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Friedman A, Schildroth S, Fruh V, Krengel MH, Tripodis Y, Placidi D, White RF, Lucchini RG, Smith DR, Wright RO, Horton MK, Claus Henn B. Sex-specific associations of a ferroalloy metal mixture with motor function in Italian adolescents. Environ Epidemiol 2024; 8:e321. [PMID: 39022189 PMCID: PMC11254121 DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000321] [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] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Motor function is critical for children's health, yet remains an understudied neurodevelopmental domain. Exposure to metals has been linked with motor function, but no study has examined the joint effects of metal mixtures. Methods We evaluated cross-sectional associations between a metal mixture and motor function among 569 adolescents (10-14 years old) living near the ferroalloy industry. Concentrations of blood lead, hair manganese, hair copper, and hair chromium were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Neuropsychologists administered multiple fine motor function assessments: pursuit aiming, finger tapping, visual reaction time (VRT), and subtests from the Luria Nebraska battery. We estimated associations between motor function and the metal mixture using quantile-based g-computation and multivariable linear regression, adjusting for child age, sex, and socioeconomic status. We explored sex-specific associations in stratified models. Results Associations between the metal mixture and motor function were mostly null but were modified by sex. We observed a beneficial association among females: a quartile increase in all metals in the mixture was associated with a 2.6% faster average response time on the VRT (95% confidence interval [CI] = -4.7%, -0.5%), driven by Cu and Cr. In contrast, this association was adverse among males (ß = 1.5% slower response time [95% CI = -0.7%, 3.9%]), driven by Cu and Mn. Conclusions Results suggest that males may be more susceptible to the adverse effects of metal exposure on motor function during adolescence than females. Future studies, particularly prospective study designs, are warranted to further understand the associations of metal mixtures with motor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa Friedman
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Samantha Schildroth
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Victoria Fruh
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Maxine H. Krengel
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Donatella Placidi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberta F. White
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Roberto G. Lucchini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
| | - Donald R. Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, California
| | - Robert O. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Megan K. Horton
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Birgit Claus Henn
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
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Lin JJY, Kuiper JR, Dickerson AS, Buckley JP, Volk HE, Rohlman DS, Lawrence KG, Braxton Jackson W, Sandler DP, Engel LS, Rule AM. Associations of a toenail metal mixture with attention and memory in the Gulf long-term follow-up (GuLF) study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 935:173387. [PMID: 38788945 PMCID: PMC11170656 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research on metal-associated neurodegeneration has largely focused on single metals. Since metal exposures typically co-occur as combinations of both toxic and essential elements, a mixtures framework is important for identifying risk and protective factors. This study examined associations between toenail levels of an eight-metal mixture and attention and memory in men living in US Gulf states. METHODS We measured toenail concentrations of toxic (arsenic, chromium, lead, and mercury) and essential (copper, manganese, selenium, and zinc) metals in 413 non-smoking men (23-69 years, 46 % Black) from the Gulf Long-Term Follow-Up (GuLF) Study. Sustained attention and working memory were assessed at the time of toenail sample collection using the continuous performance test (CPT) and digit span test (DST), respectively. Associations between toenail metal concentrations and performance on neurobehavioral tests were characterized using co-pollutant adjusted general linear models and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression. RESULTS Adjusting for other metals, one interquartile range (IQR) increase in toenail chromium was associated with a 0.19 (95 % CI: -0.31, -0.07) point reduction in CPT D Prime score (poorer ability to discriminate test signals from noise). One IQR increase in toenail manganese was associated with a 0.20 (95 % CI, -0.41, 0.01) point reduction on the DST Reverse Count (fewer numbers recalled). Attention deficits were greater among Black participants compared to White participants for the same increase in toenail chromium concentrations. No evidence of synergistic interaction between metals or adverse effect of the overall metal mixture was observed for either outcome. CONCLUSIONS Our findings support existing studies of manganese-related memory deficits and are some of the first to show chromium related attention deficits in adults. Longitudinal study of cognitive decline is needed to verify chromium findings. Research into social and chemical co-exposures is also needed to explain racial differences in metal-associated neurobehavioral deficits observed in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce J Y Lin
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Jordan R Kuiper
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Aisha S Dickerson
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jessie P Buckley
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Heather E Volk
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Diane S Rohlman
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Kaitlyn G Lawrence
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | - Dale P Sandler
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Lawrence S Engel
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Li J, Liu Q, Tian Z, Wang J, Zhang Y, Cheng X, Wang Y, Wang H, Guo X, Li H, Sun L, Hu B, Zhang D, Liang C, Sheng J, Tao F, Chen G, Yang L. The interaction between physical activity and ambient particulate matters on cognitive function among Chinese community-dwelling older adults. J Affect Disord 2024; 363:391-400. [PMID: 39029694 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.07.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The interaction between physical activity (PA) and ambient particulate matters (PMs) on cognition is rarely investigated. Our study aimed to assess the interactions of PA and PMs on cognitive function in older adults. METHODS Our study comprised 3937 Chinese community-dwelling older adults. Cognition was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination. PA information was gathered using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The data of PMs were obtained from China High Air Pollutants (CHAP). Linear regressions model and interaction plots were applied to assess and visualize the interaction of PA and PMs on cognition, respectively. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) method was employed to visualize discernible thresholds for the interaction. RESULTS PMs were negatively associated with MMSE scores (PM1: β = -0.40, 95 % CI: -0.58, -0.28; PM2.5: β = -0.46, 95 % CI: -0.64, -0.29; PM10: β = -0.44, 95 % CI: -0.61, -0.26), and PA was positively affiliated with MMSE scores (β = 0.18, 95 % CI: -0.01, 0.38). Interaction plots and BKMR demonstrated that adverse connotations of PMs with MMSE increased with the elevated PA levels, and the positive associations of PA with MMSE scores were attenuated by increased PMs (all Pinteraction < 0.20). Discernible thresholds for the interaction between PMs and PA on MMSE were found. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that PA should not be taken at higher PMs concentrations, and that low level of PA could be performed in PMs polluted environment to improve cognitive function. Further experimental and cohort researches are required to reproduce our discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junzhe Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Ziwei Tian
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Xuqiu Cheng
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Hongli Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Xianwei Guo
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Huaibiao Li
- Fuyang Center for Diseases Prevention and Control, Fuyang 236069, Anhui, China
| | - Liang Sun
- Fuyang Center for Diseases Prevention and Control, Fuyang 236069, Anhui, China
| | - Bing Hu
- Fuyang Center for Diseases Prevention and Control, Fuyang 236069, Anhui, China
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Chunmei Liang
- Department of Hygiene Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Jie Sheng
- Scientific Research Center in Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Fangbiao Tao
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Guimei Chen
- School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Linsheng Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Center for Big Data and Population Health of IHM, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China.
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Li Y, Lv Y, Jiang Z, Ma C, Li R, Zhao M, Guo Y, Guo H, Zhang X, Li A, Liu Y. Association of co-exposure to organophosphate esters and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and mixture with cardiovascular-kidney-liver-metabolic biomarkers among Chinese adults. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 280:116524. [PMID: 38838464 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116524] [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: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Organophosphate esters (OPEs) and Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants with common exposure sources, leading to their widespread presence in human body. However, evidence on co-exposure to OPEs and PFAS and its impact on cardiovascular-kidney-liver-metabolic biomarkers remains limited. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 467 adults were enrolled from January to May 2022 during physical visits in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province. Eleven types of OPEs and twelves types of PFAS were detected, among which eight OPEs and six PFAS contaminants were detected in more than 60% of plasma samples. Seventeen biomarkers were assessed to comprehensively evaluate the cardiovascular-kidney-liver-metabolic function. Multiple linear regression, multipollutant models with sparse partial least squares, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were applied to examine the associations of individual OPEs and PFAS and their mixtures with organ function and metabolism, respectively. RESULTS Of the over 400 exposure-outcome associations tested when modelling, we observed robust results across three models that perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxS) was significantly positively associated with alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL), and indirect bilirubin (IBIL). Perfluorononanoic acid was significantly associated with decreased AST/ALT and increased very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Besides, perfluorodecanoic acid was correlated with increased high lipoprotein cholesterol and perfluoroundecanoic acid was consistently associated with lower glucose level. BKMR analysis showed that OPEs and PFAS mixtures were positively associated with IBIL and TBIL, among which PFHxS was the main toxic chemicals. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that exposure to OPEs and PFAS, especially PFHxS and PFNA, may disrupt organ function and metabolism in the general population, providing insight into the potential pathophysiological mechanisms of OPEs and PFAS co-exposure and chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanbing Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, PR China; Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, PR China
| | - Yi Lv
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Zexuan Jiang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Chaoying Ma
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Ran Li
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Mengwei Zhao
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Yi Guo
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Huicai Guo
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050017, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Xiaoguang Zhang
- Core Facilities and Centers of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Ang Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, PR China; Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, PR China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050017, PR China.
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050017, PR China.
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Schildroth S, Claus Henn B, Vines AI, Geller RJ, Lovett SM, Coleman CM, Bethea TN, Botelho JC, Calafat AM, Milando C, Baird DD, Wegienka G, Wise LA. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), perceived stress, and depressive symptoms in a prospective cohort study of black women. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 929:172445. [PMID: 38642767 PMCID: PMC11109747 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals with neurotoxic properties. PFAS have been associated with depressive symptoms among women in some studies, but little research has evaluated the effects of PFAS mixtures. Further, no study has investigated interactions of PFAS-depression associations by perceived stress, which has been shown to modify the effects of PFAS on other health outcomes. OBJECTIVE In a prospective cohort study of reproductive-aged Black women, we investigated associations between PFAS and depressive symptoms and the extent to which perceived stress modified these associations. METHODS We analyzed data from 1499 participants (23-35 years) in the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids. We quantified concentrations of nine PFAS in baseline plasma samples using online solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatography-isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry. Participants reported perceived stress via the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4; range = 0-16) at baseline and depressive symptoms via the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD; range = 0-44) at the 20-month follow-up visit. We used Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression to estimate associations between PFAS concentrations, individually and as a mixture, and depressive symptoms, and to assess effect modification by PSS-4 scores, adjusting for confounders. RESULTS Baseline perfluorodecanoic acid concentrations were associated with greater depressive symptoms at the 20-month follow-up, but associations for other PFAS were null. The PFAS were not associated with depressive symptoms when evaluated as a mixture. The association between the 90th percentile (vs. 50th percentile) of the PFAS mixture with CES-D scores was null at the 10th (β = 0.03; 95 % CrI = 0.20, 0.25), 50th (β = 0.02; 95 % CrI = -0.16, 0.19), and 90th (β = 0.01; 95 % CrI = 0.18, 0.20) percentiles of PSS-4 scores, suggesting perceived stress did not modify the PFAS mixture. CONCLUSION In this prospective cohort study, PFAS concentrations-assessed individually or as a mixture-were not appreciably associated with depressive symptoms, and there was no evidence of effect modification by perceived stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Schildroth
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Birgit Claus Henn
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anissa I Vines
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ruth J Geller
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sharonda M Lovett
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chad M Coleman
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Traci N Bethea
- Office of Minority Health & Health Disparities Research, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Julianne Cook Botelho
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Chad Milando
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Donna D Baird
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Lauren A Wise
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Sears L, Smith MJ, Cai L, Zierold KM. The association of manganese overexposure and neurobehavioral function is moderated by arsenic: A metal mixture analysis of children living near coal ash storage sites. Neurotoxicology 2024; 103:78-86. [PMID: 38871300 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2024.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Manganese is an essential element but can be neurotoxic if overexposed. Our previous study found that a higher level of manganese in nail biomarkers from children living near coal ash storage sites was associated with poorer neurobehavioral function. Children living near this type of pollution may be exposed to other metal neurotoxicants and a better understanding of manganese in the context of multiple exposures is needed. Mixture analyses were completed using nail samples from 251 children aged 6-14 years old. These biomarkers containing metals known to impact brain functioning were investigated to test our hypothesis that a mixture of metals including manganese impacts the development of children living near coal ash sites. Nails collected from children were analyzed using ICP-MS for manganese, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and zinc based on previous research on neurotoxicity. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) was used while adjusting for age, sex, and maternal education as potential covariates. Children also completed the Behavioral Assessment Research System (BARS) to provide neurobehavioral measures of attention and processing speed as outcomes for mixture analyses. Metal mixture analyses indicated that the relationship of manganese concentration and attention and processing speed was moderated by arsenic.,. When nail biomarkers for arsenic were highest (90th percentile), manganese was associated with poorer neurobehavioral performance on the BARS, measured by CPT hit latency. At low levels of arsenic (10th percentile), there was no evidence of harmful effects from overexposure to manganese on CPT hit latency based on BKMR analysis. Previously reported effects of manganese on neurobehavioral function may be moderated by arsenic exposure. Metal exposures and behavior outcomes can be studied with mixture analyses such as BKMR to evaluate effects of simultaneous exposures on children exposed to pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lonnie Sears
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Melissa J Smith
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Lu Cai
- Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, the University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Kristina M Zierold
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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Oluyemi K, Rechtman E, Invernizzi A, Gennings C, Renzetti S, Patrono A, Cagna G, Reichenberg A, Smith DR, Lucchini RG, Wright RO, Placidi D, Horton MK. Sex-specific associations between co-exposure to multiple metals and externalizing symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 250:118443. [PMID: 38365053 PMCID: PMC11102844 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Externalizing disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), account for the majority of the child/adolescent referrals to mental health services and increase risk for later-life psychopathology. Although the expression of externalizing disorders is more common among males, few studies have addressed how sex modifies associations between metal exposure and adolescent externalizing symptoms. This study aimed to examine sex-specific associations between co-exposure to multiple metals and externalizing symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood. Among 150 adolescents and young adults (55% female, ages: 15-25 years) enrolled in the Public Health Impact of Metals Exposure (PHIME) study in Brescia, Italy, we measured five metals (manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni)) in four biological matrices (blood, urine, hair, and saliva). Externalizing symptoms were assessed using the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) Youth Self-Report (YSR) or Adult Self Report (ASR). Using generalized weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, we investigated the moderating effect of sex (i.e., assigned at birth) on associations between the joint effect of exposure to the metal mixture and externalizing symptoms, adjusting for age and socioeconomic status. We observed that metal mixture exposure was differentially associated with aggressive behavior in males compared to females (β = -0.058, 95% CI [-0.126, -0.009]). In males, exposure was significantly associated with more externalizing problems, and aggressive and intrusive behaviors, driven by Pb, Cu and Cr. In females, exposure was not significantly associated with any externalizing symptoms. These findings suggest that the effect of metal exposure on externalizing symptoms differs in magnitude between the sexes, with males being more vulnerable to increased externalizing symptoms following metal exposure. Furthermore, our findings support the hypothesis that sex-specific vulnerabilities to mixed metal exposure during adolescence/young adulthood may play a role in sex disparities observed in mental health disorders, particularly those characterized by externalizing symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristie Oluyemi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Nash Family Department of Neuroscience Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA; The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Elza Rechtman
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Azzurra Invernizzi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chris Gennings
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stefano Renzetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandra Patrono
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Cagna
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Abraham Reichenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Donald R Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Roberto G Lucchini
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel School of Public Health, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA; Department of Biomedical, Metabolic Sciences and Neurosciences, University of Modena, Italy
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Donatella Placidi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Megan K Horton
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Thilakaratne R, Lin PID, Rifas-Shiman SL, Landero J, Wright RO, Bellinger D, Oken E, Cardenas A. Cross-sectional and prospective associations of early childhood circulating metals with early and mid-childhood cognition in the Project Viva cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 246:118068. [PMID: 38157961 PMCID: PMC10947878 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.118068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Relatively little is known about the immediate and prospective neurodevelopmental impacts of joint exposure to multiple metals (i.e., metal mixtures) in early childhood. OBJECTIVES To estimate associations of early childhood (∼3 years of age) blood metal concentrations with cognitive test scores at early and mid-childhood (∼8 years of age). METHODS We studied children from the Project Viva cohort. We measured erythrocyte concentrations of seven essential (Co, Cu, Mg, Mn, Mo, Se, and Zn) and eight non-essential metals (As, Ba, Cd, Cs, Hg, Pb, Sn, and Sr) in early childhood blood samples. Trained research assistants administered cognitive tests assessing vocabulary, visual-motor ability, memory, and general intelligence (standard deviations: ∼10 points), in early and mid-childhood. We employed multivariable linear regression to examine associations of individual metals with test scores adjusting for confounders, other concurrently measured metals, and first-trimester maternal blood metals. We also estimated joint associations and explored interaction between metals in mixture analyses. RESULTS We analyzed 349 children (median whole blood Pb ∼1 μg/dL). In cross-sectional analyses, each doubling of Pb was associated with lower visual-motor function (mean difference: -2.43 points, 95% confidence interval (CI): -4.01, -0.86) and receptive vocabulary, i.e., words understood (-1.45 points, 95% CI: -3.26, 0.36). Associations of Pb with mid-childhood cognition were weaker and less precise by comparison. Mg was positively associated with cognition in cross-sectional but not prospective analyses, and cross-sectional associations were attenuated in a sensitivity analysis removing adjustment for concurrent metals. We did not observe joint associations nor interactions. DISCUSSION In this cohort with low blood Pb levels, increased blood Pb was robustly associated with lower cognitive ability in cross-sectional analyses, even after adjustment for prenatal Pb exposure, and regardless of adjustment for metal co-exposures. However, associations with mid-childhood cognition were attenuated and imprecise, suggesting some buffering of Pb neurotoxicity in early life. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS Relatively few studies have comprehensively separated the effects of neurotoxic metals such as lead (Pb) from pre- and postnatal co-occurring metals, nor examined persistence of associations across childhood. In a cohort of middle-class children, we found higher early childhood (∼3 y) blood Pb was associated with lower scores on cognitive tests, independent of other metals and prenatal blood Pb. However, early childhood Pb was only weakly associated with cognition in mid-childhood (∼8 y). Our results suggest the effects of low-level Pb exposure may attenuate over time in some populations, implying the presence of factors that may buffer Pb neurotoxicity in early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruwan Thilakaratne
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 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
| | - Sheryl L 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
| | - Julio Landero
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - David Bellinger
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 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
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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9
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Lane JM, Merced-Nieves FM, Midya V, Liu SH, Martinez-Medina S, Wright RJ, Téllez-Rojo MM, Wright RO. Prenatal exposure to metal mixtures and childhood temporal processing in the PROGRESS Birth Cohort Study: Modification by childhood obesity. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170576. [PMID: 38309331 PMCID: PMC10922956 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Children are frequently exposed to various biological trace metals, some essential for their development, while others can be potent neurotoxicants. Furthermore, the inflammatory and metabolic conditions associated with obesity may interact with and amplify the impact of metal exposure on neurodevelopment. However, few studies have assessed the potential modification effect of body mass index (BMI). As a result, we investigated the role of child BMI phenotype on the relationship between prenatal exposure to metal mixtures and temporal processing. Leveraging the PROGRESS birth cohort in Mexico City, children (N = 563) aged 6-9 years completed a Temporal Response Differentiation (TRD) task where they had to hold a lever down for 10-14 s. Blood and urinary metal (As, Pb, Cd, and Mn) measurements were collected from mothers in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Child BMI z-scores were dichotomized to normal (between -2 and +0.99) and high (≥1.00). Covariate-adjusted weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models were used to estimate and examine the combined effect of metal biomarkers (i.e., blood and urine) on TRD measures. Effect modification by the child's BMI was evaluated using 2-way interaction terms. Children with a high BMI and greater exposure to the metal mixture during prenatal development exhibited significant temporal processing deficits compared to children with a normal BMI. Notably, children with increased exposure to the metal mixture and higher BMI had a decrease in the percent of tasks completed (β = -10.13; 95 % CI: -19.84, -0.42), number of average holds (β = -2.15; 95 % CI: -3.88, -0.41), longer latency (β = 0.78; 95 % CI: 0.13, 1.44), and greater variability in the standard deviation of the total hold time (β = 2.08; 95 % CI: 0.34, 3.82) compared to normal BMI children. These findings implicate that high BMI may amplify the effect of metals on children's temporal processing. Understanding the relationship between metal exposures, temporal processing, and childhood obesity can provide valuable insights for developing targeted environmental interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamil M Lane
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Francheska M Merced-Nieves
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vishal Midya
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shelley H Liu
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, USA
| | - Sandra Martinez-Medina
- Division of Community Interventions Research, National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rosalind J Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Martha M Téllez-Rojo
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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10
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Schildroth S, Kordas K, White RF, Friedman A, Placidi D, Smith D, Lucchini RG, Wright RO, Horton M, Claus Henn B. An Industry-Relevant Metal Mixture, Iron Status, and Reported Attention-Related Behaviors in Italian Adolescents. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:27008. [PMID: 38363634 PMCID: PMC10871126 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to environmental metals has been consistently associated with attention and behavioral deficits in children, and these associations may be modified by coexposure to other metals or iron (Fe) status. However, few studies have investigated Fe status as a modifier of a metal mixture, particularly with respect to attention-related behaviors. METHODS We used cross-sectional data from the Public Health Impact of Metals Exposure study, which included 707 adolescents (10-14 years of age) from Brescia, Italy. Manganese, chromium, and copper were quantified in hair samples, and lead was quantified in whole blood, using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Concentrations of Fe status markers (ferritin, hemoglobin, transferrin) were measured using immunoassays or luminescence assays. Attention-related behaviors were assessed using the Conners Rating Scales Self-Report Scale-Long Form, Parent Rating Scales Revised-Short Form, and Teacher Rating Scales Revised-Short Form. We employed Bayesian kernel machine regression to examine associations of the metal mixture with these outcomes and evaluate Fe status as a modifier. RESULTS Higher concentrations of the metals and ferritin were jointly associated with worse self-reported attention-related behaviors: metals and ferritin set to their 90th percentiles were associated with 3.0% [β = 0.03 ; 95% credible interval (CrI): - 0.01 , 0.06], 4.1% (β = 0.04 ; 95% CrI: 0.00, 0.08), and 4.1% (β = 0.04 ; 95% CrI: 0.00, 0.08) higher T -scores for self-reported attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) index, inattention, and hyperactivity, respectively, compared with when metals and ferritin were set to their 50th percentiles. These associations were driven by hair manganese, which exhibited nonlinear associations with all self-reported scales. There was no evidence that Fe status modified the neurotoxicity of the metal mixture. The metal mixture was not materially associated with any parent-reported or teacher-reported scale. CONCLUSIONS The overall metal mixture, driven by manganese, was adversely associated with self-reported attention-related behavior. These findings suggest that exposure to multiple environmental metals impacts adolescent neurodevelopment, which has significant public health implications. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12988.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Schildroth
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Katarzyna Kordas
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Roberta F. White
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alexa Friedman
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Donatella Placidi
- Department of Occupational Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Donald Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Roberto G. Lucchini
- Department of Occupational Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Robert O. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Megan Horton
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Birgit Claus Henn
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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11
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Bauer JA, Romano ME, Jackson BP, Bellinger D, Korrick S, Karagas MR. Associations of Perinatal Metal and Metalloid Exposures with Early Child Behavioral Development Over Time in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. EXPOSURE AND HEALTH 2024; 16:135-148. [PMID: 38694196 PMCID: PMC11060719 DOI: 10.1007/s12403-023-00543-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Research on the neurodevelopmental effects of metal(loid)s has focused mainly on outcomes assessed at one time point, even though brain development progresses over time. We investigated biomarkers of perinatal exposure to metals and changes in child behavior over time. We followed 268 participants from the prospective New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study between birth and age 5 years. We measured arsenic (As), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) in toenails from 6-week-old infants. The Behavioral Symptoms Index (BSI), externalizing, and internalizing symptoms were assessed using the Behavior Assessment System for Children, 2nd edition (BASC-2) at ages 3 and 5 years. Multivariable linear regression was used to estimate associations of metals with behavior change, calculated as the difference in symptom raw scores between 3 and 5 years, in addition to the associations for symptom scores at 3 and 5 years separately. Sex-specific associations were also explored using stratified models and a sex-metal interaction term. Adjusted associations of metals and change in behavior varied by exposure and outcome. Each 1 μg/g increase in ln toenail Cu was associated with improved behavior between 3 and 5 years [BSI: β = - 3.88 (95%CI: - 7.12, - 0.64); Externalizing problems: β = - 2.20 (95%CI: - 4.07, - 0.33)]. Increasing Zn was associated with increased externalizing behavior over time (β = 3.42 (95%CI: 0.60, 6.25). Sex-stratified analyses suggested more pronounced associations among boys compared to girls. Perinatal exposure to metals may alter behavioral development between ages 3 and 5 years. Findings support the need for more research on associations between metals and neurodevelopment over longer time periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia A. Bauer
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, 1 Medical Center Dr., Lebanon, Hanover, NH 03756, USA
| | - Megan E. Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, 1 Medical Center Dr., Lebanon, Hanover, NH 03756, USA
| | - Brian P. Jackson
- Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - David Bellinger
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Susan Korrick
- 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, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Margaret R. Karagas
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, 1 Medical Center Dr., Lebanon, Hanover, NH 03756, USA
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12
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Invernizzi A, Renzetti S, Rechtman E, Ambrosi C, Mascaro L, Corbo D, Gasparotti R, Tang CY, Smith DR, Lucchini RG, Wright RO, Placidi D, Horton MK, Curtin P. Neuro-environmental interactions: a time sensitive matter. Front Comput Neurosci 2024; 17:1302010. [PMID: 38260714 PMCID: PMC10800942 DOI: 10.3389/fncom.2023.1302010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The assessment of resting state (rs) neurophysiological dynamics relies on the control of sensory, perceptual, and behavioral environments to minimize variability and rule-out confounding sources of activation during testing conditions. Here, we investigated how temporally-distal environmental inputs, specifically metal exposures experienced up to several months prior to scanning, affect functional dynamics measured using rs functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Methods We implemented an interpretable XGBoost-shapley additive explanation (SHAP) model that integrated information from multiple exposure biomarkers to predict rs dynamics in typically developing adolescents. In 124 participants (53% females, ages, 13-25 years) enrolled in the public health impact of metals exposure (PHIME) study, we measured concentrations of six metals (manganese, lead, chromium, copper, nickel, and zinc) in biological matrices (saliva, hair, fingernails, toenails, blood, and urine) and acquired rs-fMRI scans. Using graph theory metrics, we computed global efficiency (GE) in 111 brain areas (Harvard Oxford atlas). We used a predictive model based on ensemble gradient boosting to predict GE from metal biomarkers, adjusting for age and biological sex. Results Model performance was evaluated by comparing predicted versus measured GE. SHAP scores were used to evaluate feature importance. Measured versus predicted rs dynamics from our model utilizing chemical exposures as inputs were significantly correlated (p < 0.001, r = 0.36). Lead, chromium, and copper contributed most to the prediction of GE metrics. Discussion Our results indicate that a significant component of rs dynamics, comprising approximately 13% of observed variability in GE, is driven by recent metal exposures. These findings emphasize the need to estimate and control for the influence of past and current chemical exposures in the assessment and analysis of rs functional connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azzurra Invernizzi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Stefano Renzetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elza Rechtman
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Claudia Ambrosi
- Department of Neuroscience, Neuroradiology Unit, ASST Cremona, Cremona, Italy
| | | | - Daniele Corbo
- Department of Medical Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Gasparotti
- Department of Medical Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cheuk Y. Tang
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Donald R. Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Roberto G. Lucchini
- Department of Neuroscience, Neuroradiology Unit, ASST Cremona, Cremona, Italy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel School of Public Health, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Robert O. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Donatella Placidi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Megan K. Horton
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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13
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Schildroth S, Valeri L, Kordas K, Shi B, Friedman A, Smith D, Placidi D, Wright RO, Lucchini RG, White RF, Horton M, Claus Henn B. Assessing the mediating role of iron status on associations between an industry-relevant metal mixture and verbal learning and memory in Italian adolescents. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167435. [PMID: 37774885 PMCID: PMC10918745 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metals, including lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr) and copper (Cu), have been associated with neurodevelopment; iron (Fe) plays a role in the metabolism and neurotoxicity of metals, suggesting Fe may mediate metal-neurodevelopment associations. However, no study to date has examined Fe as a mediator of the association between metal mixtures and neurodevelopment. OBJECTIVE We assessed Fe status as a mediator of a mixture of Pb, Mn, Cr and Cu in relation to verbal learning and memory in a cohort of Italian adolescents. METHODS We used cross-sectional data from 383 adolescents (10-14 years) in the Public Health Impact of Metals Exposure Study. Metals were quantified in blood (Pb) or hair (Mn, Cr, Cu) using ICP-MS, and three markers of Fe status (blood hemoglobin, serum ferritin and transferrin) were quantified using luminescence assays or immunoassays. Verbal learning and memory were assessed using the California Verbal Learning Test for Children (CVLT-C). We used Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression Causal Mediation Analysis to estimate four mediation effects: the natural direct effect (NDE), natural indirect effect (NIE), controlled direct effect (CDE) and total effect (TE). Beta (β) coefficients and 95 % credible intervals (CIs) were estimated for all effects. RESULTS The metal mixture was jointly associated with a greater number of words recalled on the CVLT-C, but these associations were not mediated by Fe status. For example, when ferritin was considered as the mediator, the NIE for long delay free recall was null (β = 0.00; 95 % CI = -0.22, 0.23). Conversely, the NDE (β = 0.23; 95 % CI = 0.01, 0.44) indicated a beneficial association of the mixture with recall that operated independently of Fe status. CONCLUSION An industry-relevant metal mixture was associated with learning and memory, but there was no evidence of mediation by Fe status. Further studies in populations with Fe deficiency and greater variation in metal exposure are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Schildroth
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Linda Valeri
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Katarzyna Kordas
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Baoyi Shi
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexa Friedman
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Donald Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Donatella Placidi
- Department of Occupational Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Roberto G Lucchini
- Department of Occupational Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Roberta F White
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Megan Horton
- 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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14
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Lin JJY, Koffman LJ, Tehrani MW, Chen R, Han SG, Sandler DP, Lawrence KG, Jackson WB, Dickerson AS, Ramachandran G, Engel LS, Rule AM. Reliability of low mass toenail samples as biomarkers of chronic metal exposure. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2023; 33:945-953. [PMID: 37296232 PMCID: PMC10709526 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-023-00560-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toenails are a promising matrix for chronic metal exposure assessment, but there are currently no standard methods for collection and analysis. Questions remain about sample mass requirements and the extent to which metals measured in this matrix are representative of chronic body burden. OBJECTIVE This study proposes a method to maximize sample conservation for toenail metals analysis using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We demonstrate the reliability of an ~25 mg toenail sample (typically 1-2 clippings) for metals analysis and evaluate the intra-individual variability of multiple metals in this matrix over time in men from the Gulf Long-term Follow-up (GuLF) Study. METHODS Toenail samples from 123 GuLF Study participants were collected at two visits 3 years apart and analyzed for 18 elements using ICP-MS. Participants with samples exceeding 200 mg at the first visit (n = 29) were selected for triplicate sub-sample analysis. Kendall's coefficient of concordance (W) was used to assess sub-sample reliability and Spearman's correlation coefficients (ρ) were used to evaluate fluctuations in elemental concentrations over time. RESULTS Results were not reported for Cd, Co, Mo, Sb, and V (detected in <60% of the samples). There was strong agreement among triplicate samples (Kendall's W: 0.72 (Cu)-0.90 (Cu)) across all elements evaluated, moderate correlations of elemental concentrations (Spearman's ρ: 0.21-0.42) over 3 years for As, Ca, Cr, Fe, Pb, Mn, and Zn, and strong correlations (>0.50) for Se, Cu, and Hg. IMPACT STATEMENT This toenail reliability study found that a low-mass (~25 mg) toenail sample (1-2 clippings) is suitable for the determination of most elements using ICP-MS and helps to increase the analytical capacity of limited toenail biospecimens collected in cohort studies. The results highlight differences in the suitability of toenails for chronic metal exposure assessment by element and underscore the need to consider intra-person variability, especially when comparing results across studies. We also provide recommendations for analytical standardization and the partitioning of the total collected toenail sample into multiple analytic sub-samples for future studies using toenail biospecimen for multiple assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce J Y Lin
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Lily J Koffman
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mina W Tehrani
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Seok Gyu Han
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dale P Sandler
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Kaitlyn G Lawrence
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | - Aisha S Dickerson
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gurumurthy Ramachandran
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lawrence S Engel
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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15
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Gatzke-Kopp LM, Riis JL, Ahmadi H, Piccerillo HL, Granger DA, Blair CB, Thomas EA. Environmental tobacco smoke exposure is associated with increased levels of metals in children's saliva. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2023; 33:903-910. [PMID: 37147431 PMCID: PMC10733142 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-023-00554-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has been associated with detectable levels of cotinine (a nicotine metabolite) in children's saliva. However, tobacco smoke also contains toxic and essential trace metals, including chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn). OBJECTIVE The current study examines whether there is a relationship between ETS exposure, as gauged by salivary cotinine, and salivary levels of these metals in a subset (n = 238) of children from the Family Life Project. METHODS Using inductively-coupled-plasma optical emission spectrophotometry, we measured levels of metals in saliva from children at ~90 months of age. Salivary cotinine was measured using a commercial immunoassay. RESULTS We found that Cr, Cu, Mn, and Zn were detected in most samples (85-99%) with lower levels of detection for Pb and Ni (9.3% and 13.9% respectively). There were no significant differences in any of the metal concentrations between males and females, nor were levels associated with body mass index, although significant differences in salivary Cr and Mn by race, state and income-to-needs ratio were observed. Children with cotinine levels >1 ng/ml had higher levels of Zn (b = 0.401, 95% CI: 0.183 to 0.619; p = 0.0003) and Cu (b = 0.655, 95% CI: 0.206 to 1.104; p = 0.004) compared to children with levels <1 ng/ml, after controlling for multiple confounders, including sex, race, BMI and income-to-needs ratio. Further, we show that children whose cotinine levels were >1 μg/L were more likely to have detectable levels of Pb in their saliva (b = 1.40, 95% CI: 0.424 to 2.459; p = 0.006) compared to children with cotinine levels <1 ng/ml, also considering confounders. IMPACT STATEMENT This is the first study to demonstrate significant associations between salivary cotinine and salivary levels of Cu, Zn and Pb, suggesting that environmental tobacco smoke exposure my be one source of increased children's exposure to heavy metals. This study also demonstrates that saliva samples can be used to measure heavy metal exposure, and thus serve as a non-invasive tool for assessing a broader range of risk indicators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Gatzke-Kopp
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Jenna L Riis
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Hedyeh Ahmadi
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- University Statistical Consulting, LLC, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Hillary L Piccerillo
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Douglas A Granger
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, and School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Clancy B Blair
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Thomas
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
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Claus Henn B. Invited Perspective: Metals, Micronutrients, and Mixtures-Future Directions. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:81305. [PMID: 37585347 PMCID: PMC10431466 DOI: 10.1289/ehp13177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Claus Henn
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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17
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Santiago NA, He B, Howard SL, Beaudin S, Strupp BJ, Smith DR. Developmental Manganese Exposure Causes Lasting Attention Deficits Accompanied by Dysregulation of mTOR Signaling and Catecholaminergic Gene Expression in Brain Prefrontal Cortex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.16.549215. [PMID: 37503220 PMCID: PMC10370122 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.16.549215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Elevated manganese (Mn) exposure is associated with attentional deficits in children, and is an environmental risk factor for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We have shown that developmental Mn exposure causes lasting attention and sensorimotor deficits in a rat model of early childhood Mn exposure, and that these deficits are associated with a hypofunctioning catecholaminergic system in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), though the mechanistic basis for these deficits is not well understood. To address this, male Long-Evans rats were exposed orally to Mn (50 mg/kg/d) over PND 1-21 and attentional function was assessed in adulthood using the 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task. Targeted catecholaminergic system and epigenetic gene expression, followed by unbiased differential DNA methylation and gene regulation expression transcriptomics in the PFC, were performed in young adult littermates. Results show that developmental Mn exposure causes lasting focused attention deficits that are associated with reduced gene expression of tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine transporter, and DNA methyltransferase 3a. Further, developmental Mn exposure causes broader lasting methylation and gene expression dysregulation associated with epigenetic regulation, inflammation, cell development, and hypofunctioning catecholaminergic neuronal systems. Pathway enrichment analyses uncovered mTOR and Wnt signaling pathway genes as significant transcriptomic regulators of the Mn altered transcriptome, and Western blot of total, C1 and C2 phospho-mTOR confirmed mTOR pathway dysregulation. Our findings deepen our understanding of the mechanistic basis of how developmental Mn exposure leads to lasting catecholaminergic dysfunction and attention deficits, which may aid future therapeutic interventions of environmental exposure associated disorders. Significance Statement Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with environmental risk factors, including exposure to neurotoxic agents. Here we used a rodent model of developmental manganese (Mn) exposure producing lasting attention deficits to show broad epigenetic and gene expression changes in the prefrontal cortex, and to identify disrupted mTOR and Wnt signaling pathways as a novel mechanism for how developmental Mn exposure may induce lasting attention and catecholaminergic system impairments. Importantly, our findings establish early development as a critical period of susceptibility to lasting deficits in attentional function caused by elevated environmental toxicant exposure. Given that environmental health threats disproportionately impact communities of color and low socioeconomic status, our findings can aid future studies to assess therapeutic interventions for vulnerable populations.
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Wu Y, Zeng F, Li J, Jiang Y, Zhao S, Knibbs LD, Zhang X, Wang Y, Zhang Q, Wang Q, Hu Q, Guo X, Chen Y, Cao G, Wang J, Yang X, Wang X, Liu T, Zhang B. Sex-specific relationships between prenatal exposure to metal mixtures and birth weight in a Chinese birth cohort. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 262:115158. [PMID: 37348214 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Birth weight is an indicator linking intrauterine environmental exposures to later-life diseases, and intrauterine metal exposure may affect birth weight in a sex-specific manner. We investigated sex-specific associations between prenatal exposure to metal mixtures and birth weight in a Chinese birth cohort. The birth weight of 1296 boys and 1098 girls were recorded, and 10 metals in maternal urine samples collected during pregnancy were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression was used to estimate the association of individual metals or metal mixtures and birth weight for gestational age (BW for GA). The model showed a sex-specific relationship between prenatal exposure to metal mixtures and BW for GA with a significant negative association in girls and a non-significant positive association in boys. Cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) were positively and negatively associated with BW for GA in girls, respectively. Moreover, increasing thallium (Tl) concentration lowered the positive association between Cd and BW for GA and enhanced the negative association between Ni and BW for GA in girls. When exposure to other metals increased, the positive association with Cd diminished, whereas the negative association with Ni or Tl increased. Our findings provide evidence supporting the complex effects of intrauterine exposure to metal mixtures on the birth weight of girls and further highlight the sex heterogeneity in fetal development influenced by intrauterine environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wu
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Fulin Zeng
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, School of Public Health, Food Safety and Health Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jinhui Li
- Department of Urology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yukang Jiang
- School of Mathematics, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Southern China Center for Statistical Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shi Zhao
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Luke D Knibbs
- School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Xiaojun Zhang
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, School of Public Health, Food Safety and Health Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yiding Wang
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, School of Public Health, Food Safety and Health Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiong Wang
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiansheng Hu
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaobo Guo
- School of Mathematics, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Southern China Center for Statistical Science, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yumeng Chen
- School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ganxiang Cao
- School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xingfen Yang
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, School of Public Health, Food Safety and Health Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xueqin Wang
- Department of Statistics and Finance/International Institute of Finance, School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Disease Control and Prevention Institute of Jinan University, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Bo Zhang
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, School of Public Health, Food Safety and Health Research Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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19
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Lin YY, Meng L, Guo FJ, Zhang XH, Yang DD, Yao XC, Jin MJ, Wang JB, Tang ML, Chen K. Association between whole blood essential trace elements and cognitive function in older adults. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 261:115114. [PMID: 37311392 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Essential trace elements (ETEs) are essential nutrients for keeping the nervous system functioning. Associations between ETEs and cognitive function are still inconclusive and limited. OBJECTIVES We aimed to investigate the individual and joint associations between ETEs and cognitive function among older adults. METHODS A population (N = 2181) at an average age≥ 65 from Yiwu cohort in China was available for this study. Whole blood chromium (Cr), selenium (Se), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) concentrations were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), consisting of five specific cognitive domains: orientation, registry, attention and calculation, recall, and language and praxis. Linear regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used to analyze the individual and joint associations between ETEs and cognitive function. RESULTS The association between Cr and MMSE score presented an inverted-U shape (Q3 versus Q1: β = 0.774, 95 % CI: 0.297, 1.250; Q4 versus Q1: β = 0.481, 95 % CI: 0.006, 0.956); and Cr was especially associated with the registry, recall, and language and praxis. Per IQR (36.32 μg/L) increase of Se was positively associated with the MMSE score (β = 0.497, 95 % CI: 0.277, 0.717) and all five cognitive domains. The BKMR showed that the dose-response association between Se and cognitive function increased initially and then decreased with increasing Se concentration when fixed the other ETEs in median. ETEs mixture was positively associated with cognitive function, and Se (posterior inclusion probabilities, PIPs = 0.915) was the most important contributor within the ETEs mixture. CONCLUSIONS The nonlinear association between Cr and cognitive function suggested further exploration of an appropriate concentration range for ETEs. A positive association between mixed ETEs and cognitive function is a reminder that their joint association should be considered. Further prospective studies or intervention studies are warranted to validate our findings in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Yao Lin
- Department of Public Health, Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Lin Meng
- Department of Public Health, Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Fan-Jia Guo
- Department of Public Health, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xin-Han Zhang
- Department of Public Health, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Dan-Dan Yang
- Department of Public Health, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xue-Cheng Yao
- Department of Public Health, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu 322000, China
| | - Ming-Juan Jin
- Department of Public Health, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jian-Bing Wang
- Department of Public Health, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health of Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Meng-Ling Tang
- Department of Public Health, Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Kun Chen
- Department of Public Health, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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20
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Martín-Carrasco I, Carbonero-Aguilar P, Dahiri B, Moreno IM, Hinojosa M. Comparison between pollutants found in breast milk and infant formula in the last decade: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 875:162461. [PMID: 36868281 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Since ancient times, breastfeeding has been the fundamental way of nurturing the newborn. The benefits of breast milk are widely known, as it is a source of essential nutrients and provides immunological protection, as well as developmental benefits, among others. However, when breastfeeding is not possible, infant formula is the most appropriate alternative. Its composition meets the nutritional requirements of the infant, and its quality is subject to strict control by the authorities. Nonetheless, the presence of different pollutants has been detected in both matrices. Thus, the aim of the present review is to make a comparison between the findings in both breast milk and infant formula in terms of contaminants in the last decade, in order to choose the most convenient option depending on the environmental conditions. For that, the emerging pollutants including metals, chemical compounds derived from heat treatment, pharmaceutical drugs, mycotoxins, pesticides, packaging materials, and other contaminants were described. While in breast milk the most concerning contaminants found were metals and pesticides, in infant formula pollutants such as metals, mycotoxins, and packaging materials were the most outstanding. In conclusion, the convenience of using a feeding diet based on breast milk or either infant formula depends on the maternal environmental circumstances. However, it is important to take into account the immunological benefits of the breast milk compared to the infant formula, and the possibility of using breast milk in combination with infant formula when the nutritional requirements are not fulfilled only with the intake of breast milk. Therefore, more attention should be paid in terms of analyzing these conditions in each case to be able to make a proper decision, as it will vary depending on the maternal and newborn environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Martín-Carrasco
- Area of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla, C/ Profesor García González 2, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - P Carbonero-Aguilar
- Area of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla, C/ Profesor García González 2, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - B Dahiri
- Area of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla, C/ Profesor García González 2, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - I M Moreno
- Area of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla, C/ Profesor García González 2, 41012 Seville, Spain.
| | - M Hinojosa
- Area of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla, C/ Profesor García González 2, 41012 Seville, Spain; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Institutionen för biokemi och biofysik, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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21
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Invernizzi A, Renzetti S, Rechtman E, Ambrosi C, Mascaro L, Corbo D, Gasparotti R, Tang CY, Smith DR, Lucchini RG, Wright RO, Placidi D, Horton MK, Curtin P. Neuro-Environmental Interactions: a time sensitive matter. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.04.539456. [PMID: 37205412 PMCID: PMC10187306 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.04.539456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The assessment of resting state (rs) neurophysiological dynamics relies on the control of sensory, perceptual, and behavioral environments to minimize variability and rule-out confounding sources of activation during testing conditions. Here, we investigated how temporally-distal environmental inputs, specifically metal exposures experienced up to several months prior to scanning, affect functional dynamics measured using rs functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). We implemented an interpretable XGBoost-Shapley Additive Explanation (SHAP) model that integrated information from multiple exposure biomarkers to predict rs dynamics in typically developing adolescents. In 124 participants (53% females, ages: 13-25 years) enrolled in the Public Health Impact of Metals Exposure (PHIME) study, we measured concentrations of six metals (manganese, lead, chromium, cupper, nickel and zinc) in biological matrices (saliva, hair, fingernails, toenails, blood and urine) and acquired rs-fMRI scans. Using graph theory metrics, we computed global efficiency (GE) in 111 brain areas (Harvard Oxford Atlas). We used a predictive model based on ensemble gradient boosting to predict GE from metal biomarkers, adjusting for age and biological sex. Model performance was evaluated by comparing predicted versus measured GE. SHAP scores were used to evaluate feature importance. Measured versus predicted rs dynamics from our model utilizing chemical exposures as inputs were significantly correlated ( p < 0.001, r = 0.36). Lead, chromium, and copper contributed most to the prediction of GE metrics. Our results indicate that a significant component of rs dynamics, comprising approximately 13% of observed variability in GE, is driven by recent metal exposures. These findings emphasize the need to estimate and control for the influence of past and current chemical exposures in the assessment and analysis of rs functional connectivity.
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22
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Zheng L, Yu Y, Tian X, He L, Shan X, Niu J, Yan J, Luo B. The association between multi-heavy metals exposure and lung function in a typical rural population of Northwest China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:65646-65658. [PMID: 37085680 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26881-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heavy metal exposure is acknowledged to be associated with decrease of lung function, but the relationship between metals co-exposure and lung function in rural areas of Northwest China remains unclear, particularly in an area famous for heavy metal pollution and solid fuel use. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the effects of heavy metal exposure on lung function and the potential impacts of living habit in a rural cohort of Northwest China. METHODS The study area included five villages of two regions in Northwestern China-Gansu province. All participants were recruited from the Dongdagou-Xinglong (DDG-XL) rural cohort in the study area. Urine levels of 10 common and representative heavy metals were detected by ICP-MS, including Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni), Molybdenum (Mo), Cadmium (Cd), Stibium (Sb), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb), and Manganese (Mn). The lung function was detected by measuring percentages of predicted forced vital capacity (FVC%) and predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%) as well as the ratio of FEV1/FVC. We also analyzed the association between heavy metals and pulmonary ventilation dysfunction (PVD). Restricted cubic spline, logistic regression, linear regression, and bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model were used to analyze the relationship between heavy metal exposure and lung function. RESULTS Finally, a total of 382 participants were included in this study with an average age of 56.69 ± 7.32 years, and 82.46% of them used solid fuels for heating and cooking. Single metal exposure analysis showed that the higher concentration of Hg, Mn, Sb, and lower Mo may be risk factors for PVD. We also found that FEV1% and FVC% were negatively correlated with Sb, Hg, and Mn, but positively correlated with Mo. The effect of mixed heavy metals exposure could be observed through BKMR model, through which we found the lung function decreased with the increase of heavy metal concentration. Furthermore, the males, BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 and who used solid fuels showed a higher risk of PVD when exposed to Co, Zn, and Hg. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggested that heavy metal exposure was associated with decrease of lung function regardless of single exposure or mixed exposure, particularly for Sb, Hg, Mn and those who use solid fuels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Zheng
- Institute of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Yunhui Yu
- Institute of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Xiaoyu Tian
- Institute of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Li He
- Institute of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Xiaobing Shan
- Institute of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Jingping Niu
- Institute of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Jun Yan
- The First School of Clinical Medical, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China
| | - Bin Luo
- Institute of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Gansu, 730000, China.
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23
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Schildroth S, Friedman A, White RF, Kordas K, Placidi D, Bauer JA, Webster TF, Coull BA, Cagna G, Wright RO, Smith D, Lucchini RG, Horton M, Claus Henn B. Associations of an industry-relevant metal mixture with verbal learning and memory in Italian adolescents: The modifying role of iron status. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 224:115457. [PMID: 36773645 PMCID: PMC10117691 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biomarker concentrations of metals are associated with neurodevelopment, and these associations may be modified by nutritional status (e.g., iron deficiency). No prior study on associations of metal mixtures with neurodevelopment has assessed effect modification by iron status. OBJECTIVES We aimed to quantify associations of an industry-relevant metal mixture with verbal learning and memory among adolescents, and to investigate the modifying role of iron status on those associations. METHODS We used cross-sectional data from 383 Italian adolescents (10-14 years) living in proximity to ferroalloy industry. Verbal learning and memory was assessed using the California Verbal Learning Test for Children (CVLT-C), and metals were quantified in hair (manganese, copper, chromium) or blood (lead) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Serum ferritin, a proxy for iron status, was measured using immunoassays. Covariate-adjusted associations of the metal mixture with CVLT subtests were estimated using Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression, and modification of the mixture associations by ferritin was examined. RESULTS Compared to the 50th percentile of the metal mixture, the 90th percentile was associated with a 0.12 standard deviation [SD] (95% CI = -0.27, 0.50), 0.16 SD (95% CI = -0.11, 0.44), and 0.11 SD (95% CI = -0.20, 0.43) increase in the number of words recalled for trial 5, long delay free, and long delay cued recall, respectively. For an increase from its 25th to 75th percentiles, copper was beneficially associated the recall trials when other metals were fixed at their 50th percentiles (for example, trial 5 recall: β = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.14, 0.48). The association between copper and trial 5 recall was stronger at the 75th percentile of ferritin, compared to the 25th or 50th percentiles. CONCLUSIONS In this metal mixture, copper was beneficially associated with neurodevelopment, which was more apparent at higher ferritin concentrations. These findings suggest that metal associations with neurodevelopment may depend on iron status, which has important public health implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Schildroth
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston MA, USA.
| | - Alexa Friedman
- 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, Boston MA, USA
| | - Katarzyna Kordas
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Donatella Placidi
- Department of Occupational Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Julia A Bauer
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Thomas F Webster
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston MA, USA
| | - Brent A Coull
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston MA, USA
| | - Giuseppa Cagna
- Department of Occupational Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York NY, USA
| | - Donald Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz CA, USA
| | - Roberto G Lucchini
- Department of Occupational Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Florida International University, Miami FL, USA
| | - Megan Horton
- 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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Qin X, Song L, Fan G, Liu Q, Wu M, Bi J, Fang Q, Wan Z, Lv Y, Wang Y. Sex-specific associations of single metal and metal mixture with handgrip strength: a cross-sectional study among Chinese adults. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:66585-66597. [PMID: 37097571 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26926-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Metallic elements are ubiquitous in the natural environment and always collaborate to affect human health. The relationship of handgrip strength, a marker of functional ability or disability, with metal co-exposure remains vague. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of metal co-exposure on sex-specific handgrip strength. A total of 3594 participants (2296 men and 1298 women) aged 21 to 79 years recruited from Tongji Hospital were included in the present study. Urinary concentrations of 21 metals were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). We used linear regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS) model, and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression to evaluate the association of single metal as well as metal mixture with handgrip strength. After adjusting for important confounding factors, the results of linear regression showed that vanadium (V), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), rubidium (Rb), cadmium (Cd), thallium (Tl), and uranium (U) were adversely associated with handgrip strength in men. The results of RCS showed a non-linear association between selenium (Se), silver (Ag), and nickel (Ni) with handgrip strength in women. The results of WQS regression revealed that metal co-exposure was inversely related to handgrip strength for men (β = -0.65, 95% CI: -0.98, -0.32). Cd was the critical metal in men (weighted 0.33). In conclusion, co-exposure to a higher level of metals is associated with lower handgrip strength, especially among men, and Cd may contribute most to the conjunct risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiya Qin
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, HangKong Road 13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lulu Song
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, HangKong Road 13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Gaojie Fan
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, HangKong Road 13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, HangKong Road 13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Mingyang Wu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, HangKong Road 13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jianing Bi
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, HangKong Road 13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qing Fang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, HangKong Road 13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhengce Wan
- Health Management Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yongman Lv
- Health Management Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Youjie Wang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, HangKong Road 13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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Wu L, Cui F, Zhang S, Ding X, Gao W, Chen L, Ma J, Niu P. Associations between multiple heavy metals exposure and neural damage biomarkers in welders: A cross-sectional study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 869:161812. [PMID: 36706997 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both occupational and environmental exposure to heavy metals are associated with various neurodegenerative diseases. However, limited evidence is available on the potential effects of exposure to metallic mixtures and neural damage. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate the association between metal mixtures in urine and neural damage biomarkers in welders. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, a total of 186 workers were recruited from steel mills. Twenty-three metals in urine were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Serum neural damage biomarkers, including neurofilament light chain (NfL), sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), prolactin (PRL), and dopamine (DA) were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Multivariable linear regression, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), and Quantile g-computation (QG-C) were employed to estimate the association between metals exposure and neural damage biomarkers. RESULTS Inverted u-shaped associations of nickel with NfL, S1P, and DA were observed in the BKMR model. A non-linear relationship was also found between Fe and PRL. Urinary cobalt was positively associated with serum PRL and had the strongest positive weights in the QG-C model. Urinary lead was associated with higher serum S1P levels. We also found the interaction among nickel, zinc, arsenic, strontium, iron, and lead with the neural damage biomarkers. CONCLUSION This study provides new evidence of a direct association between metal mixture exposure and the serum biomarkers of neural damage. Several metals Ni, Co, Pb, Sr, As and Fe, may have adverse effects on the nervous system, while Zn may have neuroprotective effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luli Wu
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, 100069 Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, 100069 Beijing, China
| | - Fengtao Cui
- Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Hospital of Huaibei Mining Co., Ltd, Huaibei, Anhui Province 235000, China
| | - Shixuan Zhang
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, 100069 Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, 100069 Beijing, China
| | - Xinping Ding
- Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Hospital of Huaibei Mining Co., Ltd, Huaibei, Anhui Province 235000, China
| | - Wei Gao
- Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Hospital of Huaibei Mining Co., Ltd, Huaibei, Anhui Province 235000, China
| | - Li Chen
- Experimental Teaching Center, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Junxiang Ma
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, 100069 Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, 100069 Beijing, China.
| | - Piye Niu
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, 100069 Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, 100069 Beijing, China.
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Weidenhamer JD, Chasant M, Gottesfeld P. Metal exposures from source materials for artisanal aluminum cookware. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2023; 33:374-385. [PMID: 35100934 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2022.2030677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Artisanal aluminum cookware releases lead and other metals that pose significant health risk for people in low and middle-income countries. Cookware is made from recycled engine and electronic appliance parts, cans, and other materials. We obtained fourteen custom-made pots from Ghana, produced from seven different scrap aluminum sources. We sought to determine whether avoiding certain source materials could reduce leaching of metals. Cooking was simulated using dilute acetic acid and palm oil. Aluminum released from all pots exceeded recommended guidelines. Variable amounts of lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel and other metals were leached, with the most lead coming from auto radiators and mixed metals. Pots made from engine blocks did not yield detectable amounts of lead. All pots released potentially harmful concentrations of two or more metals. Selective scrap aluminum sourcing for recycled cookware does not avoid metal contamination of food, although some sources may release lower concentrations of certain metals.
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Li A, Li Y, Mei Y, Zhao J, Zhou Q, Li K, Zhao M, Xu J, Ge X, Xu Q. Associations of metals and metals mixture with lipid profiles: A repeated-measures study of older adults in Beijing. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 319:137833. [PMID: 36693480 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Metals inevitably and easily enter into human bodies and can induce a series of pathophysiological changes, such as oxidative stress damage and lipid peroxidation, which then may further induce dyslipidemia. However, the effects of metals and metals mixture on the lipid profiles are still unclear, especially in older adults. A three-visits repeated measurement of 201 older adults in Beijing was conducted from November 2016 to January 2018. Linear Mixed Effects models and Bayesian kernel machine regression models were used to estimate associations of eight blood metals and metals mixture with lipid profiles, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), Castelli risk indexes I (CRI-1), Castelli risk indexes II (CRI-2), atherogenic coefficient (AC), and non-HDL cholesterol (NHC). Cesium (Cs) was positively associated with TG (βCs = 0.14; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.26) whereas copper (Cu) was inversely related to TG (βCu = -0.65; 95%CI: -1.14, -0.17) in adjusted models. Manganese (Mn) was mainly related to higher HDL-C (βMn = 0.14; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.21) whereas molybdenum showed opposite association. Metals mixture was marginally positive associated with HDL-C, among which Mn played a crucial role. Our findings suggest that the effects of single metal on lipid profiles may be counteracted in mixtures in the context of multiple metal exposures; however, future studies with large sample size are still needed to focus on the detrimental effects of single metals on lipid profiles as well as to identify key components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ang Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China; Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Yanbing Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China; Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Yayuan Mei
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China; Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Jiaxin Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China; Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Quan Zhou
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China; Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Kai Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China; Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Meiduo Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China; Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China; Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Xiaoyu Ge
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China; Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Qun Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China; Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China.
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Cheng BJ, Sheng J, Wang HL, Wang Y, Cao HJ, Li XD, Zhou TT, Meng XL, Nie HH, Wang SF, Zhang DM, Chen GM, Tao FB, Yang LS. Selenium attenuates the association of co-exposure to arsenic, cadmium, and lead with cognitive function among Chinese community-dwelling older adults. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:36377-36391. [PMID: 36547832 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24783-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The effects of interactions between the toxic and essential metal mixtures on cognitive function are poorly understood. This study aims to identify the joint association of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) with cognitive function in older adults and the moderating role of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) in this association. This study included 1000 community-dwelling older adults. Cognitive function was assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Blood concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Se, Zn, and Cu were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Linear regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were applied to assess the individual and joint associations of As, Cd, and Pb with cognitive function and to examine whether Se, Zn, and Cu (individually and as a mixture) modified these associations. In the adjusted single-metal models, both Cd (β = - 0.37, 95% CI: - 0.73 to - 0.01) and Pb (β = - 0.44, 95% CI: - 0.86 to - 0.02) were associated with MMSE scores, while Se (β = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.30 to 1.13) exhibited a positive relationship with MMSE scores. Univariate exposure-response functions from BKMR models showed similar results. Moreover, the toxic metal mixture (As, Cd, and Pb) exhibited a significant negative association with MMSE scores in a dose-response pattern, with Pb being the greatest contributor within the mixture. The negative association of Pb alone or the toxic metal mixture with MMSE scores became weaker at higher concentrations of Se within its normal range, especially when Se levels were greater than the median (89.18 μg/L). Our findings support that Se can attenuate the negative associations of exposure to single Pb or the As, Cd, and Pb mixtures with cognitive function. Future prospective studies are needed to replicate our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bei-Jing Cheng
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jie Sheng
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Hong-Li Wang
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Hong-Juan Cao
- Lu'an Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lu'an, 237008, Anhui, China
| | - Xiu-De Li
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Lu'an Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lu'an, 237008, Anhui, China
| | - Ting-Ting Zhou
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Hefei Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hefei, 230051, Anhui, China
| | - Xiang-Long Meng
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Huan-Huan Nie
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Su-Fang Wang
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Dong-Mei Zhang
- School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Gui-Mei Chen
- School of Health Services Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Fang-Biao Tao
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Lin-Sheng Yang
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
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Invernizzi A, Rechtman E, Oluyemi K, Renzetti S, Curtin P, Colicino E, Ambrosi C, Mascaro L, Patrono A, Corbo D, Cagna G, Gasparotti R, Reichenberg A, Tang CY, Smith DR, Placidi D, Lucchini RG, Wright RO, Horton MK. Topological network properties of resting-state functional connectivity patterns are associated with metal mixture exposure in adolescents. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1098441. [PMID: 36814793 PMCID: PMC9939635 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1098441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Adolescent exposure to neurotoxic metals adversely impacts cognitive, motor, and behavioral development. Few studies have addressed the underlying brain mechanisms of these metal-associated developmental outcomes. Furthermore, metal exposure occurs as a mixture, yet previous studies most often consider impacts of each metal individually. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the relationship between exposure to neurotoxic metals and topological brain metrics in adolescents. Methods In 193 participants (53% females, ages: 15-25 years) enrolled in the Public Health Impact of Metals Exposure (PHIME) study, we measured concentrations of four metals (manganese, lead, copper, and chromium) in multiple biological media (blood, urine, hair, and saliva) and acquired resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. Using graph theory metrics, we computed global and local efficiency (global:GE; local:LE) in 111 brain areas (Harvard Oxford Atlas). We used weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models to examine association between metal mixtures and each graph metric (GE or LE), adjusted for sex and age. Results We observed significant negative associations between the metal mixture and GE and LE [βGE = -0.076, 95% CI (-0.122, -0.031); βLE= -0.051, 95% CI (-0.095, -0.006)]. Lead and chromium measured in blood contributed most to this association for GE, while chromium measured in hair contributed the most for LE. Discussion Our results suggest that exposure to this metal mixture during adolescence reduces the efficiency of integrating information in brain networks at both local and global levels, informing potential neural mechanisms underlying the developmental toxicity of metals. Results further suggest these associations are due to combined joint effects to different metals, rather than to a single metal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azzurra Invernizzi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Elza Rechtman
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kristie Oluyemi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Stefano Renzetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paul Curtin
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Elena Colicino
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | | | | | - Alessandra Patrono
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Daniele Corbo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Cagna
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Gasparotti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Abraham Reichenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Cheuk Y. Tang
- Department of Medical Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Donald R. Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Donatella Placidi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto G. Lucchini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Robert Stempel School of Public Health, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Robert O. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Megan K. Horton
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
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Kadawathagedara M, Muckle G, Quénel P, Michineau L, Le Bot B, Hoen B, Tressieres B, Multigner L, Chevrier C, Cordier S. Infant neurodevelopment and behavior in Guadeloupe after lead exposure and Zika maternal infection during pregnancy. Neurotoxicology 2023; 94:135-146. [PMID: 36402195 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2022.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal lead exposure is known to have neurotoxic effects on the developing fetus, while some viral infections may have a tropism for the central nervous system. Our objective was to study whether the effects of prenatal lead exposure on infant development and behaviors at 18 months of age are modified by the occurrence of a maternal infection to Zika virus (ZIKV) during pregnancy. METHODS During the ZIKV epidemic in Guadeloupe in 2016 a cohort of pregnant women was set up. Blood samples (pregnancy, childbirth and cord) (n = 297) enabled us to measure blood lead levels aimed to determine prenatal lead exposure and the likelihood of maternal infection during pregnancy (ZIKV status + vs -). The 18 months "Ages and Stages Questionnaire" (ASQ) was used to generate scores for global development, fine and gross motor skills, communication, problem solving, and personal-social skills. The questions from a longitudinal cohort study conducted in Canada (Québec) were used to generate hyperactivity, opposition, inattention and physical aggression scores. Associations were tested by multivariate linear regressions. RESULTS Prenatal lead exposure was associated with delays in neurodevelopment at 18 months, reflected by lower scores in ASQ totals, and in the fine motor and problem-solving domains. Some of these associations appeared to be sex-specific, observed almost exclusively in boys (ASQ total, fine motor and personal-social scores). Prenatal lead exposure was not associated with behavioral scores. ZIKV infection during pregnancy was associated with a lower fine motor ASQ score, and higher scores for hyperactivity, opposition and physical aggression. Significant interaction between prenatal lead exposure and ZIKV status was observed with a lower personal-social score in ZIKV (-) only, and for hyperactivity and inattention scores, though some of these interactions (ASQ personal-social score, inattention score) were no longer significant when children with microcephaly were excluded from the analyses. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION Our study confirms previous findings of associations between prenatal exposure to lead at low levels and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes during infancy and the particular vulnerability of boys. It suggests associations between ZIKV infection during pregnancy and adverse effects on a number of neurodevelopmental functions (fine motor function) and behaviors (opposition, hyperactivity), that need to be confirmed at later age. There is no strong evidence of interaction between ZIKV infection and lead exposure but both prenatal risk factors may affect fine motor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kadawathagedara
- Univ Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, IRSET UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - G Muckle
- École de psychologie, Université Laval, et Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - P Quénel
- Univ Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, IRSET UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - L Michineau
- Univ Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, IRSET UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - B Le Bot
- Univ Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, IRSET UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - B Hoen
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles Guyane CIC 1424 Inserm, CHU de Guadeloupe, 97159 Pointe-à-Pitre, France
| | - B Tressieres
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles Guyane CIC 1424 Inserm, CHU de Guadeloupe, 97159 Pointe-à-Pitre, France
| | - L Multigner
- Univ Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, IRSET UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - C Chevrier
- Univ Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, IRSET UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - S Cordier
- Univ Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, IRSET UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France.
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Smith DR, Strupp BJ. Animal Models of Childhood Exposure to Lead or Manganese: Evidence for Impaired Attention, Impulse Control, and Affect Regulation and Assessment of Potential Therapies. Neurotherapeutics 2023; 20:3-21. [PMID: 36853434 PMCID: PMC10119373 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-023-01345-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Behavioral disorders involving attention and impulse control dysfunction, such as ADHD, are among the most prevalent disorders in children and adolescents, with significant impact on their lives. The etiology of these disorders is not well understood, but is recognized to be multifactorial, with studies reporting associations with polygenic and environmental risk factors, including toxicant exposure. Environmental epidemiological studies, while good at establishing associations with a variety of environmental and genetic risk factors, cannot establish causality. Animal models of behavioral disorders, when properly designed, can play an essential role in establishing causal relationships between environmental risk factors and a disorder, as well as provide model systems for elucidating underlying neural mechanisms and testing therapies. Here, we review how animal model studies of developmental lead or manganese exposure have been pivotal in (1) establishing a causal relationship between developmental exposure and lasting dysfunction in the domains of attention, impulse control, and affect regulation, and (2) testing the efficacy of specific therapeutic approaches for alleviating the lasting deficits. The lead and manganese case studies illustrate how animal models can advance knowledge in ways that are not possible in human studies. For example, in contrast to the Treatment of Lead Poisoned Children (TLC) human clinical trial evaluating succimer chelation efficacy to improve cognitive functioning in lead-exposed children, our developmental lead exposure animal model showed that succimer chelation can produce lasting cognitive benefits if chelation sufficiently reduces brain lead levels. In addition, this study revealed that succimer treatment in the absence of lead exposure produces lasting cognitive dysfunction, highlighting potential risks of chelation in off-label uses, such as the treatment of autistic children without a history of lead exposure. Our animal model of developmental manganese exposure has demonstrated that manganese can cause lasting attentional and sensorimotor deficits, akin to an ADHD-inattentive behavioral phenotype, thereby providing insights into the role of environmental exposures as contributors to ADHD. These studies have also shown that oral methylphenidate (Ritalin) can fully alleviate the deficits produced by early developmental Mn exposure. Future work should continue to focus on the development and use of animal models that appropriately recapitulate the complex behavioral phenotypes of behavioral disorders, in order to determine the mechanistic basis for the behavioral deficits caused by developmental exposure to environmental toxicants, and the efficacy of existing and emerging therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald R Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.
| | - Barbara J Strupp
- Division of Nutritional Sciences and Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
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Riseberg E, Melamed RD, James KA, Alderete TL, Corlin L. Development and application of an evidence-based directed acyclic graph to evaluate the associations between metal mixtures and cardiometabolic outcomes. EPIDEMIOLOGIC METHODS 2023; 12:20220133. [PMID: 37377511 PMCID: PMC10292771 DOI: 10.1515/em-2022-0133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Objectives Specifying causal models to assess relationships among metal mixtures and cardiometabolic outcomes requires evidence-based models of the causal structures; however, such models have not been previously published. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a directed acyclic graph (DAG) diagraming metal mixture exposure and cardiometabolic outcomes. Methods We conducted a literature search to develop the DAG of metal mixtures and cardiometabolic outcomes. To evaluate consistency of the DAG, we tested the suggested conditional independence statements using linear and logistic regression analyses with data from the San Luis Valley Diabetes Study (SLVDS; n=1795). We calculated the proportion of statements supported by the data and compared this to the proportion of conditional independence statements supported by 1,000 DAGs with the same structure but randomly permuted nodes. Next, we used our DAG to identify minimally sufficient adjustment sets needed to estimate the association between metal mixtures and cardiometabolic outcomes (i.e., cardiovascular disease, fasting glucose, and systolic blood pressure). We applied them to the SLVDS using Bayesian kernel machine regression, linear mixed effects, and Cox proportional hazards models. Results From the 42 articles included in the review, we developed an evidence-based DAG with 74 testable conditional independence statements (43 % supported by SLVDS data). We observed evidence for an association between As and Mn and fasting glucose. Conclusions We developed, tested, and applied an evidence-based approach to analyze associations between metal mixtures and cardiometabolic health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Riseberg
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Katherine A. James
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Tanya L. Alderete
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Laura Corlin
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
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King L, Wang Q, Xia L, Wang P, Jiang G, Li W, Huang Y, Liang X, Peng X, Li Y, Chen L, Liu L. Environmental exposure to perchlorate, nitrate and thiocyanate, and thyroid function in Chinese adults: A community-based cross-sectional study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 171:107713. [PMID: 36565572 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence on environmental exposure to perchlorate, nitrate, and thiocyanate, three thyroidal sodium iodine symporter (NIS) inhibitors, and thyroid function in the Chinese population remains limited. OBJECTIVE To investigate the associations of environmental exposure to perchlorate, nitrate, and thiocyanate with markers of thyroid function in Chinese adults. METHODS A total of 2441 non-pregnant adults (mean age 50.4 years and 39.1% male) with a median urinary iodine of 180.1 μg/L from four communities in Shenzhen were included in this cross-sectional study. Urinary perchlorate, nitrate, thiocyanate, and thyroid profiles, including serum free thyroxine (FT4), total thyroxine (TT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), total triiodothyronine (TT3), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), were measured. Generalized linear model was applied to investigate the single-analyte associations. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were used to examine the association between the co-occurrence of three anions and thyroid profile. RESULTS The median levels of urinary perchlorate, nitrate, and thiocyanate were 5.8 μg/g, 76.4 mg/g, and 274.1 μg/g, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, higher urinary perchlorate was associated with lower serum FT4, TT4, and TT3, and higher serum FT3 and TSH (all P < 0.05). Comparing extreme tertiles, subjects in the highest nitrate tertile had marginally elevated TT3 (β: 0.02, 95% CI: 0.00-0.04). Each 1-unit increase in log-transformed urinary thiocyanate was associated with a 0.04 (95% CI: 0.02-0.06) pmol/L decrease in serum FT3. The WQS indices were inversely associated with serum FT4, TT4, and FT3 (all P < 0.05). In the BKMR model, the mixture of three anions was inversely associated with serum FT4, TT4, and FT3. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides evidence that individual and combined environmental exposure to perchlorate, nitrate, and thiocyanate are associated with significant changes in thyroid function markers in the Chinese population with adequate iodine intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei King
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Ministry of Education Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Ministry of Education Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lili Xia
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Ministry of Education Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Pei Wang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Ministry of Education Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Guanhua Jiang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Ministry of Education Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wanyi Li
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Ministry of Education Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yue Huang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Ministry of Education Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoling Liang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Ministry of Education Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaolin Peng
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yonggang Li
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory for Applied Toxicology, Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Wuhan, China
| | - Liangkai Chen
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Ministry of Education Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Liegang Liu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Ministry of Education Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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Schildroth S, Kordas K, Bauer JA, Wright RO, Claus Henn B. Environmental Metal Exposure, Neurodevelopment, and the Role of Iron Status: a Review. Curr Environ Health Rep 2022; 9:758-787. [PMID: 35997893 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00378-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Exposure to environmental metals, like lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), and methylmercury (Me-Hg), has consistently been implicated in neurodevelopmental dysfunction. Recent research has focused on identifying modifying factors of metal neurotoxicity in childhood, such as age, sex, and co-exposures. Iron (Fe) status is critical for normal cognitive development during childhood, and current mechanistic, animal, and human evidence suggests that Fe status may be a modifier or mediator of associations between environmental metals and neurodevelopment. The goals of this review are to describe the current state of the epidemiologic literature on the role of Fe status (i.e., hemoglobin, ferritin, blood Fe concentrations) and Fe supplementation in the relationship between metals and children's neurodevelopment, and to identify research gaps. RECENT FINDINGS We identified 30 studies in PubMed and EMBASE that assessed Fe status as a modifier, mediator, or co-exposure of associations of Pb, Me-Hg, Mn, copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), or metal mixtures measured in early life (prenatal period through 8 years of age) with cognition in children. In experimental studies, co-supplementation of Fe and Zn was associated with better memory and cognition than supplementation with either metal alone. Several observational studies reported interactions between Fe status and Pb, Mn, Zn, or As in relation to developmental indices, memory, attention, and behavior, whereby adverse associations of metals with cognition were worse among Fe-deficient children compared to Fe-sufficient children. Only two studies quantified joint associations of complex metal mixtures that included Fe with neurodevelopment, though findings from these studies were not consistent. Findings support memory and attention as two possible cognitive domains that may be both vulnerable to Fe deficiency and a target of metals toxicity. Major gaps in the literature remain, including evaluating Fe status as a modifier or mediator of metal mixtures and cognition. Given that Fe deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide, characterizing Fe status in studies of metals toxicity is important for informing public health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Schildroth
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St., Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
| | - Katarzyna Kordas
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Julia Anglen Bauer
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Robert O Wright
- 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, School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St., Boston, MA, 02118, USA
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Stein CR, Wu H, Bellinger DC, Smith DR, Wolff MS, Savitz DA. Exposure to metal mixtures and neuropsychological functioning in middle childhood. Neurotoxicology 2022; 93:84-91. [PMID: 36122627 PMCID: PMC10513744 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2022.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Elevated exposure to multiple trace metals can be neurotoxic even at relatively low levels. These findings are primarily evident from adult occupational studies as well as in children exposed prenatally or in early childhood. Less research has focused on the neurodevelopmental impacts of exposure to metals among school-aged children. We examined associations between exposure to a mixture of four metals (arsenic, cadmium, manganese, lead) measured in hair and markers of cognition, attention, and behavior among 222 6-12 year old children who participated in a 2009-2010 neurodevelopmental follow-up to the C8 Health Project. Using quantile-based g-computation we estimated the adjusted overall metal mixture effect ψ (95 % CI) as the change in outcome per decile increase in all metals in the mixture. Hair metal levels varied by metal, with cadmium being lowest (median 0.007, interquartile range (IQR) 0.013 μg/g) and lead the highest concentration (median 0.152, IQR 0.252 μg/g). Children's cognitive skills and development, attention/impulsivity, and behavior were all close to standardized population means. Each decile increase in all metals was associated with a Full Scale IQ reduction of 1.01 points (95 % confidence interval (CI) -1.88, -0.15) and Verbal IQ reduction of 1.11 points (95 % CI -1.97, -0.25), adjusted for child age, sex, secondhand smoke exposure, HOME score, maternal education, maternal IQ, and examiner. Maternal report of ADHD-like behaviors and executive functioning also showed adverse associations with the metal mixture. Our findings suggest that similar to exposure during prenatal and early childhood periods, recent exposure to metals during middle childhood is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental consequences. Middle childhood may also be a developmental window of susceptibility to the negative consequences of exposure to environmental neurotoxicants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl R Stein
- Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Child Study Center, One Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - Haotian Wu
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th St, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - David C Bellinger
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Farley Basement Box 127, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Donald R Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, 442 Physical Sciences Building, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA.
| | - Mary S Wolff
- Department of Environmental Medicine & Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 17 East 102 Street, New York, NY 10029, USA.
| | - David A Savitz
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 S. Main Street, Box G-S-121-2, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
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Markiv B, Ruiz-Azcona L, Expósito A, Santibáñez M, Fernández-Olmo I. Short- and long-term exposure to trace metal(loid)s from the production of ferromanganese alloys by personal sampling and biomarkers. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2022; 44:4595-4618. [PMID: 35190915 PMCID: PMC8860625 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-022-01218-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The environmental exposure to trace metal(loid)s (As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn) was assessed near a ferromanganese alloy plant using filters from personal particulate matter (PM) samplers (bioaccessible and non-bioaccessible fine and coarse fractions) and whole blood as short-term exposure markers, and scalp hair and fingernails as long-term biomarkers, collected from volunteers (n = 130) living in Santander Bay (northern Spain). Bioaccessible and non-bioaccessible metal(loid) concentrations in coarse and fine PM from personal samplers were determined by ICP-MS after extraction/digestion. Metal(loid) concentration in biomarkers was measured after alkaline dilution (whole blood) and acid digestion (fingernails and scalp hair) by ICP-MS as well. Results were discussed in terms of exposure, considering the distance to the main Mn source, and sex. In terms of exposure, significant differences were found for Mn in all the studied fractions of PM, As in whole blood, Mn and Cu in scalp hair and Mn and Pb in fingernails, with all concentrations being higher for those living closer to the Mn source, with the exception of Cu in scalp hair. Furthermore, the analysis of the correlation between Mn levels in the studied biomarkers and the wind-weighted distance to the main source of Mn allows us to conclude that scalp hair and mainly fingernails are appropriate biomarkers of long-term airborne Mn exposure. This was also confirmed by the significant positive correlations between scalp hair Mn and bioaccessible Mn in coarse and fine fractions, and between fingernails Mn and all PM fractions. This implies that people living closer to a ferromanganese alloy plant are exposed to higher levels of airborne metal(loid)s, mainly Mn, leading to higher levels of this metal in scalp hair and fingernails, which according to the literature, might affect some neurological outcomes. According to sex, significant differences were observed for Fe, Cu and Pb in whole blood, with higher concentrations of Fe and Pb in males, and higher levels of Cu in females; and for Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in scalp hair, with higher concentrations in males for all metal(loid)s except Cu.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Markiv
- Departamento de Ingenierías Química y Biomolecular, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
| | - L Ruiz-Azcona
- Departamento de Enfermería, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - A Expósito
- Departamento de Ingenierías Química y Biomolecular, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - M Santibáñez
- Departamento de Enfermería, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
| | - I Fernández-Olmo
- Departamento de Ingenierías Química y Biomolecular, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain
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Axelrad DA, Coffman E, Kirrane EF, Klemick H. The relationship between childhood blood lead levels below 5 µg/dL and childhood intelligence quotient (IQ): Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 169:107475. [PMID: 36162279 PMCID: PMC9896788 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The causal association between childhood lead (Pb) exposure and decrements in intelligence quotient (IQ) is well-established, and no safe blood lead level (BLL) in children has been identified. An international pooled analysis of seven prospective studies published by Lanphear et al. in 2005 quantified the relationship between childhood BLL and IQ. Further studies of Pb and IQ have been published more recently with mean BLLs generally lower than in the studies analyzed by Lanphear et al. In this article, we present the protocol for a systematic review to estimate an updated Pb-IQ relationship focusing on BLLs below 5 µg per deciliter (µg/dL). STUDY QUESTION What is the quantitative relationship between childhood BLLs and IQ at ages 3-17 years at BLLs below 5 μg/dL? DATA SOURCES A comprehensive search of the scientific literature will utilize citation mapping and key word searching. In the citation mapping approach, we will identify seed references that are relevant to our study question, and will then identify more recent references that have cited at least one of the seed references. The key word search will be conducted in the PubMed, Biosis Previews, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. We will also search electronic grey literature databases for conference proceedings, dissertations, and preprints. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, STUDY SCREENING AND DATA EXTRACTION We will include studies that measured BLL in children at any age, assessed full-scale IQ of the same children (concurrent with or subsequent to BLL sample collection) at ages 3-17, and estimated a continuous quantitative relationship between BLL and IQ. We will consider only studies with a central tendency BLL < 10 µg/dL. The title and abstract of each record will be reviewed independently by two authors to determine whether the study in question satisfies the inclusion criteria. The full text of each article remaining after title-abstract screening will be reviewed independently by two authors to determine whether the study in question satisfies the inclusion criteria. Two authors will independently extract study characteristics and data from each included study. RISK OF BIAS ASSESSMENT Studies meeting inclusion criteria will be evaluated for risk of bias (RoB) using the Navigation Guide method applied in a previous systematic review of neurodevelopmental effects (Lam et al., 2017), with adaptation to our study question. Each study will be independently evaluated by two review authors. DATA ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS We intend to conduct a random-effects meta-analysis to summarize the effects of children's exposure to Pb on IQ scores. Additionally, we plan to perform sensitivity analyses using sub-group analyses and/or meta-regression techniques to assess the impact of study design and study population characteristics to examine potential heterogeneity of results across studies. We will assign a confidence level rating (high, moderate, low, or very low) to the effect estimate from the meta-analyses/meta-regressions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Evan Coffman
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Ellen F Kirrane
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Heather Klemick
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Policy, National Center for Environmental Economics, Washington, DC, USA.
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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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Li A, Zhou Q, Mei Y, Zhao J, Liu L, Zhao M, Xu J, Ge X, Xu Q. The effect of urinary essential and non-essential elements on serum albumin: Evidence from a community-based study of the elderly in Beijing. Front Nutr 2022; 9:946245. [PMID: 35923200 PMCID: PMC9342688 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.946245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & aims Few epidemiological studies have investigated the relationships of urinary essential and non-essential elements with serum albumin, an indicator of nutritional status, especially for the elderly in China. Methods A community-based study among elderly participants (n = 275) was conducted in Beijing from November to December 2016. We measured 15 urinary elements concentrations and serum albumin levels. Three statistical methods including the generalized linear model (GLM), quantile g-computation model (qgcomp) and bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were adapted. Results In GLM analysis, we observed decreased serum albumin levels associated with elevated urinary concentrations of aluminum, arsenic, barium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, selenium, strontium, and zinc. Compared with the lowest tertile, the highest tertile of cadmium and cesium was also negatively associated with serum albumin. Urinary selenium concentration had the most significant negative contribution (30.05%) in the qgcomp analysis. The negative correlations of element mixtures with serum albumin were also observed in BKMR analysis. Conclusions Our findings suggested the negative associations of essential and non-essential elements with serum albumin among the elderly. Large-scare cohort studies among the general population are required to validate our findings and elucidate the relevant underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ang Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Quan Zhou
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yayuan Mei
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaxin Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liu Liu
- Chaoyang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Meiduo Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Ge
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qun Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Center of Environmental and Health Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Qun Xu
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Mérida-Ortega Á, Rothenberg SJ, Cebrián ME, López-Carrillo L. Breast cancer and urinary metal mixtures in Mexican women. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 210:112905. [PMID: 35217012 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112905] [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: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Humans are environmentally exposed to many metals throughout their lives. Simultaneous exposure to several metals could result in synergistic or antagonistic toxicological effects among them; however, the information on exposure to mixtures of metals and breast cancer (BC) is scarce. The objective of this report was to compare metals considered human carcinogens, individually and as mixtures, in women with and without BC. This is a secondary analysis of a population-based case-control study that was carried out from 2007 to 2011 in Northern Mexico. A total of 499 histologically confirmed BC cases and 499 controls were included. Information about sociodemographic, lifestyle and reproductive characteristics was obtained by in-person interviews. Urinary concentrations of aluminum (Al), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), cobalt (Co), molybdenum (Mo), tin (Sn), and vanadium (V) were determined by inductively coupled plasma triple quadrupole. Metal mixtures were identified by principal component analysis with creatinine-corrected metals. Over 90% of subjects had metal measurements above the detection limit except tin (86%) and antimony (78.4%). After adjusting by selected covariables, we observed that the individual urinary concentrations of V, Co, and Mo were lower among cases compared to controls; in contrast to Sn that had higher concentrations. We identified two principal component mixtures with opposite relationships with BC: Cr, Ni, Sb, Al, Pb and Sn (OR = 1.15; CI95% 1.06,1.25) and Mo and Co (OR = 0.56; CI95% 0.49,0.64). This is the first study that identified urinary metal mixtures that differed between women with and without BC. Our results warrant confirmation in further prospective epidemiological studies. In addition, the elucidation of underlying mechanisms of metal interactions on BC risk deserves further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángel Mérida-Ortega
- Centro de Investigación en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad 655, Col. Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Morelos, C.P. 62100, Mexico
| | - Stephen J Rothenberg
- Centro de Investigación en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad 655, Col. Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Morelos, C.P. 62100, Mexico
| | - Mariano E Cebrián
- Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 2508, Col. San Pedro Zacatenco, Ciudad de México, C.P. 07360, Mexico
| | - Lizbeth López-Carrillo
- Centro de Investigación en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad 655, Col. Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Morelos, C.P. 62100, Mexico.
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Rawat PS, Singh S, Mahdi AA, Mehrotra S. Environmental lead exposure and its correlation with intelligence quotient level in children. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2022; 72:126981. [PMID: 35452890 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2022.126981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lead (Pb) is ubiquitous, naturally occurring heavy metal that has a neurotoxic effect on the CNS and causes a range of health problems in humans, including cognitive impairment. Its toxicity remains a worldwide health issue, especially in developing countries. In this study, we tend to investigate the relationship between Pb poisoning and sociodemographic status, intellectual and neurobehavioral capabilities of children. METHODS The background characteristics of the research subjects were collected via questionnaire. The study involved 43 children, aged from 4 to 12 years. Blood lead (BL) levels were analysed by using anodic stripping voltammeter (ASV). Intelligence quotient (IQ) was another parameter that was assessed via using the Goodenough draw-A-person test in Pb exposed as well as control children. Although sociodemographic information was obtained in a questionnaire pattern from the parents. RESULTS The mean of BL level was 19.93 ± 9.22 μg/dL. BL levels were considerably higher with low social status (p < 0.05), maternal employment (p < 0.001) and the maximum time spent outdoors (p < 0.001). Source of water, age of subjects, type of house and kohl used by children was observed to be significantly correlated with BL levels i.e. (p < 0.05). IQ levels were decreased in a concentration dependent manner (p < 0.01). Negative correlations were found between BL levels and IQ levels (r = -0.963, <0.01). Girls were found to be higher IQ level than boys (p < 0.05). Moreover, higher socioeconomic status had a higher IQ level (p < 0.01) as compared to low. CONCLUSION BL levels were significantly associated with IQ levels. Sociodemographic characteristic was also found to be one of the risk factors that influenced the BL levels of children. Our investigations have demonstrated that the exposure of Pb severely affected the learning with memory, and the intelligence quotient of children, that is found inversely proportional in respect to BL levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pushkar Singh Rawat
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Shalini Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Abbas Ali Mahdi
- Department of Biochemistry, King George Medical University, Lucknow 226003, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sudhir Mehrotra
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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Wu L, Cui F, Ma J, Huang Z, Zhang S, Xiao Z, Li J, Ding X, Niu P. Associations of multiple metals with lung function in welders by four statistical models. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 298:134202. [PMID: 35257699 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134202] [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: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to heavy metals has been related to decreased lung function in workers. However, due to limitations in statistical methods for mixtures, previous studies mainly focused on single or several toxic metals, with few studies involving metal exposome and lung function. OBJECTIVES The study aimed to evaluate the effects of co-exposure to the metal mixtures on multiple parameters of pulmonary function tests and to identify the elements that play an essential role in elastic-net regression (ENET), multivariate linear regression, bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), and quantile g-computation (QG-C) models. METHODS We have recruited 186 welders from Anhui (China) in 2019. And their end-of-shift urine and lung function measure data were collected with informed consent. The urinary concentrations of 23 metals were measured by inductively coupled urinary mass spectrometry. The lung function measures including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were also detected as outcome indicators. Four statistical methods, ENET, multivariate linear regression, BKMR, and QG-C models were used to evaluate the associations of element mixtures on lung function comprehensively. RESULTS Lead and cadmium were negatively associated with FVC and FEV1, nickel and chromium were inversely associated with PEF, and strontium showed significant positive effects in linear regression models, which were consistent with the results in BKMR and QG-C models. Both BKMR and QG-C models showed a significantly negative overall effect of metal mixtures on lung function parameters (FVC, FEV1, and PEF). Meanwhile, BKMR showed the non-linear relationships of cadmium with FVC. CONCLUSION Multi-pollutant mixtures of metals were negatively associated with lung function. Lead, cadmium, nickel, and strontium might be crucial elements. Our findings highlight a need to prioritize workers' environmental health, and guide future research into the toxic mechanisms of metal-mediated lung function injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luli Wu
- School of Public Health and the Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Fengtao Cui
- Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Hospital of Huaibei Mining Co., Ltd, Huaibei, Anhui Province, 235000, China
| | - Junxiang Ma
- School of Public Health and the Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Zhengjie Huang
- Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Hospital of Huaibei Mining Co., Ltd, Huaibei, Anhui Province, 235000, China
| | - Shixuan Zhang
- School of Public Health and the Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Zhongxin Xiao
- Central Lab, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Jie Li
- School of Public Health and the Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
| | - Xinping Ding
- Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Hospital of Huaibei Mining Co., Ltd, Huaibei, Anhui Province, 235000, China.
| | - Piye Niu
- School of Public Health and the Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
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Avery CL, Howard AG, Ballou AF, Buchanan VL, Collins JM, Downie CG, Engel SM, Graff M, Highland HM, Lee MP, Lilly AG, Lu K, Rager JE, Staley BS, North KE, Gordon-Larsen P. Strengthening Causal Inference in Exposomics Research: Application of Genetic Data and Methods. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:55001. [PMID: 35533073 PMCID: PMC9084332 DOI: 10.1289/ehp9098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Advances in technologies to measure a broad set of exposures have led to a range of exposome research efforts. Yet, these efforts have insufficiently integrated methods that incorporate genetic data to strengthen causal inference, despite evidence that many exposome-associated phenotypes are heritable. Objective: We demonstrate how integration of methods and study designs that incorporate genetic data can strengthen causal inference in exposomics research by helping address six challenges: reverse causation and unmeasured confounding, comprehensive examination of phenotypic effects, low efficiency, replication, multilevel data integration, and characterization of tissue-specific effects. Examples are drawn from studies of biomarkers and health behaviors, exposure domains where the causal inference methods we describe are most often applied. Discussion: Technological, computational, and statistical advances in genotyping, imputation, and analysis, combined with broad data sharing and cross-study collaborations, offer multiple opportunities to strengthen causal inference in exposomics research. Full application of these opportunities will require an expanded understanding of genetic variants that predict exposome phenotypes as well as an appreciation that the utility of genetic variants for causal inference will vary by exposure and may depend on large sample sizes. However, several of these challenges can be addressed through international scientific collaborations that prioritize data sharing. Ultimately, we anticipate that efforts to better integrate methods that incorporate genetic data will extend the reach of exposomics research by helping address the challenges of comprehensively measuring the exposome and its health effects across studies, the life course, and in varied contexts and diverse populations. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9098.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christy L Avery
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Annie Green Howard
- Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Anna F Ballou
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Victoria L Buchanan
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jason M Collins
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Carolina G Downie
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Stephanie M Engel
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Mariaelisa Graff
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Heather M Highland
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Moa P Lee
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Adam G Lilly
- Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Sociology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kun Lu
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Julia E Rager
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Brooke S Staley
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kari E North
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Penny Gordon-Larsen
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Schildroth S, Friedman A, Bauer JA, Claus Henn B. Associations of a metal mixture with iron status in U.S. adolescents: Evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. New Dir Child Adolesc Dev 2022; 2022:67-89. [PMID: 35445799 PMCID: PMC9492632 DOI: 10.1002/cad.20457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Iron is needed for normal development in adolescence. Exposure to individual environmental metals (e.g., lead) has been associated with altered iron status in adolescence, but little is known about the cumulative associations of multiple metals with Fe status. We used data from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to examine associations between a metal mixture (lead, manganese, cadmium, selenium) and iron status in 588 U.S. adolescents (12-17 years). We estimated cumulative and interactive associations of the metal mixture with five iron status metrics using Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR). Higher concentrations of manganese and cadmium were associated with lower log-transformed ferritin concentrations. Interactions were observed between manganese, cadmium, and lead for ferritin and the transferrin receptor, where iron status tended to be worse at higher concentrations of all metals. These results may reflect competition between environmental metals and iron for cellular uptake. Mixed metal exposures may alter normal iron function, which has implications for adolescent development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Schildroth
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alexa Friedman
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Julia Anglen Bauer
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, Hanover, USA
| | - Birgit Claus Henn
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Liu C, Huang L, Huang S, Wei L, Cao D, Zan G, Tan Y, Wang S, Yang M, Tian L, Tang W, He C, Shen C, Luo B, Zhu M, Liang T, Pang B, Li M, Mo Z, Yang X. Association of both prenatal and early childhood multiple metals exposure with neurodevelopment in infant: A prospective cohort study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 205:112450. [PMID: 34861232 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Impaired neurodevelopment of children has become a growing public concern; however, the associations between metals exposure and neurocognitive function have remained largely unknown. OBJECTIVES We systematically evaluated the associations of multiple metals exposure during pregnancy and childhood on the neurodevelopment of children aged 2-3 years. METHODS We measured 22 metals in the serum and urine among703 mother-child pairs from the Guangxi Birth Cohort Study. The neurocognitive development of children was assessed by the Gesell Development Diagnosis Scale (GDDS; Chinese version). Multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between the metals (selected by elastic net regression) and the outcomes. The Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) was used to evaluate the possible joint effect between the multiple metal mixture and the outcomes. RESULTS Prenatal aluminum (Al) exposure was negatively associated with the fine motor developmental quotient (DQ) (β = -1.545, 95%CI: 2.231, -0.859), adaption DQ (β = -1.182, 95%CI: 1.632, -0.732), language DQ (β = -1.284, 95% CI: 1.758, -0.809), and social DQ (β = -1.729, 95% CI: 2.406, -1.052) in the multi-metal model. Prenatal cadmium (Cd) exposure was negatively associated with gross motor DQ (β = -2.524, 95% CI: 4.060, -0.988), while postpartum Cd exposure was negatively associated with language DQ (β = -1.678, 95% CI: 3.227, -0.129). In stratified analyses, infants of different sexes had different sensitivities to metal exposure, and neurobehavioral development was more significantly affected by metal exposure in the first and second trimester. BKMR analysis revealed a negative joint effect of the Al, Cd, and selenium (Se) on the language DQ score; postpartum Cd exposure played a major role in this relationship. CONCLUSION Prenatal exposure to Al, Ba, Cd, molybdenum (Mo), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), and strontium (Sr), and postpartum exposure to cobalt (Co), Cd, stannum (Sn), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), and Se are associated with neurological development of infants. The first and second trimester might be the most sensitive period when metal exposure affects neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoqun Liu
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, 545006, Guangxi, China
| | - Lulu Huang
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, 545006, Guangxi, China; Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Shengzhu Huang
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Luyun Wei
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Dehao Cao
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Gaohui Zan
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Yanli Tan
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Sida Wang
- Department of Medical Ultrasonics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Minjing Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Long Tian
- Department of Science and Education, Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Qinzhou, Qinzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Weijun Tang
- Center for Translational Medicine, Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Qinzhou, Qinzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Caitong He
- Department of Science and Education, Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Yulin, Yulin, Guangxi, China
| | - Chunhua Shen
- Liuzhou Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Liuzhou Institute of Reproduction and Genetics, Affiliated Maternity Hospital and Affiliated Children's Hospital of Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Bangzhu Luo
- Department of Medical Services Section, Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Guigang, Guigang, Guangxi, China
| | - Maoling Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics, Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Nanning, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Tao Liang
- Department of Pediatrics, Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Wuzhou, Wuzhou, Guangxi, China
| | - Baohong Pang
- Department of Women Health Care, Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Yuzhou, Yulin, Guangxi, China
| | - Mujun Li
- Department of Reproductive Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Zengnan Mo
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Department of Urology and Nephrology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiaobo Yang
- Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi, China; Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, 545006, Guangxi, China; Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
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Ruiz-Azcona L, Markiv B, Expósito A, Pozueta A, García-Martínez M, Fernández-Olmo I, Santibáñez M. Poorer cognitive function and environmental airborne Mn exposure determined by biomonitoring and personal environmental monitors in a healthy adult population. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 815:152940. [PMID: 35007600 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.152940] [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: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM In the Santander Bay (Cantabria, northern Spain), a ferromanganese alloy plant is located. Our objective was to characterize the Mn personal exposure of adult healthy volunteers living in this highly Mn exposed region, and to determine its association with a poorer cognitive function. METHODS Cross-sectional study analyzing 130 consecutive participants. Cognitive function was assessed by Stroop Color Word, Verbal Fluency tests, Trail Making Test (TMT), Digit Span (WAIS III) and Rey Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) tests and crude scores were standardized according to NEURONORMA norms. Exposure to Mn was assessed in terms of source distance, by Personal Environmental Monitors (PEMs) allowing the separation of fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10-2.5) particles (obtaining the bioaccessible fraction by in-vitro bioaccessibility tests), and by biomarkers (blood, hair and fingernails). Age, sex, study level and number of years of residence were predefined as confounding variables and adjusted Mean Differences (MDs) were obtained. RESULTS Statistically significant lower scores (negative MDs) in all test were observed when living near the industrial emission source, after adjusting for the predefined variables. Regarding PEMs results, statistically significant lower scores in all Stroop parts were obtained in participants with higher levels of Total Mn in All fractions (PM10). For Verbal Fluency tests, negative MDs were obtained for both bioaccessible fractions. Digit Span Backward scores were lower for those with higher levels in the bioaccessible coarse fraction, and negative MDs were also observed for the ROCF Delayed part and the non-bioaccessible fine fraction. As regards to Mn in fingernails, adjusted MDs of -1.60; 95%CI (-2.57 to -0.64) and -1.45; 95%CI (-2.29 to -0.61) for Digit Span Forward and Backward parts were observed. CONCLUSIONS Our results support an association between poorer cognitive function and environmental airborne Mn exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Ruiz-Azcona
- Global Health Research Group. Dpto Enfermería, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. Valdecilla, s/n., 39008 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
| | - Bohdana Markiv
- Dpto. de Ingenierías Química y Biomolecular, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. Los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
| | - Andrea Expósito
- Dpto. de Ingenierías Química y Biomolecular, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. Los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
| | - Ana Pozueta
- Service of Neurology, IDIVAL, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, 39008 Santander, Spain; CIBERNED, Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - María García-Martínez
- Service of Neurology, IDIVAL, University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla, University of Cantabria, 39008 Santander, Spain; CIBERNED, Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio Fernández-Olmo
- Dpto. de Ingenierías Química y Biomolecular, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. Los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
| | - Miguel Santibáñez
- Global Health Research Group. Dpto Enfermería, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. Valdecilla, s/n., 39008 Santander, Cantabria, Spain; Nursing Research Group, IDIVAL, Calle Cardenal Herrera Oria s/n, 39011 Santander, Cantabria, Spain.
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Cauci S, Tavano M, Curcio F, Francescato MP. Biomonitoring of urinary metals in athletes according to particulate matter air pollution before and after exercise. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:26371-26384. [PMID: 34855175 PMCID: PMC8637506 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17730-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to air pollution during physical exercise is a health issue because fine particulate matter (dimension < 10 μm; PM10) includes several inhalable toxic metals. Body metal changes in athletes according to air pollution are poorly known. Urinary concentrations of 15 metals: beryllium (Be9), aluminum (Al27), vanadium (V51), chromium (Cr51 + Cr52), manganese (Mn55), cobalt (Co59), nickel (Ni61), copper (Cu63), zinc (Zn61), arsenic (As75), selenium (Se82), cadmium (Cd111 + Cd112), thallium (Tl125), lead (Pb207), and uranium (U238) were measured before and after ten 2-h training sessions in 8 non-professional Italian American-football players (18-28 years old, body mass index 24.2-33.6 kg/m2). Collectively, post-training sessions, urinary concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Tl, and Zn were higher than pre-training sessions; Al, Be, Cr, and U did not change; conversely, V decreased. Subdividing training sessions according to air PM10 levels: low (< 20 μg/m3), medium (20-40 μg/m3), and high (> 40 μg/m3), pre-session and post-session urinary concentrations of Be, Cd, Cu, and Tl were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in more polluted days, whereas V concentrations were lower (p < 0.001). All the remaining metals were unaffected. We first showed that PM10 levels modulate urinary excretion of some toxic metals suggesting an effect of air pollution. The effects of toxic metals inhaled by athletes exercising in polluted air need further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina Cauci
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Udine, Piazzale Kolbe 4, 33100, Udine, Italy.
| | - Michael Tavano
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Udine, Piazzale Kolbe 4, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Francesco Curcio
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Udine, Piazzale Kolbe 4, 33100, Udine, Italy
- Clinical Analysis Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Clinical Pathology, Santa Maria della Misericordia University-Hospital, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Francescato
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Udine, Piazzale Kolbe 4, 33100, Udine, Italy
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Oppenheimer AV, Bellinger DC, Coull BA, Weisskopf MG, Korrick SA. Prenatal exposure to chemical mixtures and working memory among adolescents. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 205:112436. [PMID: 34843721 PMCID: PMC8760169 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Working memory is the ability to keep information in one's mind and mentally manipulate it. Decrements in working memory play a key role in many behavioral and psychiatric disorders, therefore identifying modifiable environmental risk factors for such decrements is important for mitigating these disorders. There is some evidence that prenatal exposure to individual chemicals may adversely impact working memory among children, but few studies have explored the association of co-exposure to multiple chemicals with this outcome in adolescence, a time when working memory skills undergo substantial development. We investigated the association of organochlorines (DDE, HCB, PCBs) and metals (lead, manganese) measured in cord serum and cord blood, respectively, with working memory measured with the Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning, 2nd Edition among 373 adolescents living near a Superfund site in New Bedford, Massachusetts. We used Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) and linear regression analyses and assessed effect modification by sex and prenatal social disadvantage. In BKMR models, we observed an adverse joint association of the chemical mixture with Verbal, but not Symbolic, Working Memory. In co-exposure and covariate-adjusted linear regression models, a twofold increase in cord blood manganese was associated with lower working memory scaled scores, with a stronger association with Verbal Working Memory (difference = -0.75; 95% CI: -1.29, -0.20 points) compared to Symbolic Working Memory (difference = -0.44; 95% CI: -1.00, 0.12 points). There was little evidence of effect modification by sex and some evidence associating organochlorine pesticides with poorer working memory scores among those with greater prenatal social disadvantage. This study provided evidence of an adverse joint association of a chemical mixture with a verbal working memory task among adolescents, as well as an adverse association of prenatal manganese exposure with working memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V Oppenheimer
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan 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; Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children'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
| | - Marc G Weisskopf
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Susan A Korrick
- 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, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Bragg M, Chavarro JE, Hamra GB, Hart JE, Tabb LP, Weisskopf MG, Volk HE, Lyall K. Prenatal Diet as a Modifier of Environmental Risk Factors for Autism and Related Neurodevelopmental Outcomes. Curr Environ Health Rep 2022; 9:324-338. [PMID: 35305256 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00347-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Environmental chemicals and toxins have been associated with increased risk of impaired neurodevelopment and specific conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Prenatal diet is an individually modifiable factor that may alter associations with such environmental factors. The purpose of this review is to summarize studies examining prenatal dietary factors as potential modifiers of the relationship between environmental exposures and ASD or related neurodevelopmental outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS Twelve studies were identified; five examined ASD diagnosis or ASD-related traits as the outcome (age at assessment range: 2-5 years) while the remainder addressed associations with neurodevelopmental scores (age at assessment range: 6 months to 6 years). Most studies focused on folic acid, prenatal vitamins, or omega-3 fatty acids as potentially beneficial effect modifiers. Environmental risk factors examined included air pollutants, endocrine disrupting chemicals, pesticides, and heavy metals. Most studies took place in North America. In 10/12 studies, the prenatal dietary factor under study was identified as a significant modifier, generally attenuating the association between the environmental exposure and ASD or neurodevelopment. Prenatal diet may be a promising target to mitigate adverse effects of environmental exposures on neurodevelopmental outcomes. Further research focused on joint effects is needed that encompasses a broader variety of dietary factors, guided by our understanding of mechanisms linking environmental exposures with neurodevelopment. Future studies should also aim to include diverse populations, utilize advanced methods to optimize detection of novel joint effects, incorporate consideration of timing, and consider both synergistic and antagonistic potential of diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Bragg
- AJ Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, 3020 Market St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jorge E Chavarro
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ghassan B Hamra
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jaime E Hart
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Loni Philip Tabb
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, 3020 Market St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Marc G Weisskopf
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Heather E Volk
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kristen Lyall
- AJ Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, 3020 Market St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA. .,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, 3020 Market St., Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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50
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Merced-Nieves FM, Chelonis J, Pantic I, Schnass L, Téllez-Rojo MM, Braun JM, Paule MG, Wright RJ, Wright RO, Curtin P. Prenatal trace elements mixture is associated with learning deficits on a behavioral acquisition task among young children. New Dir Child Adolesc Dev 2022; 2022:53-66. [PMID: 35429215 PMCID: PMC9492626 DOI: 10.1002/cad.20458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Children are exposed to many trace elements throughout their development. Given their ubiquity and potential to have effects on children's neurodevelopment, these exposures are a public health concern. This study sought to identify trace element mixture-associated deficits in learning behavior using operant testing in a prospective cohort. We included 322 participants aged 6-7 years recruited in Mexico City with complete data on prenatal trace elements measurements (third trimester blood lead and manganese levels, and & urine cadmium and arsenic levels), demographic covariates, and the Incremental Repeated Acquisition (IRA), an associative learning task. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models were used to estimate the joint association of the mixture of all four trace elements and IRA performance. Performance was adversely impacted by the mixture, with different elements relating to different aspects of task performance suggesting that prenatal exposure to trace element mixtures yields a broad dysregulation of learning behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francheska M Merced-Nieves
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - John Chelonis
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, FDA, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | - Ivan Pantic
- Division of Community Interventions Research, National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Lourdes Schnass
- Division of Community Interventions Research, National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Martha M Téllez-Rojo
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Merle G Paule
- Division of Neurotoxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research, FDA, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | - Rosalind J Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Paul Curtin
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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