogen with additional epigenetic effects and the CONTAM Panel applied a margin of exposure (MOE) approach for the risk characterisation. In adults, the MOEs are low (range between 2 and 0.4 for mean consumers and between 0.9 and 0.2 at the 95th percentile exposure, respectively) and as such raise a health concern despite the uncertainties.
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Chandravanshi LP, Agrawal P, Darwish HW, Trigun SK. Impairments of Spatial Memory and N-methyl-d-aspartate Receptors and Their Postsynaptic Signaling Molecules in the Hippocampus of Developing Rats Induced by As, Pb, and Mn Mixture Exposure. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1715. [PMID: 38137163 PMCID: PMC10742016 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13121715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to metal mixtures is recognized as a real-life scenario, needing novel studies that can assess their complex effects on brain development. There is still a significant public health concern associated with chronic low levels of metal exposure. In contrast to other metals, these three metals (As, Pb, and Mn) are commonly found in various environmental and industrial contexts. In addition to additive or synergistic interactions, concurrent exposure to this metal mixture may also have neurotoxic effects that differ from those caused by exposure to single components. The NMDA receptor and several important signaling proteins are involved in learning, memory, and synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, including CaMKII, postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95), synaptic Ras GTPase activating protein (SynGAP), a negative regulator of Ras-MAPK activity, and CREB. We hypothesized that alterations in the above molecular players may contribute to metal mixture developmental neurotoxicity. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of these metals and their mixture at low doses (As 4 mg, Pb 4 mg, and Mn 10 mg/kg bw/p.o) on NMDA receptors and their postsynaptic signaling proteins during developing periods (GD6 to PD59) of the rat brain. Rats exposed to As, Pb, and Mn individually or at the same doses in a triple-metal mixture (MM) showed impairments in learning and memory functions in comparison to the control group rats. Declined protein expressions of NR2A, PSD-95, p- CaMKII, and pCREB were observed in the metal mix-exposed rats, while the expression of SynGAP was found to be enhanced in the hippocampus as compared to the controls on PD60. Thereby, our data suggest that alterations in the NMDA receptor complex and postsynaptic signaling proteins could explain the cognitive dysfunctions caused by metal-mixture-induced developmental neurotoxicity in rats. These outcomes indicate that incessant metal mixture exposure may have detrimental consequences on brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalit P. Chandravanshi
- Department of Forensic Science, Sharda University, Greater Noida 201308, India; (L.P.C.); (P.A.)
| | - Prashant Agrawal
- Department of Forensic Science, Sharda University, Greater Noida 201308, India; (L.P.C.); (P.A.)
| | - Hany W. Darwish
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Surendra Kumar Trigun
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
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Baj J, Flieger W, Barbachowska A, Kowalska B, Flieger M, Forma A, Teresiński G, Portincasa P, Buszewicz G, Radzikowska-Büchner E, Flieger J. Consequences of Disturbing Manganese Homeostasis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14959. [PMID: 37834407 PMCID: PMC10573482 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Manganese (Mn) is an essential trace element with unique functions in the body; it acts as a cofactor for many enzymes involved in energy metabolism, the endogenous antioxidant enzyme systems, neurotransmitter production, and the regulation of reproductive hormones. However, overexposure to Mn is toxic, particularly to the central nervous system (CNS) due to it causing the progressive destruction of nerve cells. Exposure to manganese is widespread and occurs by inhalation, ingestion, or dermal contact. Associations have been observed between Mn accumulation and neurodegenerative diseases such as manganism, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. People with genetic diseases associated with a mutation in the gene associated with impaired Mn excretion, kidney disease, iron deficiency, or a vegetarian diet are at particular risk of excessive exposure to Mn. This review has collected data on the current knowledge of the source of Mn exposure, the experimental data supporting the dispersive accumulation of Mn in the brain, the controversies surrounding the reference values of biomarkers related to Mn status in different matrices, and the competitiveness of Mn with other metals, such as iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), calcium (Ca). The disturbed homeostasis of Mn in the body has been connected with susceptibility to neurodegenerative diseases, fertility, and infectious diseases. The current evidence on the involvement of Mn in metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus/insulin resistance, osteoporosis, obesity, atherosclerosis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, was collected and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacek Baj
- Chair and Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland; (W.F.); (A.F.)
| | - Wojciech Flieger
- Chair and Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland; (W.F.); (A.F.)
| | - Aleksandra Barbachowska
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Burn Surgery, Medical University of Lublin, 21-010 Łęczna, Poland;
| | - Beata Kowalska
- Department of Water Supply and Wastewater Disposal, Lublin University of Technology, 20-618 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Michał Flieger
- Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland; (M.F.); (G.T.); (G.B.)
| | - Alicja Forma
- Chair and Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland; (W.F.); (A.F.)
| | - Grzegorz Teresiński
- Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland; (M.F.); (G.T.); (G.B.)
| | - Piero Portincasa
- Clinica Medica A. Murri, Department of Biomedical Sciences & Human Oncology, Medical School, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Grzegorz Buszewicz
- Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland; (M.F.); (G.T.); (G.B.)
| | | | - Jolanta Flieger
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
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Kapwata T, Wright CY, Reddy T, Street R, Kunene Z, Mathee A. Relations between personal exposure to elevated concentrations of arsenic in water and soil and blood arsenic levels amongst people living in rural areas in Limpopo, South Africa. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:65204-65216. [PMID: 37079235 PMCID: PMC10116462 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26813-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to arsenic even at low levels can lead to adverse health outcomes, however, there is a paucity of research from South Africa in relation to human exposure to arsenic. We investigated long-term exposure of residents in Limpopo province, South Africa, in a cross-sectional study by analysing water, soil and blood arsenic concentrations from two arsenic-exposed (high and medium-low exposure) villages and one non-exposed (control) village. There were statistically significant differences in the distribution of arsenic in water, soil and blood amongst the three sites. The median drinking water arsenic concentration in the high-exposure village was 1.75 µg/L (range = 0.02 to 81.30 µg/L), 0.45 µg/L (range = 0.100 to 6.00 µg/L) in the medium- / low-exposure village and 0.15 µg/L (range = < limit of detection (LOD) to 29.30 µg/L) in the control site. The median soil arsenic concentration in the high-exposure village was 23.91 mg/kg (range = < LOD to 92.10 mg/kg) whilst arsenic concentrations were below the limit of detection in all soil samples collected from the medium-/low-exposure and control villages. In the high-exposure village, the median blood arsenic concentration was 1.6 µg/L (range = 0.7 to 4.2 µg/L); 0.90 µg/L (range = < LOD to 2.5 µg/L) in the medium-/low-exposure village and 0.6 µg/L (range = < LOD to 3.3 µg/L) in the control village. Significant percentages of drinking water, soil and blood samples from the exposed sites were above the internationally recommended guidelines (namely, 10 µg/L, 20 mg/kg and 1 µg/L, respectively). Majority of participants (86%) relied on borehole water for drinking and there was a significant positive correlation between arsenic in blood and borehole water (p-value = 0.031). There was also a statistically significant correlation between arsenic concentrations in participants' blood and soil samples collected from gardens (p-value = 0.051). Univariate quantile regression found that blood arsenic concentrations increased by 0.034 µg/L (95% CI = 0.02-0.05) for each one unit increase in water arsenic concentrations (p < 0.001). After adjusting for age, water source and homegrown vegetable consumption in multivariate quantile regression, participants from the high-exposure site had significantly higher blood concentrations than those in the control site (coefficient: 1.00; 95% CI = 0.25-1.74; p-value = 0.009) demonstrating that blood arsenic is a good biomarker of arsenic exposure. Our findings also provide new evidence for South Africa on the association between drinking water and arsenic exposure, emphasising the need for the provision of potable water for human consumption in areas with high environmental arsenic concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thandi Kapwata
- Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg, 2028, South Africa.
- Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, 2028, South Africa.
| | - Caradee Y Wright
- Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, 0084, South Africa
- Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
| | - Tarylee Reddy
- Biostatistics Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Durban, 4001, South Africa
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, University of KwaZulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 3201, South Africa
| | - Renee Street
- Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, 2028, South Africa
- Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Durban, 4001, South Africa
| | - Zamantimande Kunene
- Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg, 2028, South Africa
- Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, 2028, South Africa
| | - Angela Mathee
- Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg, 2028, South Africa
- Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, 2028, South Africa
- School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2028, South Africa
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7
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Wang YH, Wang YQ, Yu XG, Lin Y, Liu JX, Wang WY, Yan CH. Chronic environmental inorganic arsenic exposure causes social behavioral changes in juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 867:161296. [PMID: 36592900 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) is a metalloid commonly found worldwide. Environmental As exposure may cause potential health hazards and behavioral changes in humans and animals. However, the effects of environmental As concentrations on social behavior, especially during the juvenile stage, are unclear. In this study, we observed behavioral changes in juvenile zebrafish after 28 days of exposure to inorganic As (NaAsO2 100 and 500 ppb) in water, especially anxiety and social deficits. Additionally, the level of oxidative stress in the zebrafish brain after As treatment increased, the content of dopamine (DA) decreased, and the transcription level of genes involved in DA metabolism with the activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO) increased. Oxidative stress is a recognized mechanism of nerve damage induced by As exposure. The zebrafish were exposed to N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to reduce As exposure-induced oxidative stress. The results showed improvements in social behavior, DA content, MAO activity, and gene transcription in zebrafish. In conclusion, environmental As exposure can induce behavioral abnormalities, such as anxiety and social deficits in zebrafish, which may be caused by As-induced oxidative stress altering gene transcription levels, causing an increase in MAO activity and a decrease in DA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hong Wang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ya-Qian Wang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao-Gang Yu
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yin Lin
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jun-Xia Liu
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Wei-Ye Wang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Chong-Huai Yan
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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Borghese MM, Fisher M, Ashley-Martin J, Fraser WD, Trottier H, Lanphear B, Johnson M, Helewa M, Foster W, Walker M, Arbuckle TE. Individual, Independent, and Joint Associations of Toxic Metals and Manganese on Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: Results from the MIREC Canadian Pregnancy Cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:47014. [PMID: 37079392 PMCID: PMC10117658 DOI: 10.1289/ehp10825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxic metals, such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg), may be associated with a higher risk of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, whereas manganese (Mn) is an essential metal that may be protective. OBJECTIVES We estimated the individual, independent, and joint associations of Pb, Cd, As, Hg, and Mn on the risk of developing gestational hypertension and preeclampsia in a cohort of Canadian women. METHODS Metal concentrations were analyzed in first and third trimester maternal blood (n=1,560). We measured blood pressure after 20 wk gestation to diagnose gestational hypertension, whereas proteinuria and other complications defined preeclampsia. We estimated individual and independent (adjusted for coexposure) relative risks (RRs) for each doubling of metal concentrations and examined interactions between toxic metals and Mn. We used quantile g-computation to estimate the joint effect of trimester-specific exposures. RESULTS Each doubling of third trimester Pb (RR=1.54; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.22) and first trimester blood As (RR=1.25; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.58) was independently associated with a higher risk of developing preeclampsia. First trimester blood As (RR=3.40; 95% CI: 1.40, 8.28) and Mn (RR=0.63; 95% CI: 0.42, 0.94) concentrations were associated with a higher and lower risk, respectively, of developing gestational hypertension. Mn modified the association with As such that the deleterious association with As was stronger at lower concentrations of Mn. First trimester urinary dimethylarsinic acid concentrations were not associated with gestational hypertension (RR=1.31; 95% CI: 0.60, 2.85) or preeclampsia (RR=0.92; 95% CI: 0.68, 1.24). We did not observe overall joint effects for blood metals. DISCUSSION Our results confirm that even low blood Pb concentrations are a risk factor for preeclampsia. Women with higher blood As concentrations combined with lower Mn in early pregnancy were more likely to develop gestational hypertension. These pregnancy complications impact maternal and neonatal health. Understanding the contribution of toxic metals and Mn is of public health importance. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10825.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael M. Borghese
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mandy Fisher
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jillian Ashley-Martin
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - William D. Fraser
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Helen Trottier
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université de Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Markey Johnson
- Water and Air Quality Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Helewa
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Warren Foster
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark Walker
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tye E. Arbuckle
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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De la Ossa CA, Ramírez-Giraldo AF, Arroyo-Alvis K, Marrugo-Negrete J, Díez S. Neuropsychological effects and cognitive deficits associated with exposure to mercury and arsenic in children and adolescents of the Mojana region, Colombia. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114467. [PMID: 36265603 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114467] [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: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The present study aims to explore the neuropsychological performance and exposure to mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) in Colombian children and adolescents considering biomarkers in hair and blood. The total sample consisted of 70 participants from the Mojana region, Colombia. A neuropsychological evaluation protocol was used, consisting of 11 internationally recognized tests, with evidence of national validation and use for measurement in neurotoxicology contexts. A 57.1% of the sample presented levels above the reference value according to the USEPA, the WHO, and the ATSDR for total mercury in hair (HgH), blood mercury (HgB), and/or blood arsenic (AsB). The mean values reported for HgH were 1.76 ± 3.1 μg/g (95% CI 1.02-2.50) with ranges between 0.23 and 17.20; for HgB: 4.11 ± 5.93 μg/l (CI 2.69-5.52), ranging between 0.25 and 25.80, and for AsB: 1.96 ± 2.73 (CI 1.31-2.61) ranging between 0.50 and 15.50. In the comparison of groups in relation to the level of exposure, a significant difference was found (p < 0.05) for the subtest The Boston Naming Test (BNT). Correlation analyses found, on the one hand, significant negative relationships in tests integrated within the verbal (CVB) and executive function (EF) components as well as evidence of positive relationships in the manifestation of errors in their performance with the levels of Hg and/or As transformed by biomarker (Log10). In the linear regression analyses it was found that for each increase in the concentration of HgH, HgB, and AsB it is estimated that, both for the models with and without data adjustment, there is a loss of scores in integrated measures within the CVB and EF for the transformed levels of HgH, HgB, and AsB; and an increase in the reported errors in their processing within these functions. According to these results, exposure to mercury and/or arsenic is related with performance in verbal neuropsychological skills and executive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Sergi Díez
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, E-08034, Barcelona, Spain.
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10
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Kordas K, Cantoral A, Desai G, Halabicky O, Signes-Pastor AJ, Tellez-Rojo MM, Peterson KE, Karagas MR. Dietary Exposure to Toxic Elements and the Health of Young Children: Methodological Considerations and Data Needs. J Nutr 2022; 152:2572-2581. [PMID: 36774123 PMCID: PMC10157815 DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxac185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Concerns have been raised regarding toxic-element (arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury) contamination of commercially available infant foods around the world. Young children are vulnerable to the effects of toxic elements, based on higher absorption levels and potentially poorer detoxification capacities. Toxic-element exposures in early life exact high societal costs, but it is unclear how much dietary exposure to these elements contributes to adverse health outcomes. Well-designed epidemiological studies conducted in different geographical and socioeconomic contexts need to estimate dietary toxicant exposure in young children and to determine whether causal links exist between toxicants in children's diets and health outcomes. This commentary outlines the methodological considerations and data needs to advance such research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Kordas
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, University at Buffalo, Buffalo NY, USA.
| | | | - Gauri Desai
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, University at Buffalo, Buffalo NY, USA
| | - Olivia Halabicky
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Antonio J Signes-Pastor
- Unidad de Epidemiología de la Nutrición, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Alicante, Spain
| | - Martha M Tellez-Rojo
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Karen E Peterson
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Margaret R Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
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11
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Che J, Zhang W, Ma B, Chen Y, Wang L, Wang C. A shortcut approach for cooperative disposal of flue dust and waste acid from copper smelting: Decontamination of arsenic-bearing waste and recovery of metals. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 843:157063. [PMID: 35780900 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Recovering harmful elements (As, Pb) and metals (Cu, Bi, Zn) from copper smelting flue dust (CSFD) is a critical subject and task for arsenic contamination control and resource sustainability. In this work, a two-step pyrometallurgical process was developed to preferentially separate arsenic and recover metals from CSFD. During the low-temperature roasting, arsenic-bearing waste acid (AWA) from copper industry was used as an additive and effective removal of arsenic (97.8 %) was obtained at 350 °C, which follows the idea of "treating waste with waste". Subsequently, the recovery and separation of metals were well-achieved based on the affinity between metals and sulfur in the second stage of roasting, by which 91.28 % of Pb and 95.65 % of Bi were recovered as an alloy (Pb 86.48 %, Bi 13.21 %), while 82.62 % of Cu was enriched in the matte. The migration rules of metal elements and phase transformation in the whole process were studied in-depth from theory and experiments. This process can realize the efficient removal of arsenic as well as effective recovery of metals via cooperative disposal of CSFD and AWA, and minimize the environmental impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyong Che
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; School of Metallurgical and Ecological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Wenjuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; School of Metallurgical and Ecological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; Department of Materials Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - Baozhong Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; School of Metallurgical and Ecological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yongqiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; School of Metallurgical and Ecological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Ling Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; School of Metallurgical and Ecological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Chengyan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Metallurgy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; School of Metallurgical and Ecological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
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12
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Ventre S, Desai G, Roberson R, Kordas K. Toxic metal exposures from infant diets: Risk prevention strategies for caregivers and health care professionals. Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care 2022; 52:101276. [PMID: 36266220 DOI: 10.1016/j.cppeds.2022.101276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Concerns are growing regarding the presence of toxic elements such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) in the ingredients and prepared foods for infants and young children. There are few clear, evidence-based, guidelines on the maximum tolerable limits of toxicants in foods and little understanding of toxicant exposure or adverse health effects attributable to dietary exposure. Caregivers are faced with the burden of making decisions about which foods to select, how often to feed them to their children, and what foods to limit. This article reviews the current literature and existing recommendations on dietary exposure to toxic elements in children under 2 years of age, and their health effects in early childhood-focusing on growth, neurodevelopment, and immune function. The article also outlines best practices for healthcare providers to address the concerns of toxic element exposure through the diet in young children. Several foods consistently appear in the literature as potential sources of toxic element exposure. Contaminated drinking and cooking water, including water used to prepare infant formula, could also be a major exposure source. In the absence of stronger evidence on effects of dietary modification, exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age, followed by a diverse diet are some strategies to reduce dietary toxic element exposure while ensuring an adequate and balanced nutrient intake. Healthcare providers can support families by sharing information and encouraging blood Pb testing, the only element for which such testing is currently recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Ventre
- Department of Pediatrics, University at Buffalo, USA; New York State Children's Environmental Health Center, USA.
| | - Gauri Desai
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, University at Buffalo, USA
| | | | - Katarzyna Kordas
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, University at Buffalo, USA
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13
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Wang Y, Wang Y, Yan C. Gender differences in trace element exposures with cognitive abilities of school-aged children: a cohort study in Wujiang city, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:64807-64821. [PMID: 35474433 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20353-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Trace elements persist in the environment, and their early exposure may adversely affect children's intellectual development. To clarify the influence of blood trace element levels in newborns and school-aged children, we used Wechsler Intelligence Scale for children (WISC-CR) to explore intellectual development level of 148 school-aged children based on a population cohort study. Lead (Pb), selenium (Se), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and chromium (Cr) in cord blood and Pb, As, Cu in venous blood were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). Our analysis of the correlation between children's mental development and trace element content found children's cognitive abilities negatively correlate with Pb (PIQ: β=-0.109, P=0.03737) and Cu (PIQ: β=-0.031, P=0.04431; FISQ: β=-0.031, P=0.02137) levels in cord blood. Prenatal low-level As exposure may negatively affect girls' performance intelligence quotient (PIQ) and verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ). There were differences in Se levels in cord blood and venous blood between boys and girls (P=0.010; P=0.073). High Se levels were associated with a lower VIQ in boys and a higher VIQ in girls. Prenatal exposure to Pb, As and Cu may weaken children's cognitive abilities at school age. Se exposure may have opposite effects on cognitive abilities affected by dose and gender.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihong Wang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yaqian Wang
- School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chonghuai Yan
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.1665, Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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14
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Signes-Pastor AJ, Romano ME, Jackson B, Braun JM, Yolton K, Chen A, Lanphear B, Karagas MR. Associations of maternal urinary arsenic concentrations during pregnancy with childhood cognitive abilities: The HOME study. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 245:114009. [PMID: 35947921 PMCID: PMC9500348 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Arsenic exposure during pregnancy may increase the risk for intellectual deficits in children, but limited data exist from prospective epidemiologic studies, particularly at low arsenic exposure levels. We investigated the association between prenatal maternal urinary arsenic concentrations and childhood cognitive abilities in the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study. We used anion exchange chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry detection to measure arsenic species content in pregnant women's urine. The summation of inorganic arsenic (iAs), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) refers to ∑As. We assessed children's cognitive function (n = 260) longitudinally at 1-, 2-, and 3-years using Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, at 5 years using Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, and at 8 years using Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. We observed a modest decrease in mental development index and full-scale intelligence quotient at ages 3 and 5 years with each doubling of ∑As with estimated score (ß) differences and 95% confidence interval (CI) of -1.8 from -4.1 to 0.5 and -2.5 from -5.1 to 0.0, respectively. This trend was stronger and reached statistical significance among children whose mothers had lower iAs methylation capacity and low urinary arsenobetaine concentrations. Our findings suggest that arsenic exposure levels relevant to the general US population may affect children's cognitive abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio J Signes-Pastor
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, NH, USA; Unidad de Epidemiología de la Nutrición. Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Spain.
| | - Megan E Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, NH, USA.
| | - Brian Jackson
- Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Child and Family Research Institute, BC Children's and Women's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Margaret R Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, NH, USA
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15
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Wei L, Huang H, Chen X, Wang X, Zhang R, Su L, Duan W, Rahman M, Golam Mostofa M, Qamruzzaman Q, Shen H, Hu Z, Wei Y, Christiani DC, Chen F. Umbilical cord serum elementomics of 52 trace elements and early childhood neurodevelopment: Evidence from a prospective birth cohort in rural Bangladesh. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 166:107370. [PMID: 35772314 PMCID: PMC9926395 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposures to neurotoxic metals and trace elements are associated with early childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes. However, consequences of simultaneous exposure to mixtures of elements remain unclear. OBJECTIVE To examine individual and joint effects of prenatal trace element exposure on early childhood neurodevelopment. METHODS Using a well-established Bangladesh prospective birth cohort (2008-2011), we measured concentrations of 52 trace elements in umbilical cord serum of 569 mother-infant pairs using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Neurodevelopment was evaluated at 20-40 months of age using Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition. Stability elastic net (ENET) was used to screen elements individually associated with the outcome; candidate exposures were combined by weighted linear combination to form a risk score representing their mixture effect on early childhood neurodevelopment. RESULTS Stability ENET identified 15 trace elements associated with cognitive composite score and 14 associated with motor composite score, which were linearly combined to form the element risk score (ERS). Children with higher ERScognitive had lower probability of cognitive developmental delay (ORhighest vs lowest: 0.21; 95 %CI: 0.10, 0.40; P < 0.001; Ptrend < 0.001). Children with ERSmotor in the top quintile had a significantly lower risk of motor developmental delay (OR: 0.16; 95 %CI: 0.09, 0.31; P < 0.001; Ptrend < 0.001) versus the lowest quintile. In Bayesian kernel machine regression analyses, lithium [conditional posterior inclusion probability (cPIP) = 0.68], aluminum (cPIP = 0.83) and iron (cPIP = 1.00) contributed most to the lower cognitive composite score; zinc (cPIP = 1.00), silver (cPIP = 0.81), and antimony (cPIP = 0.65) mainly contributed to the change of motor composite score. CONCLUSION Co-exposure to lithium/aluminum/iron or zinc/silver/antimony appears to impact children's neurodevelopment. ERS score reflecting maternal exposure could indicate children's risk of neurodevelopmental delay, warranting further studies to explore the underlying mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangmin Wei
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Hui Huang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Ruyang Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Li Su
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Weiwei Duan
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | | | | | | | - Hongbing Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; China International Cooperation Center for Environment and Human Health, Center of Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Zhibin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; China International Cooperation Center for Environment and Human Health, Center of Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Yongyue Wei
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; China International Cooperation Center for Environment and Human Health, Center of Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.
| | - David C Christiani
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA; China International Cooperation Center for Environment and Human Health, Center of Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.
| | - Feng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; China International Cooperation Center for Environment and Human Health, Center of Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.
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16
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Comprehensive Examination of Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe, Mn and Cd in Lackawanna County Waters, Northeastern Pennsylvania: A Brief Report. ANALYTICA 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/analytica3030021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Lackawanna, a US county seat in Northeastern Pennsylvania has an estimated population of 216,000 in 2020. Over the years, it has been reported that several bodies of water found within the county have been contaminated with various metals. However, a comprehensive examination of the presence of these metals has not been conducted. The goal of this brief report was to perform a preliminary quantitative determination of the concentration of various metals found in Lackawanna County water sources. The sources analyzed included Lake Scranton, the Lackawanna River, the Griffin Reservoir, and Keyser Creek. Samples were taken from each source and analyses of copper, lead, zinc, iron, manganese, and cadmium using atomic absorption spectroscopy were performed. A copper concentration of 0.100 ppm was found in the Griffin Reservoir, and 0.380 ppm of iron was found in the Lackawanna River. The concentration of copper and iron in the Griffin Reservoir and Lackawanna River, respectively, were determined to be within safe levels according to guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
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17
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Jahan S, Ansari UA, Siddiqui AJ, Iqbal D, Khan J, Banawas S, Alshehri B, Alshahrani MM, Alsagaby SA, Redhu NS, Pant AB. Nobiletin Ameliorates Cellular Damage and Stress Response and Restores Neuronal Identity Altered by Sodium Arsenate Exposure in Human iPSCs-Derived hNPCs. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15050593. [PMID: 35631419 PMCID: PMC9147161 DOI: 10.3390/ph15050593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental exposure to arsenic has been profoundly associated with chronic systemic disorders, such as neurodegeneration, in both experimental models and clinical studies. The neuronal cells of the brain and the nervous system have a limited regeneration capacity, thus making them more vulnerable to exposure to xenobiotics, leading to long-lasting disabilities. The functional and anatomical complexity of these cells hinders the complete understanding of the mechanisms of neurodegeneration and neuroprotection. The present investigations aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective efficacy of a herbal formulation of Nobiletin (NOB) against the toxic insult induced by sodium arsenate (NA) in human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Prior to the neuroprotective experiments, biologically safe doses of both NOB and NA were ascertained using standard endpoints of cytotoxicity. Thereafter, the hNPCs were exposed to either NOB (50 μM) or NA (50 μM) and co-exposed to biologically safe concentrations of NA (50 μM) with NOB (50 μM) for a period of up to 48 h. NOB treatment restored the morphological damage (neurite damage), the levels of stress granule G3BP1 (Ras-GTPase-activating protein (SH3 domain)-binding protein) and TIA1 (T cell-restricted intracellular antigen), and the expression of neuronal markers (Tuj1, Nestin, MAP2, and PAX6) when compared to NA-exposed cells. A substantial restoration of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial membrane potential was also witnessed in the co-exposure group (NA + NOB) in comparison to the NA-exposed group. The findings suggest that NOB possesses a significant restorative/protective potential against the NA challenge in hNPCs under experimental conditions and imply that nobiletin may impart a potential therapeutic impact if studied adequately using in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadaf Jahan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia; (D.I.); (J.K.); (S.B.); (B.A.); (S.A.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +966-500590133
| | - Uzair Ahmad Ansari
- Developmental Toxicology Laboratory, Systems Toxicology & Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), Vishvigyan Bhavan, 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, P.O. Box No. 80, Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India; (U.A.A.); (A.B.P.)
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Arif Jamal Siddiqui
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Hail, P.O. Box 2440, Hail 55476, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Danish Iqbal
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia; (D.I.); (J.K.); (S.B.); (B.A.); (S.A.A.)
| | - Johra Khan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia; (D.I.); (J.K.); (S.B.); (B.A.); (S.A.A.)
| | - Saeed Banawas
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia; (D.I.); (J.K.); (S.B.); (B.A.); (S.A.A.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Bader Alshehri
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia; (D.I.); (J.K.); (S.B.); (B.A.); (S.A.A.)
| | - Mohammed Merae Alshahrani
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, 1988, Najran 61441, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Suliman A. Alsagaby
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Al-Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia; (D.I.); (J.K.); (S.B.); (B.A.); (S.A.A.)
| | - Neeru Singh Redhu
- Department of Molecular Biology, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 125004, Haryana, India;
| | - Aditya Bhushan Pant
- Developmental Toxicology Laboratory, Systems Toxicology & Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), Vishvigyan Bhavan, 31, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, P.O. Box No. 80, Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India; (U.A.A.); (A.B.P.)
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
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18
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Friedman A, Bauer JA, Austin C, Downs TJ, Tripodis Y, Heiger-Bernays W, White RF, Arora M, Claus Henn B. Multiple metals in children's deciduous teeth: results from a community-initiated pilot study. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2022; 32:408-417. [PMID: 34750512 PMCID: PMC9079191 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-021-00400-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Characterizing retrospective exposure to toxicants during multiple early-life developmental periods is challenging, yet critical for understanding developmental effects. OBJECTIVE To characterize early-life metal exposure using deciduous teeth in a community concerned about past exposures. METHODS Naturally shed teeth were collected from 30 children ages 5-13 years who resided in Holliston, Massachusetts since conception. We estimated weekly prenatal and postnatal (up to 1 year of age) exposure to 12 metals by measuring dentine concentrations using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Multivariable linear mixed models were used to explore sociodemographic, dietary, and behavioral correlates of dentine metal concentrations. RESULTS Temporal trends in dentine levels differed by metal. Source of milk during the first year of life was associated with dentine barium (Ba) levels, where being fed predominantly breastmilk was associated with 39% (95% CI: -57%, -13%) lower dentine Ba compared to predominantly formula use. Females had higher prenatal and postnatal dentine Mn and Pb, compared to males (e.g., % difference, postnatal Mn: 122% (17%, 321%); postnatal Pb: 60% (95% CI: -8%, 178%)). SIGNIFICANCE Deciduous teeth provide retrospective information on dose and timing of early-life metals exposure at high resolution. We demonstrate their utility in a community-based study with known past contamination of drinking water. IMPACT STATEMENT We conducted a community-initiated pilot study in a community concerned with historical exposure to multiple metals. Using deciduous teeth, a novel noninvasive biomarker, we characterized early-life exposure to 12 metals in approximately weekly increments during sensitive developmental periods, thus demonstrating the utility of this biomarker in communities concerned with past exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa Friedman
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Julia Anglen Bauer
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Christine Austin
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Timothy J Downs
- Department of International Development, Community, and Environment, Clark University, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wendy Heiger-Bernays
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roberta F White
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Manish Arora
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Birgit Claus Henn
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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19
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Heng YY, Asad I, Coleman B, Menard L, Benki-Nugent S, Hussein Were F, Karr CJ, McHenry MS. Heavy metals and neurodevelopment of children in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265536. [PMID: 35358213 PMCID: PMC8970501 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The presence of harmful environmental exposures, which disproportionately affects low-and-middle income countries (LMICs), contributes to >25% of deaths and diseases worldwide and detrimentally affects child neurodevelopment. Few resources succinctly summarize the existing literature on this topic. Our objective is to systematically review and characterize the evidence regarding the relationship between heavy metals and neurodevelopment of children in LMICs. METHODS We conducted a medical librarian-curated search on multiple online databases to identify articles that included individuals <18 years living in a LMIC, quantitatively measured exposure to a heavy metal (either prenatal or postnatal), and used a standardized measurement of neurodevelopment (i.e. cognitive, language, motor, and behavior). Reviews, editorials, or case studies were excluded. Results were analyzed qualitatively, and quality was assessed. RESULTS Of the 18,043 screened articles, 298 full-text articles were reviewed, and 100 articles met inclusion criteria. The included studies represented data from 19 LMICs, only one of which was classified as a low-income country. Ninety-four percent of postnatal lead and all postnatal manganese studies showed a negative association with metal exposure and neurodevelopment, which were the strongest relationships among the metals studied. Postnatal exposure of mercury was associated with poor neurodevelopment in only half of studies. Limited data on postnatal arsenic and cadmium suggests an association with worse neurodevelopment. Findings were mixed for prenatal arsenic and lead, although some evidence supports that the neurotoxicity of lead was amplified in the presence of manganese. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL IMPACT We found that lead and manganese appear to consistently have a detrimental effect on the neurodevelopment of children, and more evidence is needed for mercury, arsenic, and cadmium. Better characterization of these effects can motivate and inform prioritization of much needed international policies and programs to reduce heavy metal exposures for young children within LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yan Heng
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Iqra Asad
- School of Science, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Bailey Coleman
- School of Health and Human Sciences, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Laura Menard
- Ruth Lilly Medical Library, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Sarah Benki-Nugent
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Faridah Hussein Were
- Department of Chemistry, College of Biological and Physical Sciences of the University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Catherine J. Karr
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Megan S McHenry
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
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20
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Dong C, Liu J, Harvey P, Yan C. Characteristics and sources of Pb exposure via household dust from the urban area of Shanghai, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 811:151984. [PMID: 34871683 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Household dust has been considered as an important pathway for children's environmental Pb exposure. Shanghai was one of the first cities in China that removed Pb from petrol and has been shown in our previous study to have the lowest childhood blood Pb levels in China. This study therefore examines household dust Pb (PbHD) in Shanghai in order to determine the extent and exposure risks of PbHD. Household vacuum cleaner dust samples (n = 40) were collected and analyzed for total Pb concentration, bio-accessible Pb concentration and Pb isotopic compositions (PbIC). The mean concentration of PbHD was 195 mg/kg, which is between 7 and 10 times the Pb concentration of background soil samples from Shanghai. Among the investigated homes, those living in neighborhoods with lower average estate prices have higher dust Pb exposure risks for children. Bio-accessibility of Pb in household dust ranged between 53 and 91%, with a mean value of 71%. Analysis of PbIC of household dust samples (208Pb/206Pb: 2.1096 ± 0.0054; 207Pb/206Pb: 0.8648 ± 0.0025) are a close match to PbIC of coal combustion and solid waste incineration and fit well with those of outdoor air PbIC and urban surface soil PbIC of Shanghai. The study shows that children living in Shanghai are subject to PbHD exposure, with children living in the homes with lower average price having increased susceptibility to PbHD exposure. The data indicate that PbHD is derived primarily from contemporary coal combustion and solid waste incineration rather than common legacy Pb sources (e.g., Pb petrol and paint). Practices including closing doors and windows on days with poor air quality or high wind and preventing shoe wearing inside homes will aid in minimizing outdoor surface soil and ambient particulate intrusion indoors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyin Dong
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, PR China.
| | - Junxia Liu
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Paul Harvey
- Environmental Science Solutions, Sydney, Australia; Biami Scientific Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia
| | - Chonghuai Yan
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
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Tung PW, Burt A, Karagas M, Jackson BP, Punshon T, Lester B, Marsit CJ. Prenatal exposure to metal mixtures and newborn neurobehavior in the Rhode Island Child Health Study. Environ Epidemiol 2022; 6:e194. [PMID: 35169672 PMCID: PMC8835549 DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to metals can affect the developing fetus and negatively impact neurobehavior. The associations between individual metals and neurodevelopment have been examined, but little work has explored the potentially detrimental neurodevelopmental outcomes associated with the combined impact of coexisting metals. The objective of this study is to evaluate prenatal metal exposure mixtures in the placenta to elucidate the link between their combined effects on newborn neurobehavior. METHOD This study included 192 infants with available placental metal and NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale data at 24 hours-72 hours age. Eight essential and nonessential metals (cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, zinc) detected in more than 80% of samples were tested for associations with atypical neurobehavior indicated by NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale using logistic regression and in a quantile g-computation analysis to evaluate the joint association between placental metal mixture and neurobehavioral profiles. RESULTS Individually, a doubling of placental cadmium concentrations was associated with an increased likelihood of being in the atypical neurobehavioral profile (OR = 2.39; 95% CI = 1.05 to 5.71). In the mixture analysis, joint effects of a quartile increase in exposure to all metals was associated with 3-fold increased odds of newborns being assigned to the atypical profile (OR = 3.23; 95% CI = 0.92 to 11.36), with cadmium having the largest weight in the mixture effect. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal exposure to relatively low levels of a mixture of placental metals was associated with adverse newborn neurobehavior. Examining prenatal metal exposures as a mixture is important for understanding the harmful effects of concomitant exposures in the vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Wen Tung
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Amber Burt
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | - Margaret Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH
| | | | - Tracy Punshon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
| | - Barry Lester
- Department of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence, RI
- The Brown Center of the Study of Children at Risk, Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Carmen J. Marsit
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
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Zhai D, Cao L, Zhou Y, Liu H, Shi M, Wei Y, Xia Y. The effect of water source on cognitive functioning in Chinese adults: A cross-sectional and follow-up study. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 230:113156. [PMID: 34979313 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.113156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The effect of water source on cognitive functioning is poorly understood. The present study explored the associations between water source and cognition in 9921 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Cognitive functioning was measured from three aspects: orientation and attention, episodic memory, and visuo-construction. Water sources included tap and non-tap water. Generalized linear models and multiple logistic regression models were conducted to investigate the associations of cognitive scores with water source among the whole population and different subgroups. Results from cross-sectional analysis reported that participants without access to tap water showed a lower cognitive score (β = - 0.57; 95% CI: - 0.74, - 0.39) than those with tap water as a water source; and this phenomenon was pronounced for both sexes and across all residences. During 4-years' follow-up, a greater decline of cognitive score was associated with no tap water use in the lowest quartile of baseline cognitive scores (β = - 0.67; 95% CI: - 1.26, - 0.08). Additionally, the utilization rate of tap water was lower in rural areas compared to urban areas. The lowest utilization rates were observed in urban areas of the Anhui province (0.38 in 2011 and 0.55 in 2015) and in rural areas of Inner Mongolia (0.09 in 2011 and 0.20 in 2015). These findings suggest that having no tap water may be a risk factor for cognition impairment, particularly for those with a low basic cognition score. Additionally, our results support the need to expand tap water use in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daokuan Zhai
- The Third Central Hospital of Tianjin, 83 Jintang Road, Hedong District, Tianjin 300170, China
| | - Limin Cao
- The Third Central Hospital of Tianjin, 83 Jintang Road, Hedong District, Tianjin 300170, China
| | - Yuhan Zhou
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Huiyuan Liu
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Mengyuan Shi
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yingliang Wei
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
| | - Yang Xia
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
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23
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de Water E, Curtin P, Gennings C, Chelonis JJ, Paule M, Bixby M, McRae N, Svensson K, Schnaas L, Pantic I, Téllez-Rojo MM, Wright RO, Horton MK. Prenatal metal mixture concentrations and reward motivation in children. Neurotoxicology 2022; 88:124-133. [PMID: 34793781 PMCID: PMC8748386 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2021.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Reward motivation is a complex umbrella term encompassing the cognitions, emotions, and behaviors involved in the activation, execution, and persistence of goal-directed behavior. Altered reward motivation in children is characteristic of many neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. Previously difficult to operationalize, the Progressive Ratio (PR) task has been widely used to assess reward motivation in animal and human studies, including children. Because the neural circuitry supporting reward motivation starts developing during pregnancy, and is sensitive to disruption by environmental toxicants, including metals, the goal of this study was to examine the association between prenatal concentrations of a mixture of neurotoxic metals and reward motivation in children. We measured reward motivation by administering a PR test to 373 children ages 6-8 years enrolled in the Programming Research in Obesity, Growth, Environment and Social Stressors (PROGRESS) Study in Mexico City. Children were asked to press a response lever for a token reward; one press on the response lever was required to earn the first token and each subsequent token required an additional 10 lever presses. Maternal blood concentrations of lead, manganese, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, and selenium were measured using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy. We performed generalized Weighted Quantile Sum (gWQS) regression analyses to examine associations between the prenatal metal mixture and reward motivation; adjusting for child sex, birthweight and age; and maternal IQ, education, and socioeconomic status. The prenatal metal mixture was significantly associated with higher motivation as indicated by more lever presses (ß = 0.02, p < 0.001) and a shorter time between receiving the reinforcer and the first press (ß = 0.23, p = 0.01), and between subsequent presses (ß = 0.07, p = 0.005). Contributions of different metals to this association differed by trimester and child sex. These findings suggest that children with increased exposure to metal during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of gestation demonstrate increased reward motivation, which may reflect a tendency to perseverate or hypersensitivity to positive reinforcement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik de Water
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA,Corresponding author: Erik de Water, PhD, Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New York, NY 10029, United States, , T: 212-824-7301
| | - Paul Curtin
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chris Gennings
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - John J. Chelonis
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Merle Paule
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, National Center for Toxicological Research, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Moira Bixby
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nia McRae
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Lourdes Schnaas
- National Institute of Perinatology (INPer), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ivan Pantic
- National Institute of Perinatology (INPer), Mexico City, Mexico
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24
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Bauer JA, White RF, Coull BA, Austin C, Oppini M, Zoni S, Fedrighi C, Cagna G, Placidi D, Guazzetti S, Yang Q, Bellinger DC, Webster TF, Wright RO, Smith D, Horton M, Lucchini RG, Arora M, Claus Henn B. Critical windows of susceptibility in the association between manganese and neurocognition in Italian adolescents living near ferro-manganese industry. Neurotoxicology 2021; 87:51-61. [PMID: 34478771 PMCID: PMC8595706 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2021.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Understanding the neurodevelopmental effects of manganese (Mn) is complicated due to its essentiality for growth and development. While evidence exists for the harmful effects of excess Mn, pediatric epidemiologic studies have observed inconsistent associations between Mn and child cognition. OBJECTIVE We sought to estimate prospective associations between Mn measured in three different early-life time windows with adolescent cognition using deciduous teeth biomarkers. METHODS Deciduous teeth were collected from 195 participants (ages 10-14 years) of the Public Health Impact of Manganese Exposure (PHIME) study in Brescia, Italy. Measurements of tooth Mn represented prenatal (∼14 weeks gestation - birth), early postnatal (birth - 1.5 years) and childhood (∼1.5 - 6 years) time windows. Neuropsychologists administered the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 3rd edition (WISC-III), to obtain composite IQ and subtest scores. Associations between tooth Mn at each time window and adolescent WISC-III scores were estimated using multivariable linear regression. We tested differences in associations between Mn and outcomes across time windows using multiple informant models. Sex-specific associations were explored in stratified models. RESULTS Adjusted associations between tooth Mn and composite IQ scores were positive in the prenatal period and negative in the childhood period. Associations were strongest for subtest scores that reflect working memory, problem solving, visuospatial ability and attention: prenatal Mn was positively associated with Digits backward [SD change in score per interquartile range increase in Mn: β = 0.20 (95 % CI: 0.02, 0.38)] and Block design [β = 0.21 (0.01, 0.41)] and early postnatal Mn was positively associated with Digits forward [β = 0.24 (0.09, 0.40)], while childhood Mn was negatively associated with Coding [β = -0.14 (-0.28, -0.001)]. Sex-stratified analyses suggested different Mn-cognition associations for boys and girls and was also dependent on the time window of exposure. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that exposure timing is critical when evaluating Mn associations between Mn and cognition. Higher prenatal Mn was beneficial for adolescent cognition; however, these beneficial associations shifted towards harmful effects in later time windows. Cognitive domains most sensitive to Mn across time windows included visuospatial ability, working memory, attention and problem-solving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Anglen Bauer
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Roberta F White
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brent A Coull
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christine Austin
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Manuela Oppini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvia Zoni
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Italy
| | - Chiara Fedrighi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Cagna
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Italy
| | - Donatella Placidi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Qiong Yang
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David C Bellinger
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thomas F Webster
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Donald Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Megan Horton
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 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, University of Brescia, Italy; School of Public Health, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Manish Arora
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Birgit Claus Henn
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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25
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Martin KV, Sucharew H, Dietrich KN, Parsons PJ, Palmer CD, Wright R, Amarasiriwardena C, Smith DR, Haynes EN. Co-exposure to manganese and lead and pediatric neurocognition in East Liverpool, Ohio. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 202:111644. [PMID: 34246641 PMCID: PMC8578304 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to metal mixtures may lead to health impacts greater than the effects associated with singular exposures. Two common childhood environmental exposures, manganese (Mn) and lead (Pb), are associated with similar adverse neurodevelopmental effects; however, the effects surrounding concurrent exposure to both metals remain unclear. We study the impact of joint exposure to Mn and Pb on cognitive performance in school-aged children participating in the Communities Actively Researching Exposure Study (CARES) based in East Liverpool, Ohio. Blood Pb levels were measured for each child (geometric mean (GM) = 1.13 μg/dL, range 0.30 μg/dL - 6.64 μg/dL). Mn was measured in participant blood, hair, and toenails with GMs of 10.1 μg/L, 360 ng/g, 0.974 μg/g, respectively. Trained team members administered the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV (WISC-IV) to assess intelligence quotient (IQ). The WISC-IV provides scores for Full Scale IQ, Perceptual Reasoning, Processing Speed, Working Memory, and Verbal Comprehension. Interactions between blood Pb and all Mn biomarkers were tested in linear models adjusted for child sex, household income, and serum cotinine. Separate regression models were run for each of the Mn biomarkers. The cohort was comprised of 106 children with a mean age of 8.4 years. Interactions between blood Pb and hair Mn were significant (p < 0.05) for four out of the five IQ domains. The effect of blood Pb on IQ was more pronounced at higher levels of hair and toenail Mn. No significant associations were observed when characterizing the main effect of Mn using blood. Uncovering the health impacts associated with exposure mixtures is critical to understanding the impact of real-life conditions. Our findings suggest that joint exposure to Mn and Pb may produce heightened neurocognitive impacts even at blood Pb levels below the CDC reference concentration of 5 μg/dL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin Vollet Martin
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
| | - Heidi Sucharew
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kim N Dietrich
- Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Patrick J Parsons
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Albany, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Christopher D Palmer
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Albany, Rensselaer, NY, USA
| | - Robert Wright
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | | | - Donald R Smith
- Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Erin N Haynes
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
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26
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Rahman ML, Oken E, Hivert MF, Rifas-Shiman S, Lin PID, Colicino E, Wright RO, Amarasiriwardena C, Claus Henn BG, Gold DR, Coull BA, Cardenas A. Early pregnancy exposure to metal mixture and birth outcomes - A prospective study in Project Viva. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 156:106714. [PMID: 34147999 PMCID: PMC8842844 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to metals has been individually associated with birth outcomes. However, little is known about the effect of metal mixture, particularly at low exposure levels. OBJECTIVES To estimate individual and joint effects of metal mixture components on birth outcomes. METHODS We used data from 1,391 mother-infant pairs in Project Viva (1999-2002). We measured 11 metals in maternal 1st trimester erythrocyte; abstracted birth weight from medical records; calculated gestational age from last menstrual period or ultrasound; and obtained birth length (n = 729) and head circumference (n = 791) from research measurements. We estimated individual and joint effects of metals using multivariable linear and Bayesian kernel machine regressions. RESULTS In both single metal and metal mixture analyses, exposure to higher concentrations of arsenic was associated with lower birth weight in males, zinc with higher head circumference in females, and manganese with higher birth length in sex-combined analysis. We also observed sex-specific metal interactions with birth outcomes. Arsenic and manganese showed a synergistic association with birth weight in males, in whom an interquartile range (IQR) increase in arsenic was associated with 25.3 g (95% CI: -79.9, 29.3), 47.9 g (95% CI: -98.0, 2.1), and 72.2 g (95% CI: -129.8, -14.7) lower birth weight when manganese concentrations were at 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles, respectively. Lead and zinc showed an antagonistic association with head circumference in males, where an IQR increase in lead was associated with 0.18 cm (95% CI: -0.35, -0.02), 0.10 cm (95% CI: -0.25, 0.04), 0.03 cm (95% CI: -0.2, 0.14) smaller head circumference when zinc concentrations were at 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles, respectively. Exposure to higher concentrations of arsenic was also associated with lower gestational age in males when concentrations of manganese and lead were higher. DISCUSSION Maternal erythrocyte concentrations of arsenic, manganese, lead, and zinc were individually and interactively associated with birth outcomes. The associations varied by infant sex and exposure level of other mixture components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad L Rahman
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emily Oken
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marie-France Hivert
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Diabetes Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sheryl Rifas-Shiman
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pi-I D Lin
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elena Colicino
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chitra Amarasiriwardena
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Birgit G Claus Henn
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Diane R Gold
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brent A Coull
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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Sijko M, Kozłowska L. Influence of Dietary Compounds on Arsenic Metabolism and Toxicity. Part II-Human Studies. TOXICS 2021; 9:259. [PMID: 34678956 PMCID: PMC8541625 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9100259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to various forms of arsenic (As), the source of which may be environmental as well as occupational exposure, is associated with many adverse health effects. Therefore, methods to reduce the adverse effects of As on the human body are being sought. Research in this area focuses, among other topics, on the dietary compounds that are involved in the metabolism of this element. Therefore, the aim of this review was to analyze the influence of methionine, betaine, choline, folic acid, vitamin B2, B6, B12 and zinc on the efficiency of inorganic As (iAs) metabolism and the reduction in the severity of the whole spectrum of disorders related to As exposure. In this review, which included 62 original papers (human studies) we present the current knowledge in the area. In human studies, these compounds (methionine, choline, folic acid, vitamin B2, B6, B12 and zinc) may increase iAs metabolism and reduce toxicity, whereas their deficiency may impair iAs metabolism and increase As toxicity. Taking into account the results of studies conducted in populations exposed to As, it is reasonable to carry out prophylactic activities. In particular nutritional education seems to be important and should be focused on informing people that an adequate intake of those dietary compounds potentially has a modulating effect on iAs metabolism, thus, reducing its adverse effects on the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Sijko
- Department of Dietetics, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW-WULS), 159c Nowoursynowska Street, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Lucyna Kozłowska
- Department of Dietetics, Institute of Human Nutrition Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW-WULS), 159c Nowoursynowska Street, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
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28
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Liu X, Taylor MP, Aelion CM, Dong C. Novel Application of Machine Learning Algorithms and Model-Agnostic Methods to Identify Factors Influencing Childhood Blood Lead Levels. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:13387-13399. [PMID: 34546733 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Blood lead (Pb) poisoning remains a global concern, particularly for children in their early developmental years. Broken Hill is Australia's oldest operating silver-zinc-lead mine. In this study, we utilized recent advances in machine learning to assess multiple algorithms and identify the most optimal model for predicting childhood blood Pb levels (BLL) using Broken Hill children's (<5 years of age) data (n = 23,749) from 1991 to 2015, combined with demographic, socio-economic, and environmental influencing factors. We applied model-agnostic methods to interpret the most optimal model, investigating different environmental and human factors influencing childhood BLL. Algorithm assessment showed that stacked ensemble, a method for automatically and optimally combining multiple prediction algorithms, enhanced predictive performance by 1.1% with respect to mean absolute error (p < 0.01) and 2.6% for root-mean-squared error (p < 0.01) compared to the best performing constituent algorithm (random forest). By interpreting the model, the following information was acquired: children had higher BLL if they resided within 1.0 km to the central mine area or 1.37 km to the railroad; year of testing had the greatest interactive strength with all other factors; BLL increased faster in Aboriginal than in non-Aboriginal children at 9-10 and 12-18 months of age. This "stacked ensemble + model-agnostic interpretation" framework achieved both prediction accuracy and model interpretability, identifying previously unconnected variables associated with elevated childhood BLL, offering a marked advantage over previous works. Thus, this approach has a clear value and potential for application to other environmental health issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochi Liu
- School of Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mark P Taylor
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, New South Wales, Australia
| | - C Marjorie Aelion
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health & Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Chenyin Dong
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangzhou 510655, China
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Genetic and environmental factors in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases and promising therapeutic intervention via fecal microbiota transplantation. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2021; 7:70. [PMID: 34381040 PMCID: PMC8357954 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-021-00213-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by neuronal impairment and loss of function, and with the major shared histopathological hallmarks of misfolding and aggregation of specific proteins inside or outside cells. Some genetic and environmental factors contribute to the promotion of the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Currently, there are no effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. It has been revealed that bidirectional communication exists between the brain and the gut. The gut microbiota is a changeable and experience-dependent ecosystem and can be modified by genetic and environmental factors. The gut microbiota provides potential therapeutic targets that can be regulated as new interventions for neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we discuss genetic and environmental risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases, summarize the communication among the components of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, and discuss the treatment strategy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). FMT is a promising treatment for neurodegenerative diseases, and restoration of the gut microbiota to a premorbid state is a novel goal for prevention and treatment strategies.
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30
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Ringwald P, Chapin C, Iceman C, Tighe ME, Sisk M, Peaslee GF, Peller J, Wells EM. Characterization and within-site variation of environmental metal concentrations around a contaminated site using a community-engaged approach. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 272:129915. [PMID: 35534973 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Historic industrial activity led to extensive lead and arsenic contamination within residential areas of East Chicago, Indiana, United States. Although remediation is underway, community concerns about this contamination remain. Therefore, the goal for this analysis was to characterize environmental contamination in soil within and around these areas. A total of 228 samples from 32 different sites (addresses) were collected by community members or study staff. These were analyzed for metals using portable x-ray fluorescence or inductively coupled plasma ̶ optical emission spectroscopy. Concentrations exceeding EPA screening levels were found for 42% of the soil arsenic samples, 35% of the soil lead samples, and 79% of the soil manganese samples; a few samples also contained elevated copper or zinc. Concentrations above EPA screening levels were identified both within and outside of the formally designated contaminated area. Roughly 30% of all sites had at least one sample above and one sample below the screening level for arsenic, lead, and manganese. For sites within the contaminated area, more than 90% (arsenic), 60% (lead) and 60% (manganese) of the samples exceeded EPA screening levels. There was a significant association of proximity to the historic industrial site with elevated soil concentrations of arsenic and lead; a similar association was present for manganese. These results are consistent with existing data for lead and arsenic and we additionally report elevated concentrations of manganese and a high within-site variability of all metal concentrations. These findings should be considered in future remediation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Ringwald
- Department of Public Health, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Cecelia Chapin
- Department of Public Health, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Christopher Iceman
- Department of Chemistry, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN, 46383, USA
| | - Meghanne E Tighe
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Matthew Sisk
- Navari Family Center for Digital Scholarship, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Graham F Peaslee
- Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Julie Peller
- Department of Chemistry, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN, 46383, USA
| | - Ellen M Wells
- Department of Public Health, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA; School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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31
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Differential impact of heavy metals on neurotoxicity during development and in aging central nervous system. CURRENT OPINION IN TOXICOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2021.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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32
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Dietrich M, Ayers JC. Influences on tidal channel and aquaculture shrimp pond water chemical composition in Southwest Bangladesh. GEOCHEMICAL TRANSACTIONS 2021; 22:2. [PMID: 34050438 PMCID: PMC8164274 DOI: 10.1186/s12932-021-00074-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Detailed geochemical studies of both major and minor elements in Bangladesh surface waters are sparse, particularly in shrimp aquaculture pond environments. Therefore, water samples from shrimp aquaculture ponds and tidal channels were collected in high precipitation (July) and low precipitation (May) months from 2018-2019 in Southwest Bangladesh and analyzed for complete water chemistry. Selenium (Se) and arsenic (As) were elevated above WHO guidelines in 50% and ~ 87% of samples, respectively, but do not show any recognizable spatial patterns. Shrimp pond and tidal channel water compositions in the dry season (May) are similar, illustrating their connectivity and minimal endogenous effects within shrimp ponds. Tidal channels are less saline in July than shrimp ponds still irrigated by tidal channels, suggesting that either farmers limit irrigation to continue farming saltwater shrimp, or the irrigation flux is low and leads to a lag in aquaculture-tidal channel compositional homogenization. δ18O and δ2H isotopic compositions from samples in May of 2019 reveal tidal channel samples are closer to the local meteoric water line (LMWL) than shrimp pond samples, because of less evaporation. However, evaporation in May shrimp ponds has a minimal effect on water composition, likely because of regular drainage/exchange of pond waters. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is positively correlated with both δ18O and δ2H in shrimp ponds, suggesting that as evaporation increases, DOC becomes enriched. Multiple linear regression reveals that As and Se can be moderately predicted (adjusted R2 values between 0.4 and 0.7, p < 0.01) in surface waters of our study with only 3-4 independent predictor variables (e.g., Ni, V and DOC for Se prediction; Cu, V, Ni and P for As prediction). Thus, this general approach should be followed in other regions throughout the world when measurements for certain hazardous trace elements such as Se and As may be lacking in several samples from a dataset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Dietrich
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Vanderbilt University, 5726 Stevenson Center, 7th floor, Nashville, TN, 37240, USA.
| | - John C Ayers
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Vanderbilt University, 5726 Stevenson Center, 7th floor, Nashville, TN, 37240, USA
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Khan KM, Hatch LC, Akhter S, Eunus M, Zhou Z, Parvez F, Rohlman D. Reliability of a computer-based neurobehavioral assessment test battery for Bangladeshi adolescent children. Neurotoxicology 2021; 85:47-53. [PMID: 33940044 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
In developing countries, there is a need for low-cost neurobehavioral (NB) test batteries for vulnerable populations, particularly for children exposed to environmental neurotoxicants. The objective of the current study was to assess the feasibility and test-retest reliability of the Behavioral Assessment and Research System (BARS) in children from a rural community in Bangladesh. Fifty healthy adolescents living in the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS) area in Araihazar, Bangladesh completed all six tests from the BARS in two test sessions scheduled two weeks apart. The BARS tests evaluated NB functions such as motor coordination, attention, memory, and information processing speed. The reliability assessment, evaluated by test-retest correlations demonstrated moderate to strong correlations (i.e., correlation coefficients ranged from 0.43 to 0.85), which were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Paired t-tests for comparing the test and retest outcomes indicated significant improvement in NB performance, highlighting learning and practice effects. NB performance improved with increasing age in most cases. Adolescent boys performed better than the girls in Finger Tapping, Digit Span, and Simple Reaction Time, whereas the girls performed better in Continuous Performance and Symbol Digit tests. The reliability scores (Pearson's correlations 0.43-0.85) were consistent with other children studies in different cultural settings. The effects of age and sex on NB tests were also consistent with findings reported in other countries. Overall, the findings of the study support the feasibility of using this computer-based test system to assess vulnerability of brain health due to environmental exposures among rural Bangladeshi children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid M Khan
- Department of Population Health, College of Health Sciences, Sam Houston State University, 1901 Ave I, CHSS Suite 432, Huntsville, TX, 77341, USA.
| | - Lynette C Hatch
- Department of Psychology and Philosophy, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sam Houston State University, 1905 University Ave, Huntsville, TX, 77340, USA.
| | - Salma Akhter
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Science, College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, 550 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907.
| | - Mahbubul Eunus
- U-Chicago Research Bangladesh Ltd., House 04, Road 2B, Sector 4, Uttara, Dhaka, 1230, Bangladesh.
| | - Zheng Zhou
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University-Bloomington, 1025 E 7thStreet, Room 029, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
| | - Faruque Parvez
- Department of Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W, 168thStreet, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Diane Rohlman
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, S324 CPHB, 145 N Riverside Dr, Iowa City, 52242, Iowa, USA.
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34
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Alao ME, Perin J, Brooks WA, Hossain L, Goswami D, Zaman K, Yunus M, Khan MA, Jahan Y, Ahmed D, Slavkovich V, Graziano J, Prosperi C, Higdon M, Deloria-Knoll M, O' Brien KL, George CM. Urinary arsenic is associated with wasting and underweight status in young children in rural Bangladesh. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 195:110025. [PMID: 32791251 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deficits in child growth are associated with poor cognitive outcomes and an increased risk for infection and mortality globally. One hundred forty million people are chronically exposed to arsenic from contaminated drinking water worldwide. While arsenic exposure has been associated with cognitive developmental delays in children, there is limited research on the association between arsenic exposure and growth deficits in young children. PURPOSE The objective of this study was to assess the association between chronic arsenic exposure and deficits in growth among children under 5 years in a rural setting in Bangladesh. METHODS Urinary arsenic measurements were collected from 465 children between the ages of 28 days-59 months in rural Matlab, Bangladesh, and analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption. Height and weight measurements were collected from children according to World Health Organization child growth standards. A z-score cutoff2 standard deviations below the mean was used to define stunting (height-for-age z-score), underweight (weight-for-age z-score), and wasting (weight-for-height z-score). RESULTS Children under 5 years with urinary arsenic concentrations in the third tertile (greater than 31 μg per liter (μg/L)) had a two times higher odds of being underweight after adjustment for age, creatinine, paternal education, breastfeeding, number of individuals using the same sleeping room, and physician-diagnosed pneumonia (Odds Ratio (OR): 2.29 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.16, 4.52)). Children under 2 years of age had a two times higher odds of being wasted after adjustment for age, creatinine, paternal education, breastfeeding, number of individuals using the same sleeping room, and physician-diagnosed pneumonia (OR: 2.85 (95% CI: 1.18, 6.89)). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that arsenic exposure is associated with an increased odds of being wasted and underweight among young children in rural Bangladesh.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary E Alao
- Department of International Health, Program in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jamie Perin
- Department of International Health, Program in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - W Abdullah Brooks
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Lokman Hossain
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Doli Goswami
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Khalequzzaman Zaman
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Yunus
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Alfazal Khan
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Yasmin Jahan
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Dilruba Ahmed
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Vesna Slavkovich
- Department of Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joseph Graziano
- Department of Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christine Prosperi
- Department of International Health, International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Melissa Higdon
- Department of International Health, International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Maria Deloria-Knoll
- Department of International Health, International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Katherine L O' Brien
- Department of International Health, International Vaccine Access Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christine Marie George
- Department of International Health, Program in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Chowdhury KIA, Nurunnahar S, Kabir ML, Islam MT, Baker M, Islam MS, Rahman M, Hasan MA, Sikder A, Kwong LH, Binkhorst GK, Nash E, Keith J, McCartor A, Luby SP, Forsyth JE. Child lead exposure near abandoned lead acid battery recycling sites in a residential community in Bangladesh: Risk factors and the impact of soil remediation on blood lead levels. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 194:110689. [PMID: 33412099 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Lead is a potent neurotoxin that is particularly detrimental to children's cognitive development. Batteries account for at least 80% of global lead use and unsafe battery recycling is a major contributor to childhood lead poisoning. Our objectives were to assess the intensity and nature of child lead exposure at abandoned, informal used lead acid battery (ULAB) recycling sites in Kathgora, Savar, Bangladesh, as well as to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a soil remediation effort to reduce exposure. ULAB recycling operations were abandoned in 2016 due to complaints from residents, but the lead contamination remained in the soil after operations ceased. We measured soil and blood lead levels (BLLs) among 69 children living within 200 m of the ULAB recycling site once before, and twice after (7 and 14 months after), a multi-part remediation intervention involving soil capping, household cleaning, and awareness-raising activities. Due to attrition, the sample size of children decreased from 69 to 47 children at the 7-month post-intervention assessment and further to 25 children at 14 months. We conducted non-parametric tests to assess changes in soil lead levels and BLLs. We conducted baseline surveys, as well as semi-structured interviews and observations with residents throughout the study period to characterize exposure behaviors and the community perceptions. We conducted bivariate and multivariate regression analyses of exposure characteristics to determine the strongest predictors of baseline child BLLs. Prior to remediation, median soil lead concentrations were 1400 mg/kg, with a maximum of 119,000 mg/kg and dropped to a median of 55 mg/kg after remediation (p < 0.0001). Among the 47 children with both baseline and post-intervention time 1 measurements, BLLs dropped from a median of 21.3 μg/dL to 17.0 μg/dL at 7 months (p < 0.0001). Among the 25 children with all three measurements, BLLs dropped from a median of 22.6 μg/dL to 14.8 μg/dL after 14 months (p < 0.0001). At baseline, distance from a child's residence to the nearest abandoned ULAB site was the strongest predictor of BLLs and baseline BLLs were 31% higher for children living within 50 m from the sites compared to those living further away (n = 69, p = 0.028). Women and children spent time in the contaminated site daily and relied on it for their livelihoods and for recreation. Overall, this study highlights the intensity of lead exposure associated with the ULAB recycling industry. Additionally, we document the feasibility and effectiveness of a multi-part remediation intervention at a contaminated site embedded within a residential community; substantially reducing child BLLs and soil lead concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Syeda Nurunnahar
- International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Bangladesh
| | | | | | - Musa Baker
- International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Bangladesh
| | - M Saiful Islam
- International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Bangladesh
| | - Mahbubur Rahman
- International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Bangladesh
| | - M Aziz Hasan
- Department of Geology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Arif Sikder
- Pure Earth, New York, NY, USA; Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Laura H Kwong
- Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Stephen P Luby
- Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jenna E Forsyth
- Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Chilipweli PM, Ngowi AV, Manji K. Maternal pesticide exposure and child neuro-development among smallholder tomato farmers in the southern corridor of Tanzania. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:171. [PMID: 33472592 PMCID: PMC7818734 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-10097-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to pesticides with its associated effects prenatally and in early childhood has not received much attention. There is little scientific data on this aspect in Tanzania therefore this study was meant to contribute to the deficit in the subject. METHOD A cross-sectional study was conducted to a sample of 286 participants of mother to child pair, whereby 172 and 114 were exposed and non-exposed respectively. Mothers who had been working in tomato sprayed farms were exposed and mothers who had not been working in the tomato sprayed farms were un-exposed. Child aged 0-6 years was chosen from each mother sampled but only one child found to be the youngest with the classified age was enrolled. Malawi child development Tool (M-DAT) was employed to assess the child level of development, height, and weight of the children were collected and analyzed by the WHO anthropometric calculator. A checklist and questionnaire were used to observe and assess maternal exposure. Bivariate and Multivariate analysis were conducted to assess the relationship between various factors of exposure. RESULTS Overall 15% of the children examined were not well developed and the most used pesticides were those posing neuro-development effects. On the bivariate analysis model, mothers who worked while pregnant were more likely to have a child with neuro-developmental effect OR=5.8(1.29-26.3). On multivariate analyses adjusted for age of the mother, variables which remain in the model were a distance from home [AOR=9.4(4.2-20.5)], and working while pregnancy [AOR=5.8(1.29-26.3)] other were removed due to collinearity effect. None of confounders had a potential significant effect but only nutrition seems to be the effect modifier [AOR=7.8(1.29-36.3)] when analyzed with working while pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS The findings from this study have indicated that maternal pesticide exposure among farmworker residents in the SAGCOT area has a potential association with child developmental effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M. Chilipweli
- Department of environmental health sciences, Ruaha catholic university (RUCU), P.O.BOX 774, Iringa, Tanzania
| | - Aiwerasia Vera Ngowi
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O.BOX 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Karim Manji
- Department of Paediatrics and child Health, School of Medicine Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O.BOX 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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Gleason KM, Valeri L, Shankar AH, Obrycki JF, Ibne Hasan MOS, Mostofa G, Quamruzzaman Q, Wright RO, Christiani DC, Bellinger DC, Mazumdar M. Stunting and lead: using causal mediation analysis to better understand how environmental lead exposure affects cognitive outcomes in children. J Neurodev Disord 2020; 12:39. [PMID: 33327931 PMCID: PMC7745460 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-020-09346-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many children in Bangladesh experience poor nutritional status and environmental lead exposure, both of which are associated with lower scores on neurodevelopmental assessments. Recent studies have suggested that part of lead's adverse effects on neurodevelopment are caused in part by lead's effect on growth. New statistical methods are now available to evaluate potential causal pathways in observational studies. This study used a novel statistical method to test the hypothesis that stunting, a measure of linear growth related to poor nutrition, is a mediator and/or an effect modifier of the lead exposure's adverse effect on cognitive development. METHODS Participants were 734 children from a longitudinal birth cohort established in rural Bangladesh to study the health effects of prenatal and early childhood environmental metal exposures. Lead exposure was estimated using umbilical cord blood samples obtained at birth and blood obtained via venipuncture at age 20-40 months. Stunting was determined using the World Health Organization's standards. Neurodevelopment was assessed at age 20-40 months years using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID-III). We evaluated the effect of lead on stunting and whether the effect of lead on cognitive scores is modified by stunting status in multivariable regression analyses. We then conducted a novel 4-way mediation analysis that allows for exposure-mediator interaction to assess how much of the effect of lead on cognitive scores is explained by the pathway through stunting (mediation) and how much is explained by the interaction between lead and stunt (effect modification). RESULTS Stunting was not a mediator of the effect of lead in our analyses. Results suggested effect modification by stunting. In an area of Bangladesh with lower lead exposures (median umbilical cord blood lead concentration, 1.7 μg/dL), stunting modified the relationship between prenatal blood lead concentrations and cognitive score at age 2-3 years. A 1-unit increase in natural log cord blood lead concentration in the presence of stunting was associated with a 2.1-unit decrease in cognitive scores (β = - 2.10, SE = 0.71, P = 0.003). This interaction was not found in a second study site where lead exposures were higher (median umbilical cord blood lead concentration, 6.1 μg/dL, β = - 0.45, SE = 0.49, P = 0.360). CONCLUSIONS We used a novel method of mediation analysis to test whether stunting mediated the adverse effect of prenatal lead exposure on cognitive outcomes in Bangladesh. While we did not find that stunting acted as mediator of lead's effect on cognitive development, we found significant effect modification by stunting. Our results suggest that children with stunting are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of low-level lead exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey M Gleason
- Department of Medicine, Robert Larner M.D. College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Linda Valeri
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anuraj H Shankar
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John F Obrycki
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | | | | | | | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - David C Christiani
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David C Bellinger
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maitreyi Mazumdar
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
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Bauer JA, Fruh V, Howe CG, White RF, Henn BC. Associations of metals and neurodevelopment: a review of recent evidence on susceptibility factors. CURR EPIDEMIOL REP 2020; 7:237-262. [PMID: 33777647 PMCID: PMC7993302 DOI: 10.1007/s40471-020-00249-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Epidemiologic evidence exists that many metals are associated with adverse neurobehavioral effects in young children, including lead (Pb), methylmercury (meHg), manganese (Mn) and arsenic (As)5-8. Importantly, chemical insult can vary depending on host factors and exposure circumstance. This systematic review summarizes the recent literature investigating modifying factors of the associations between metals and neurodevelopment, including immutable traits (sex or genetics) or exposure conditions (timing or co-exposures). RECENT FINDINGS Of the 53 studies included in this review, the number investigating modification of exposure effects were: 30 for sex, 21 for co-exposures, 12 for timing of exposure, and six for genetic modifiers. Sex-specific effects of metal-neurobehavioral associations were inconclusive for all metals, likely due to the heterogeneity of outcome domains assessed and the exposure time points measured. Seven studies evaluated both sex and exposure timing as modifying factors using deciduous teeth or other biomarkers with repeated measures to characterize metals exposure over time. Only five studies used statistical methods for mixtures to evaluate associations of more than two metals with neurobehavioral domains. SUMMARY Despite the expansion of research on susceptibility to the neurodevelopmental effects of metals exposure, considerable gaps remain. This work remains critical, as characterizing susceptible subpopulations can aid in identifying biological mechanisms and is fundamental for the protection of public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia A Bauer
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Victoria Fruh
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Caitlin G Howe
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Roberta F White
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Birgit Claus Henn
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Zierold KM, Odoh C. A review on fly ash from coal-fired power plants: chemical composition, regulations, and health evidence. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2020; 35:401-418. [PMID: 32324165 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2019-0039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Throughout the world, coal is responsible for generating approximately 38% of power. Coal ash, a waste product, generated from the combustion of coal, consists of fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag, and flue gas desulfurization material. Fly ash, which is the main component of coal ash, is composed of spherical particulate matter with diameters that range from 0.1 μm to >100 μm. Fly ash is predominately composed of silica, aluminum, iron, calcium, and oxygen, but the particles may also contain heavy metals such as arsenic and lead at trace levels. Most nations throughout the world do not consider fly ash a hazardous waste and therefore regulations on its disposal and storage are lacking. Fly ash that is not beneficially reused in products such as concrete is stored in landfills and surface impoundments. Fugitive dust emissions and leaching of metals into groundwater from landfills and surface impoundments may put people at risk for exposure. There are limited epidemiological studies regarding the health effects of fly ash exposure. In this article, the authors provide an overview of fly ash, its chemical composition, the regulations from nations generating the greatest amount of fly ash, and epidemiological evidence regarding the health impacts associated with exposure to fly ash.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina M Zierold
- Environmental Health Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Chisom Odoh
- Rehabilitation and Health Services, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
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40
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Liu W, Xin Y, Li Q, Shang Y, Ping Z, Min J, Cahill CM, Rogers JT, Wang F. Biomarkers of environmental manganese exposure and associations with childhood neurodevelopment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Environ Health 2020; 19:104. [PMID: 33008482 PMCID: PMC7531154 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-020-00659-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although prior studies showed a correlation between environmental manganese (Mn) exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders in children, the results have been inconclusive. There has yet been no consistent biomarker of environmental Mn exposure. Here, we summarized studies that investigated associations between manganese in biomarkers and childhood neurodevelopment and suggest a reliable biomarker. METHODS We searched PubMed and Web of Science for potentially relevant articles published until December 31th 2019 in English. We also conducted a meta-analysis to quantify the effects of manganese exposure on Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and the correlations of manganese in different indicators. RESULTS Of 1754 citations identified, 55 studies with 13,388 subjects were included. Evidence from cohort studies found that higher manganese exposure had a negative effect on neurodevelopment, mostly influencing cognitive and motor skills in children under 6 years of age, as indicated by various metrics. Results from cross-sectional studies revealed that elevated Mn in hair (H-Mn) and drinking water (W-Mn), but not blood (B-Mn) or teeth (T-Mn), were associated with poorer cognitive and behavioral performance in children aged 6-18 years old. Of these cross-sectional studies, most papers reported that the mean of H-Mn was more than 0.55 μg/g. The meta-analysis concerning H-Mn suggested that a 10-fold increase in hair manganese was associated with a decrease of 2.51 points (95% confidence interval (CI), - 4.58, - 0.45) in Full Scale IQ, while the meta-analysis of B-Mn and W-Mn generated no such significant effects. The pooled correlation analysis revealed that H-Mn showed a more consistent correlation with W-Mn than B-Mn. Results regarding sex differences of manganese associations were inconsistent, although the preliminary meta-analysis found that higher W-Mn was associated with better Performance IQ only in boys, at a relatively low water manganese concentrations (most below 50 μg/L). CONCLUSIONS Higher manganese exposure is adversely associated with childhood neurodevelopment. Hair is the most reliable indicator of manganese exposure for children at 6-18 years of age. Analysis of the publications demonstrated sex differences in neurodevelopment upon manganese exposure, although a clear pattern has not yet been elucidated for this facet of our study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Liu
- Department of Nutrition, Precision Nutrition Innovation Center, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yongjuan Xin
- Department of Nutrition, Precision Nutrition Innovation Center, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qianwen Li
- Department of Nutrition, Precision Nutrition Innovation Center, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yanna Shang
- Department of Nutrition, Precision Nutrition Innovation Center, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhiguang Ping
- Department of Nutrition, Precision Nutrition Innovation Center, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Junxia Min
- The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Public Health, Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Catherine M. Cahill
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry-Neuroscience, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA USA
| | - Jack T. Rogers
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry-Neuroscience, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA USA
| | - Fudi Wang
- Department of Nutrition, Precision Nutrition Innovation Center, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Public Health, Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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Vuong AM, Yolton K, Braun JM, Lanphear BP, Chen A. Chemical mixtures and neurobehavior: a review of epidemiologic findings and future directions. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2020; 35:245-256. [PMID: 32598325 PMCID: PMC7781354 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2020-0010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Background Epidemiological studies have historically focused on single toxicants, or toxic chemicals, and neurodevelopment, even though the interactions of chemicals and nutrients may result in additive, synergistic, antagonistic, or potentiating effects on neurological endpoints. Investigating the impact of environmentally-relevant chemical mixtures, including heavy metals and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), is more reflective of human exposures and may result in more refined environmental policies to protect the public. Objective In this review, we provide a summary of epidemiological studies that have analyzed chemical mixtures of heavy metals and EDCs and neurobehavior utilizing multi-chemical models, including frequentist and Bayesian methods. Content Studies investigating chemicals and neurobehavior have the opportunity to not only examine the impact of chemical mixtures, but they can also identify chemicals from a mixture that may play a key role in neurotoxicity, investigate interactive effects, estimate non-linear dose response, and identify potential windows of susceptibility. The examination of neurobehavioral domains is particularly challenging given that traits emerge and change over time and subclinical nuances of neurobehavior are often unrecognized. To date, only a handful of epidemiological studies examining neurodevelopment have utilized multi-pollutant models in the investigation of heavy metals and EDCs. However, these studies were successful in identifying contaminants of importance from the exposure mixtures. Summary and Outlook Investigators are encouraged to broaden their focus to include more environmentally relevant mixtures of chemicals using advanced statistical approaches, particularly to aid in identifying potential mechanisms underlying associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann M Vuong
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 7035, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 7035, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main St, Box G-S121-2, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute and Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BCV5A 1S6,Canada
| | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Zhang RY, Tu JB, Ran RT, Zhang WX, Tan Q, Tang P, Kuang T, Cheng SQ, Chen CZ, Jiang XJ, Chen C, Han TL, Zhang T, Cao XQ, Peng B, Zhang H, Xia YY. Using the Metabolome to Understand the Mechanisms Linking Chronic Arsenic Exposure to Microglia Activation, and Learning and Memory Impairment. Neurotox Res 2020; 39:720-739. [PMID: 32955723 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-020-00286-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The activation of microglia is a hallmark of neuroinflammation and contributes to various neurodegenerative diseases. Chronic inorganic arsenic exposure is associated with impaired cognitive ability and increased risk of neurodegeneration. The present study aimed to investigate whether chronic inorganic arsenic-induced learning and memory impairment was associated with microglial activation, and how organic (DMAV 600 μM, MMAV 0.1 μM) and inorganic arsenic (NaAsO2 0.6 μM) affect the microglia. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into two groups: a control group and a group exposed to arsenic in their drinking water (50 mg/L NaAsO2 for 24 weeks). The Morris water maze was performed to analyze neuro-behavior and transmission electron microscopy was used to assess alterations in cellular ultra-structures. Hematoxylin-eosin and Nissl staining were used to observe pathological changes in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Flow cytometry was used to reveal the polarization of the arsenic-treated microglia phenotype and GC-MS was used to assess metabolomic differences in the in vitro microglia BV-2 cell line model derived from mice. The results showed learning and memory impairments and activation of microglia in the cerebral cortex and dentate gyrus (DG) zone of the hippocampus, in mice chronically exposed to arsenic. Flow cytometry demonstrated that BV-2 cells were activated with the treatment of different arsenic species. The GC-MS data showed three important metabolites to be at different levels according to the different arsenic species used to treat the microglia. These included tyrosine, arachidonic acid, and citric acid. Metabolite pathway analysis showed that a metabolic pathways associated with tyrosine metabolism, the dopaminergic synapse, Parkinson's disease, and the citrate cycle were differentially affected when comparing exposure to organic arsenic and inorganic arsenic. Organic arsenic MMAV was predominantly pro-inflammatory, and inorganic arsenic exposure contributed to energy metabolism disruptions in BV-2 microglia. Our findings provide novel insight into understanding the neurotoxicity mechanisms of chronic arsenic exposure and reveal the changes of the metabolome in response to exposure to different arsenic species in the microglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui-Yuan Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, School of Public Health and Management, Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Innovation Center for Social Risk Governance in Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie-Bai Tu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, School of Public Health and Management, Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Innovation Center for Social Risk Governance in Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui-Tu Ran
- Department of Urinary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Xuan Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, School of Public Health and Management, Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Innovation Center for Social Risk Governance in Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Tan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, School of Public Health and Management, Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Innovation Center for Social Risk Governance in Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Tang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, School of Public Health and Management, Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Innovation Center for Social Risk Governance in Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Kuang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, School of Public Health and Management, Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Innovation Center for Social Risk Governance in Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Shu-Qun Cheng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, School of Public Health and Management, Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Innovation Center for Social Risk Governance in Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng-Zhi Chen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, School of Public Health and Management, Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Innovation Center for Social Risk Governance in Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xue-Jun Jiang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, School of Public Health and Management, Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Innovation Center for Social Risk Governance in Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Chang Chen
- Institute of Life Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting-Li Han
- Institute of Life Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine of Chongqing Municipality, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xian-Qing Cao
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, School of Public Health and Management, Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Innovation Center for Social Risk Governance in Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Peng
- Department of Statistics, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Institute of Life Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yin-Yin Xia
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, School of Public Health and Management, Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Innovation Center for Social Risk Governance in Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
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Sears L, Sears CG, Myers JV, Brock GN, Zierold KM. Associations of the Behavioral Assessment and Research System (BARS) neurobehavioral outcomes with attention problems in children living near coal ash storage sites. Neurotoxicology 2020; 81:11-17. [PMID: 32810513 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2020.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Environmental exposures have been linked to childhood problems with overactivity, attention, and impulse control, and an increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis. Two approaches to identify these types of exposure-related neurobehavioral problems include the use of computerized tests, such as the Behavioral Assessment and Research System (BARS), as well as the use of behavior rating scales. To assess comparability of these two types of measures, we analyzed data from 281 children aged 6 to 14 years enrolled in a 5-year research study investigating coal ash exposure and neurobehavioral health. All children lived in proximity of coal ash storage sites. We administered six computer tests from the BARS and obtained behavior measures from the parent-completed Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) ADHD DSM oriented scale. BARS test performance was associated with age indicating that the tests could be used to evaluate neurodevelopmental changes over time or across a wide age range. Tests within the BARS including Continuous Performance (CPT) false alarm (standardized estimate 1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.67, 2.48), adjusted p = 0.006), Selective Attention (SAT) wrong count (standardized estimate 2.8, 95% CI (1.17, 4.44), adjusted p = 0.006), and SAT proportion correct (standardized estimate -2.45, 95% CI (-4.01, -0.88), adjusted p = 0.01) were associated with attention and impulse control problems on the CBCL after adjustment for multiple comparisons. Findings support that the BARS can contribute to research on environmental exposures by assessing subclinical behaviors related to ADHD such as sustained attention, impulse control, response inhibition, associative learning, and short-term memory. Future research can examine relationships of these BARS measures with biomarkers of neurotoxic exposures related to living near coal ash storage sites to better identify the potential risk for ADHD-related behaviors among children living near coal ash storage sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lonnie Sears
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
| | - Clara G Sears
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
| | - John V Myers
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
| | - Guy N Brock
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
| | - Kristina M Zierold
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
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Dong C, Taylor MP, Gulson B. A 25-year record of childhood blood lead exposure and its relationship to environmental sources. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 186:109357. [PMID: 32330765 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Broken Hill, the oldest silver (Ag)-zinc (Zn)-lead (Pb) mining community in Australia, has a legacy and ongoing problem of environmental Pb exposure that was identified as early as 1893. To reduce Pb exposure risks, identifying potential exposure pathways and related factors is a critical first step. This study examined blood lead (PbB) levels of children ≤60 months old (n = 24,106 samples), along with Pb concentrations in corresponding soil (n = 10,160 samples), petri-dish dust (n = 106 houses) and ceiling dust (n = 80 houses) over a 25-year period from 1991 to 2015. Regression analysis was used to examine the relationships between environmental Pb sources and children's blood lead (PbB) outcomes. Analysis of the dataset showed Aboriginal children in Broken Hill had a geometric mean PbB of 7.4 μg/dL (95% CI: 6.7-7.4) being significantly higher (p < 0.01) than non-Aboriginal children (PbB 6.2 μg/dL, 95% CI: 6.2-6.3) for all years between 1991 and 2015. Children at the age of 24-36 months had a higher PbB compared with other age groups. Higher PbB levels were also statistically associated with lower socio-economic status and children living in houses built before 1940 (p < 0.01). Blood Pb was also significantly correlated with both soil Pb and indoor petri-dish dust Pb loadings, confirming that these are important pathways for exposure in Broken Hill. A 100 mg/kg increase in soil Pb was associated with a 0.12 μg/dL increase in childhood PbB. In addition, PbB concentrations increased with indoor petri-dish dust Pb loadings (i.e., 0.08 μg/dL per 100 μg/m2/30 days). The 25-year data show that the risk of exposure at ≥ 10 μg/dL was seemingly unavoidable irrespective of residential address (i.e., children of all ages presenting with a ≥10 μg/dL across the whole city area). In terms of moving forward and mitigating harmful early-life Pb exposures, all children aged 24-36 months should be prioritised for feasible and effective intervention practices. Primary intervention must focus on mitigating contemporary ongoing dust emissions from the mining operations and the associated mine-lease areas along with household soil remediation, to help prevent recontamination of homes. Additional practices of dust cleaning using wet mopping and wiping techniques, vacuuming of carpets and furnishings, ongoing monitoring of children and household dust remain important but short-lived abatement strategies. Overall, the key goal should be to eliminate risk by removing contamination in the wider environment as well as in individual homes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyin Dong
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia; Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, PR China.
| | - Mark Patrick Taylor
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
| | - Brian Gulson
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia; CSIRO Land and Water, Lucas Heights, NSW, 2234, Australia
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Vahter M, Skröder H, Rahman SM, Levi M, Derakhshani Hamadani J, Kippler M. Prenatal and childhood arsenic exposure through drinking water and food and cognitive abilities at 10 years of age: A prospective cohort study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 139:105723. [PMID: 32298878 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our studies of children in a rural Bangladeshi area, with varying concentrations of arsenic in well-water, indicated modest impact on child verbal cognitive function at 5 years of age. OBJECTIVES Follow-up of arsenic exposure and children's cognitive abilities at school-age. METHODS In a nested sub-cohort of the MINIMat supplementation trial, we assessed cognitive abilities at 10 years of age (n = 1523), using Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV). Arsenic in maternal urine and erythrocytes in early pregnancy, in child urine at 5 and 10 years, and in hair at 10 years, was measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. RESULTS Median urinary arsenic at 10 years was 58 µg/L (range 7.3-940 µg/L). Multivariable-adjusted regression analysis showed that, compared to the first urinary arsenic quintile at 10 years (<30 µg/L), the third and fourth quintiles (30-45 and 46-73 µg/L, respectively) had 6-7 points lower Full developmental raw scores (B: -7.23, 95% CI -11.3; -3.18, and B: -6.37, 95% CI -10.5; -2.22, respectively), corresponding to ~0.2 SD. Verbal comprehension and Perceptual reasoning seemed to be affected. Models with children's hair arsenic concentrations showed similar results. Maternal urinary arsenic in early pregnancy, but not late pregnancy, showed inverse associations with Full developmental scores (quintiles 2-4: B: -4.52, 95% CI -8.61; -0.43, B: -5.91, 95% CI -10.0; -1.77, and B: -5.98, 95%CI -10.2; -1.77, respectively, compared to first quintile), as well as with Verbal comprehension, Perceptual reasoning, and Processing speed, especially in girls (p < 0.05 for interaction of sex with Full developmental scores and Perceptual reasoning). In models with all exposure time points included, both concurrent exposure at 10 years and early prenatal exposure remained associated with cognitive abilities. CONCLUSIONS Both early prenatal and childhood arsenic exposure, even at low levels (about 50 µg/L in urine), was inversely associated with cognitive abilities at school-age, although the estimates were modest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Vahter
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helena Skröder
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Syed Moshfiqur Rahman
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh; International Maternal and Child Health, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Michael Levi
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jena Derakhshani Hamadani
- International Maternal and Child Health, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria Kippler
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Soetrisno FN, Delgado-Saborit JM. Chronic exposure to heavy metals from informal e-waste recycling plants and children's attention, executive function and academic performance. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 717:137099. [PMID: 32092800 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
E-waste contains valuable metals that require appropriate waste management plans. However, rudimentary e-waste processing methods are a source of heavy metals environmental pollution. This study has characterised concentrations of heavy metals in soil (n = 10), water (n = 10) and hair (n = 44) of children in areas surrounding Jakarta (Indonesia), where e-waste is being or has been conducted in the past, and in a reference unexposed site. Chronic exposure to Mn, Pb, Hg, As and Cd and its associations with attention and executive function, characterised with the Trail Making Test (TMT), along with academic performance scores was conducted using multivariate regression analysis. Models were adjusted for age, gender, parental education, environmental tobacco smoke and residential traffic. Lead (3653 ± 3355 mg/kg), cadmium (3.4 ± 0.9 mg/kg) and mercury (15.2 ± 28.5 mg/kg) concentrations from soil and manganese concentrations in water (1.43 ± 0.64 mg/L) in the exposed sites were higher than current regulations. Heavy metal concentrations in hair of children living near e-waste facilities was higher than for children living in non-exposed areas (Pb: 0.155 ± 0.187 vs 0.0729 ± 0.08 mg/g; Mn: 0.130 ± 0.212 vs 0.018 ± 0.045 mg/g; Hg: 0.008 ± 0.0042 vs 0.002 ± 0.0011 mg/g) suggesting chronic exposure to heavy metals. Manganese exposure was associated with worse cognitive performance in the domains of attention (TMT-A score: 66 s, 95% CI 0.09, 132), executive function (TMT-B score: 105 s, 95% CI 11.5, 198) and social sciences (-29%, 95% CI -54, -4.7) (per unit of Mn in hair mg/g). These results suggest that informal e-waste activities contribute to local heavy metal soil contamination, and could be an important source of metal exposure to children living in the vicinity of these facilities with putative impacts on their cognitive performance. E-waste management regulation and remediation programmes should be implemented to reduce environmental pollution and associated health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fitria Nurbaidah Soetrisno
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; BP Berau Ltd, Tangguh LNG, West Papua, Indonesia
| | - Juana Maria Delgado-Saborit
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; ISGlobal Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Barcelona, Spain.
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Balachandran RC, Mukhopadhyay S, McBride D, Veevers J, Harrison FE, Aschner M, Haynes EN, Bowman AB. Brain manganese and the balance between essential roles and neurotoxicity. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:6312-6329. [PMID: 32188696 PMCID: PMC7212623 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev119.009453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient required for the normal development of many organs, including the brain. Although its roles as a cofactor in several enzymes and in maintaining optimal physiology are well-known, the overall biological functions of Mn are rather poorly understood. Alterations in body Mn status are associated with altered neuronal physiology and cognition in humans, and either overexposure or (more rarely) insufficiency can cause neurological dysfunction. The resultant balancing act can be viewed as a hormetic U-shaped relationship for biological Mn status and optimal brain health, with changes in the brain leading to physiological effects throughout the body and vice versa. This review discusses Mn homeostasis, biomarkers, molecular mechanisms of cellular transport, and neuropathological changes associated with disruptions of Mn homeostasis, especially in its excess, and identifies gaps in our understanding of the molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying Mn homeostasis and neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Somshuvra Mukhopadhyay
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, and Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712
| | - Danielle McBride
- College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267
| | - Jennifer Veevers
- College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267
| | - Fiona E Harrison
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232
| | | | - Erin N Haynes
- College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536
| | - Aaron B Bowman
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907
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Varol M, Sünbül MR. Macroelements and toxic trace elements in muscle and liver of fish species from the largest three reservoirs in Turkey and human risk assessment based on the worst-case scenarios. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 184:109298. [PMID: 32126377 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Macroelement (Na, K, Ca, Mg and P) and toxic trace element (As, Cd and Pb) contents were investigated in muscle and liver of the two fish species (common carp and trout barb) from the largest three reservoirs (Atatürk, Keban and Karakaya) in Turkey. Also, human health risks for consumers using the worst-case scenarios were assessed. Potassium was the most abundant macroelement in muscle of both fish species in all reservoirs, whereas phosphorus was the most abundant in liver. Toxic trace element contents in the liver of the two fish species from the three reservoirs were higher than those in muscle. The mean levels of As and Pb in muscle and liver of fish species from the Karakaya Reservoir were higher than those from the other two reservoirs. Three-way ANOVA showed that the interaction between fish species, reservoir and fish tissue was significant for only Cd (p < 0.01). The maximum levels of As, Cd and Pb in muscle and liver of fish species from the three reservoirs were below permissible limits. The estimated daily intakes of toxic trace elements in fish species were much lower than their corresponding tolerable daily intakes. The target hazard quotient (THQ) and total THQ values in fish species were below 1, which indicated that non-carcinogenic health effects are not expected. The carcinogenic risk values for inorganic arsenic were within acceptable range. The results revealed that toxic trace elements in common carp and trout barb from the Atatürk, Keban and Karakaya reservoirs do not pose a significant health risk to consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Memet Varol
- Malatya Turgut Özal University, Faculty of Fisheries, Malatya, Turkey.
| | - Muhammet Raşit Sünbül
- East Mediterranean Transitional Zone Agricultural Research of Institute, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey
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Welch BM, Branscum A, Geldhof GJ, Ahmed SM, Hystad P, Smit E, Afroz S, Megowan M, Golam M, Sharif O, Rahman M, Quamruzzaman Q, Christiani DC, Kile ML. Evaluating the effects between metal mixtures and serum vaccine antibody concentrations in children: a prospective birth cohort study. Environ Health 2020; 19:41. [PMID: 32276596 PMCID: PMC7146972 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-020-00592-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many populations are exposed to arsenic, lead, and manganese. These metals influence immune function. We evaluated the association between exposure to single and multiple metals, including arsenic, lead, and manganese, to humoral immunity as measured by antibody concentrations to diphtheria and tetanus toxoid among vaccinated Bangladeshi children. Additionally, we examined if this association was potentially mediated by nutritional status. METHODS Antibody concentrations to diphtheria and tetanus were measured in children's serum at age 5 (n = 502). Household drinking water was sampled to quantify arsenic (W-As) and manganese (W-Mn), whereas lead was measured in blood (B-Pb). Exposure samples were taken during pregnancy, toddlerhood, and early childhood. Multiple linear regression models (MLRs) with single or combined metal predictors were used to determine the association with antibody outcomes. MLR results were transformed to units of percent change in outcome per doubling of exposure to improve interpretability. Structural equation models (SEMs) were used to further assess exposure to metal mixtures. SEMs regressed a latent exposure variable (Metals), informed by all measured metal variables (W-As, W-Mn, and B-Pb), on a latent outcome variable (Antibody), informed by measured antibody variables (diphtheria and tetanus). Weight-for-age z-score (WFA) at age 5 was evaluated as a mediator. RESULTS Diphtheria antibody was negatively associated with W-As during pregnancy in MLR, but associations were attenuated after adjusting for W-Mn and B-Pb (- 2.9% change in diphtheria antibody per doubling in W-As, 95% confidence interval [CI]: - 7%, 1.5%). Conversely, pregnancy levels of B-Pb were positively associated with tetanus antibody, even after adjusting for W-As and W-Mn (13.3%, 95% CI: 1.7%, 26.3%). Overall, null associations were observed between W-Mn and antibody outcomes. Analysis by SEMs showed that the latent Metals mixture was significantly associated with the latent Antibody outcome (β = - 0.16, 95% CI: - 0.26, - 0.05), but the Metals variable was characterized by positive and negative loadings of W-As and B-Pb, respectively. Sex-stratified MLR and SEM analyses showed W-As and B-Pb associations were exclusive to females. Mediation by WFA was null, indicating Metals only had direct effects on Antibody. CONCLUSIONS We observed significant modulation of vaccine antibody concentrations among children with pregnancy and early life exposures to drinking water arsenic and blood lead. We found distinct differences by child sex, as only females were susceptible to metal-related modulations in antibody levels. Weight-for-age, a nutritional status proxy, did not mediate the association between the metal mixture and vaccine antibody.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barrett M. Welch
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Milam Hall, Room 101, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA
- Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR USA
| | - Adam Branscum
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Milam Hall, Room 101, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA
| | - G. John Geldhof
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Milam Hall, Room 101, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA
| | - Sharia M. Ahmed
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Milam Hall, Room 101, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA
| | - Perry Hystad
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Milam Hall, Room 101, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA
| | - Ellen Smit
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Milam Hall, Room 101, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA
| | - Sakila Afroz
- Dhaka Community Hospital Trust, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Meghan Megowan
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Milam Hall, Room 101, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA
| | | | - Omar Sharif
- Dhaka Community Hospital Trust, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | | | | | - Molly L. Kile
- College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Milam Hall, Room 101, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA
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A prospective cohort study of in utero and early childhood arsenic exposure and infectious disease in 4- to 5-year-old Bangladeshi children. Environ Epidemiol 2020; 4:e086. [PMID: 32656486 PMCID: PMC7319226 DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research found that infants who were exposed to high levels of arsenic in utero had an increased risk of infectious disease in the first year of life. This prospective study examined the association between arsenic exposures during gestation, and respiratory, diarrheal, and febrile morbidity in children 4–5 years of age.
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