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Dack K, Huang P, Taylor CM, Rai D, Lewis SJ. Environmental and genetic predictors of whole blood mercury and selenium concentrations in pregnant women in a UK birth cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANCES 2024; 15:100469. [PMID: 38562418 PMCID: PMC10951965 DOI: 10.1016/j.envadv.2023.100469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
There is evidence that tissue concentrations of mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) are predicted by numerous dietary, sociodemographic, environmental, and genetic factors. This study aimed to estimate the relative importance of predictors of Hg and Se concentrations in blood samples taken from pregnant women. The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) in the UK measured whole blood Hg and Se concentrations in 3,972 pregnant women. We identified 30 potential predictors of Hg and 24 of Se, which were evaluated using cross-validated random forests to identify the optimal models for predictive power. The relative importance of individual variables was estimated by averaging the added-R2 per predictor. Linkage disequilibrium score regression was used to estimate the variance explained by genotype. A multivariable model of 14 predictors explained 22.4% of Hg variance (95% CI: 13.0 to 37.1), including 6.9% from blood Se and 3.2% from white fish consumption. There were 11 predictors which explained 15.3% of Se variance (CI: 8.9 to 25.9), including 6.4% from blood Hg, 1.3% from blood lead, and 1.3% from oily fish. Measured genetic variation explained 30% of Hg variance (CI: 8.4 to 51.5) and 37.5% of Se (CI: 10.4 to 64.5). A high proportion of Hg and Se variance could be explained from dietary, sociodemographic, metabolic, and genetic factors. Seafood consumption was less predictive of Hg than may be expected and other factors should be considered when determining risk of exposure. There was tentative evidence that genotype is a major contributor to Hg and Se variation, possibly by modifying the efficacy of internal metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Dack
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Peiyuan Huang
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Caroline M Taylor
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Dheeraj Rai
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Sarah J Lewis
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Balbuena L, Mela M, Ahmed AG. Parental factors predicting social deviance and psychological outcomes in offspring: Evidence from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). NORDIC STUDIES ON ALCOHOL AND DRUGS 2024; 41:186-199. [PMID: 38645967 PMCID: PMC11027850 DOI: 10.1177/14550725231206015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective: The objective of the present study was to examine whether exposure to prenatal psychoactive substances is associated with psychological outcomes and deviant behaviour. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of 7,769 mother-child dyads in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) who were followed until the children were aged approximately 12 years. Parental characteristics and maternal use of various substances were collected in pregnancy and entered as predictors of psychological outcomes in childhood and deviant behaviours in early adolescence. The psychological outcomes were IQ, social cognition, working memory and inhibition, while the deviant behaviours were threatening others, truancy and cruelty to animals. Weighted logistic regression models were used to predict deviant behaviours and weighted linear regression for the psychological outcomes. Results: High prenatal alcohol exposure predicted truancy and cruelty to animals. Tobacco exposure predicted lower IQ, a greater social communication deficit, lower working memory, truancy and threatening others. Illicit drugs predicted a higher social communication deficit and truancy. All prenatal substance exposures remained significant after adjustment for peer influences and covariate imbalance. Conclusion: Alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs were associated with deviant behaviours in early adolescence and these behaviours were preceded by psychological deficits in childhood. The present study supports the guideline that no amount of alcohol is safe to consume in pregnancy and that tobacco and illicit drugs should be avoided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lloyd Balbuena
- College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Mansfield Mela
- College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - AG Ahmed
- College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Chaurasia P, McClean SI, Mahdi AA, Yogarajah P, Ansari JA, Kunwar S, Ahmad MK. Automated lead toxicity prediction using computational modelling framework. Health Inf Sci Syst 2023; 11:56. [PMID: 38028960 PMCID: PMC10661678 DOI: 10.1007/s13755-023-00257-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Lead, an environmental toxicant, accounts for 0.6% of the global burden of disease, with the highest burden in developing countries. Lead poisoning is very much preventable with adequate and timely action. Therefore, it is important to identify factors that contribute to maternal BLL and minimise them to reduce the transfer to the foetus. Literacy and awareness related to its impact are low and the clinical establishment for biological monitoring of blood lead level (BLL) is low, costly, and time-consuming. A significant contribution to an infant's BLL load is caused by maternal lead transfer during pregnancy. This acts as the first pathway to the infant's lead exposure. The social and demographic information that includes lifestyle and environmental factors are key to maternal lead exposure. Results We propose a novel approach to build a computational model framework that can predict lead toxicity levels in maternal blood using a set of sociodemographic features. To illustrate our proposed approach, maternal data comprising socio-demographic features and blood samples from the pregnant woman is collected, analysed, and modelled. The computational model is built that learns from the maternal data and then predicts lead level in a pregnant woman using a set of questionnaires that relate to the maternal's social and demographic information as the first point of testing. The range of features identified in the built models can estimate the underlying function and provide an understanding of the toxicity level. Following feature selection methods, the 12-feature set obtained from the Boruta algorithm gave better prediction results (kNN = 76.84%, DT = 74.70%, and NN = 73.99%). Conclusion The built prediction model can be beneficial in improving the point of care and hence reducing the cost and the risk involved. It is envisaged that in future, the proposed methodology will become a part of a screening process to assist healthcare experts at the point of evaluating the lead toxicity level in pregnant women. Women screened positive could be given a range of facilities including preliminary counselling to being referred to the health centre for further diagnosis. Steps could be taken to reduce maternal lead exposure; hence, it could also be possible to mitigate the infant's lead exposure by reducing transfer from the pregnant woman.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Chaurasia
- School of Computing, Engineering & Intelligent Systems, Ulster University, Derry, Londonderry, BT487JL UK
| | - Sally I. McClean
- School of Computing, Ulster University, Co. Antrim, Newtownabbey, BT370QB UK
| | - Abbas Ali Mahdi
- Department of Biochemistry, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226003 India
| | - Pratheepan Yogarajah
- School of Computing, Engineering & Intelligent Systems, Ulster University, Derry, Londonderry, BT487JL UK
| | - Jamal Akhtar Ansari
- Department of Biochemistry, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226003 India
| | - Shipra Kunwar
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Era University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226003 India
| | - Mohammad Kaleem Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226003 India
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Dack K, Bustamante M, Taylor CM, Llop S, Lozano M, Yousefi P, Gražulevičienė R, Gutzkow KB, Brantsæter AL, Mason D, Escaramís G, Lewis SJ. Genome-Wide Association Study of Blood Mercury in European Pregnant Women and Children. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:2123. [PMID: 38136945 PMCID: PMC10742428 DOI: 10.3390/genes14122123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Mercury has high industrial utility and is present in many products, and environmental contamination and occupational exposure are widespread. There are numerous biological systems involved in the absorption, metabolism, and excretion of Hg, and it is possible that some systems may be impacted by genetic variation. If so, genotype may affect tissue concentrations of Hg and subsequent toxic effects. Genome-wide association testing was performed on blood Hg samples from pregnant women of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (n = 2893) and children of the Human Early Life Exposome (n = 1042). Directly-genotyped single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were imputed to the Haplotype Reference Consortium r1.1 panel of whole genotypes and modelled againstlog-transformed Hg. Heritability was estimated using linkage disequilibrium score regression. The heritability of Hg was estimated as 24.0% (95% CI: 16.9% to 46.4%) in pregnant women, but could not be determined in children. There were 16 SNPs associated with Hg in pregnant women above a suggestive p-value threshold (p < 1 × 10-5), and 21 for children. However, no SNP passed this threshold in both studies, and none were genome-wide significant (p < 5 × 10-8). SNP-Hg associations were highly discordant between women and children, and this may reflect differences in metabolism, a gene-age interaction, or dose-response effects. Several suggestive variants had plausible links to Hg metabolism, such as rs146099921 in metal transporter SLC39A14, and two variants (rs28618224, rs7154700) in potassium voltage-gated channel genes. The findings would benefit from external validation, as suggestive results may contain both true associations and false positives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Dack
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK; (K.D.)
| | - Mariona Bustamante
- ISGlobal, Institute for Global Health, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08018 Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain (G.E.)
| | - Caroline M. Taylor
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK;
| | - Sabrina Llop
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain (G.E.)
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO- Universitat Jaume I - Universitat de València, 46020 Valencia, Spain
| | - Manuel Lozano
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO- Universitat Jaume I - Universitat de València, 46020 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Preventative Medicine, Food Sciences, Toxicology and Forensic Medicine Department, Universitat de València, 46100 Valencia, Spain
| | - Paul Yousefi
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK; (K.D.)
| | - Regina Gražulevičienė
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, 53361 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Kristine Bjerve Gutzkow
- Department of Air Quality and Noise, Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 222 Skoyen, NO-0213 Oslo, Norway;
| | - Anne Lise Brantsæter
- Department of Food Safety, Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 222 Skoyen, NO-0213 Oslo, Norway
| | - Dan Mason
- Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Duckworth Lane, Bradford BD9 6RJ, UK
| | - Georgia Escaramís
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain (G.E.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sarah J. Lewis
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK; (K.D.)
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK
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Raneri JE, Boedecker J, Fallas Conejo DA, Muir G, Hanley-Cook G, Lachat C. Can common dietary assessment methods be better designed to capture the nutritional contribution of neglected, forest, and wild foods to diets? Front Nutr 2023; 10:1186707. [PMID: 37485381 PMCID: PMC10357295 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1186707] [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: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Food systems are the primary cause of biodiversity loss globally. Biodiversity and specifically, the role that wild, forest and neglected and underutilised species (NUS) foods might play in diet quality is gaining increased attention. The narrow focus on producing affordable staples for dietary energy has contributed to largely homogenous and unhealthy diets. To date, evidence to quantify the nutritional contribution of these biodiverse foods is limited. A scoping review was conducted to document the methods used to quantify the contribution of wild, forest and NUS foods. We found 37 relevant articles from 22 different countries, mainly from Africa (45%), the Americas (19%), and Asia (10%). There were 114 different classifications used for the foods, 73% of these were specifically related to wild or forest foods. Most dietary assessments were completed using a single day qualitative or quantitative 24 h open recall (n = 23), or a food frequency questionnaire (n = 12). There were 18 different diet related indicators used, mainly nutrient adequacy (n = 9) and dietary diversity scores (n = 9). Often, no specific nutritionally validated diet metric was used. There were 16 studies that presented results (semi) quantitatively to measure the contribution of wild, forest or NUS foods to dietary intakes. Of these, 38% were aggregated together with broader classifications of 'traditional' or 'local' foods, without definitions provided meaning it was not possible to determine if or to what extend wild, forest of NUS foods were included (or not). In almost all studies there was insufficient detail on the magnitude of the associations between wild, forest or NUS foods and dietary energy or nutrient intakes or the (qualitative) diet recall methodologies that were used inhibited the quantification of the contribution of these foods to diets. A set of six recommendations are put forward to strengthen the evidence on the contribution of wild, NUS, and forest foods to human diets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E. Raneri
- Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Senior Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture Advisor to the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, and Agricultural Development and Food Security Section, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Canberra, NSW, Australia
| | - Julia Boedecker
- Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Food Environment and Consumer Behaviour Lever, The Alliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Diego A. Fallas Conejo
- Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Giulia Muir
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy
| | - Giles Hanley-Cook
- Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Carl Lachat
- Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Bah HAF, Martinez VO, dos Santos NR, Gomes Junior EA, Costa DO, Pires EM, Santana JVA, Cerqueira FDS, Menezes-Filho JA. Determinants of Exposure to Potentially Toxic Metals in Pregnant Women of the DSAN-12M Cohort in the Recôncavo Baiano, Brazil. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2949. [PMID: 36833642 PMCID: PMC9959373 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20042949] [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: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to potentially toxic metals (PTM) threatens maternal and child health. We investigated the determinants of exposure to lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and manganese (Mn) in 163 pregnant women from the Recôncavo Baiano, Brazil, enrolled in the DSAN-12M cohort. We measured these metals in biological samples (blood, toenails, and hair) and the Pb dust loading rates (RtPb) at their homes by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry (GFAAS). Questionnaires were applied to collect sociodemographic and general habits data. Only 2.91% (n = 4) of the pregnant women had As levels above the detection limit. Few participants had levels above the recommended reference values for blood Pb (5.1; 95% CI: 2.1-10.1%), and Mn in hair or toenails (4.3; 95% CI: 2.3-10.1%). On the other hand, 61.1 (95% CI: 52.4-69.3%) had elevated blood Cd levels. After binary logistic regression, low socioeconomic status, domestic waste burning, being a passive smoker, multiparity, and renovating the house significantly increased the chances of having high levels of Mn, Pb, and Cd. We detected a worrying situation related to exposure to Cd, showing the urgency of implementing human biomonitoring in the general population, especially in situations of social vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Homègnon A. Ferréol Bah
- Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40110-040, Brazil
- Laboratory of Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
| | - Victor O. Martinez
- Graduate Program in Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
| | - Nathália R. dos Santos
- Laboratory of Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
| | - Erival A. Gomes Junior
- Graduate Program in Food Science, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
| | - Daisy O. Costa
- Laboratory of Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
| | - Elis Macêdo Pires
- Laboratory of Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
| | - João V. Araújo Santana
- Laboratory of Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
| | - Filipe da Silva Cerqueira
- Laboratory of Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
| | - José A. Menezes-Filho
- Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40110-040, Brazil
- Laboratory of Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
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The construction and validation of a lead exposure screening tool for pregnant women in Thailand (ThaiL8Is). Heliyon 2022; 8:e12582. [PMID: 36636215 PMCID: PMC9830162 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12582] [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: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives To construct, validate, and implement a new screening tool for lead exposure in Thai pregnant women. Methods A cross-sectional study that included three processes: screening tool development, validation, and implementation. The participants were pregnant women who had received antenatal care at district health promotion hospitals. There were 100 pregnant women in Nakhon Si Thammarat province during the validation process, and 30 pregnant women in Phang Nga province during the implementation process. Blood lead levels (BLLs) were analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The sensitivity and specificity of the screening instrument, as well as the Area Under the Curve (AUC), demonstrate its validity. Results There were 80 BLL-related items found through the collection of primary and secondary data and examined for validity and inter-rater reliability by five experts. Six items were excluded because the values were less than the criteria set. Seventy-four items remained with the Item Content Validity Index (I-CVI) = 0.80-1.00, the Content Validity Index Average (S-CVI/Ave) = 0.91, and Kappa scores = 0.76-1.00. After using 74 items collected on pregnant women, only 31 items were included in the validation process. Following that, the pooled eight items with cut-off point scores of 1 had the highest validity, which included systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, urine sugar, haemoglobin level, occupation, drinking coffee, using chemical products, and education level (ThaiL8Is). The ThaiL8Is in the validation process yielded sensitivity = 80.9%, specificity = 69.8%, and an AUC (95%CI) = 0.78 (0.69-0.87). The implementation process has confirmed the validity of the screening tool; sensitivity = 78.9%, specificity = 81.8%, and the AUC (95%CI) = 0.80 (0.63-0.97). Conclusions The ThaiL8Is a valid screening tool for Thai pregnant women. ThaiL8Is' sensitivity in detecting the risk groups for lead exposure can be enhanced by a combination of biochemical markers used in routine prenatal screening. It can be used to screen pregnant women for early indicators of lead exposure prior to a blood lead test.
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Dack K, Wootton RE, Taylor CM, Lewis SJ. Prenatal Mercury Exposure and Infant Weight Trajectories in a UK Observational Birth Cohort. TOXICS 2022; 11:10. [PMID: 36668736 PMCID: PMC9864311 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is highly toxic metal found in trace quantities in common foods. There is concern that exposure during pregnancy could impair infant development. Epidemiological evidence is mixed, but few studies have examined postnatal growth. Differences in nutrition, exposures, and the living environment after birth may make it easier to detect a negative impact from mercury toxicity on infant growth. This study includes 544 mother-child pairs from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Blood mercury was measured in early pregnancy and infant weight at 10 intervals between 4 and 61 months. Mixed-effect models were used to estimate the change in infant weight associated with prenatal mercury exposure. The estimated difference in monthly weight gain was -0.02 kg per 1 standard deviation increase in Hg (95% confidence intervals: -0.10 to 0.06 kg). When restricted to the 10th decile of Hg, the association with weight at each age level was consistently negative but with wide confidence intervals. The lack of evidence for an association may indicate that at Hg levels in this cohort (median 1.9 µg/L) there is minimal biological impact, and the effect is too small to be either clinically relevant or detectable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Dack
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Robyn E. Wootton
- Nic Waals Institute, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, 0771 Oslo, Norway
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Caroline M. Taylor
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1NU, UK
| | - Sarah J. Lewis
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK
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Ellis G, Iles-Caven Y, Northstone K, Golding J. The external housing environment of participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC): a resource for studies of influences on health. Wellcome Open Res 2022; 7:232. [PMID: 37928612 PMCID: PMC10624949 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17996.2] [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] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Early life environmental health exposures related to housing can have a significant impact on an individual's physical and mental health and physical development. Housing exposures can fall into two main areas - a representation of social circumstances and physical conditions. Methods: During pregnancy and post-delivery, self-completion questionnaires concerning the housing environment were administered to the ALSPAC (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents & Children) study mothers and their partners until the study offspring were aged 18. Data collected included types of housing, housing tenure, numbers of rooms in the home, whether shared or sole use of kitchen and indoor flushing toilet, household moves, Council Tax band, difficulties in affording rent/mortgage and becoming homeless. Here we also describe the historic development of housing in the Bristol and surrounding Avon areas. Results: Data collected included the tenure (e.g., owned/rented) of the home, its size (indexed by the number of rooms), the presence of over-crowding (measured by the number of residents per room), presence of amenities, and frequency of household moves. This information was collected on over 13,000 women during pregnancy >8000 at age 10 and >4000 at 18 years. Council Tax bands were asked at 10 and 18 years. Conclusions: This is the first of two Data Notes on the housing type and housing circumstances of the families enrolled in ALSPAC. The second Data Note will detail their internal housing conditions. The data provides an excellent resource for researchers when considering the influences of housing on physical and mental health and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genette Ellis
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Yasmin Iles-Caven
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Kate Northstone
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Jean Golding
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
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Waeyeng D, Khamphaya T, Pouyfung P, Vattanasit U, Yimthiang S. Blood Lead Levels among Non-Occupationally Exposed Pregnant Women in Southern Thailand. TOXICS 2022; 10:599. [PMID: 36287879 PMCID: PMC9610693 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10100599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) is a heavy metal that is toxic to humans, especially children and pregnant women. In Thailand, guidelines exist to minimize lead exposure in pregnant women working in lead-related occupations. However, no guidelines exist for pregnant women who are not employed in these economic sectors. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine blood lead levels (BLLs) and related risk factors among 80 non-occupationally exposed pregnant women from the general population living in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Southern Thailand. BLLs were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A validated questionnaire was adopted to interview participants which included demographic, consumer goods, supplement intake, and health factors. The mean BLL was 4.68 ± 1.55 µg/dL (95% CI 4.33-5.02) and 42.50% had BLLs ≥ 5 µg/dL. Higher education was the only demographic factor associated with BLLs ≥ 5 µg/dL (aOR 0.16, 95% CI 0.03-0.80, p = 0.027). Systolic blood pressure was also associated with BLLs ≥ 5 µg/dL (aOR 5.00, 95% CI 1.23-17.16, p = 0.023). However, consumer goods and supplement intake were not associated with BLLs. Our results indicate that pregnant women from the general population who were not in the risk exposure group had lead in their bodies. Except for education, demographics were not associated with pregnant women with BLLs. However, with health factors, even low BLLs had a small effect on systolic blood pressure. These data suggest a need for promoting health education and health interventions to prevent the dangers of lead exposure, especially for pregnant women and children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donrawee Waeyeng
- Environmental, Safety Technology and Health Program, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Thaiburi, Thasala, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
| | - Tanaporn Khamphaya
- Environmental, Safety Technology and Health Program, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Thaiburi, Thasala, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
| | - Phisit Pouyfung
- Occupational Health and Safety Department, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Thaiburi, Thasala, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
| | - Udomratana Vattanasit
- Environmental Health and Technology Department, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Thaiburi, Thasala, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
| | - Supabhorn Yimthiang
- Environmental, Safety Technology and Health Program, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Thaiburi, Thasala, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
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Wang J, Yang Y, Zhang J, Liu N, Xi H, Liang H. Trends of Blood Lead Levels in US Pregnant Women: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001–2018). Front Public Health 2022; 10:922563. [PMID: 35844875 PMCID: PMC9283785 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.922563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives This study investigates the trends of blood lead levels in US pregnant women based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2001 to 2018. Methods A total of 1,230 pregnant women were included in this study. The weighted logistic regression was applied to analyze the association between sociodemographic characteristics with high blood levels. We computed the blood lead levels for each survey period from 2001–2002 to 2017–2018. Moreover, we used the adjusted linear regression model to investigate the time-related change in blood lead level. The odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated accordingly. Results The mean blood lead was 0.73 ± 0.03 ug/dL, and high blood lead was observed in 2.53% of individuals. The Mexican Americans were more associated with high blood lead than the non-Hispanic white (OR, 1.072; 95% CI, 1.032-1.112). The mean blood lead level has decreased from 0.97 ug/dL in 2001–2002 to 0.46 ug/dL in 2013–2014. Afterward, a slight increase was observed with the mean blood lead of 0.55 ug/dL in 2015–2016 and 0.53 ug/dL in 2017-2018. In the adjusted linear regression model, each year's increase would lead to a 0.029 ug/dL decrease in blood lead (P < 0.001). However, no significant change was observed in the 2017–2018 cycle compared with 2009–2010 (P = 0.218). Conclusion This study summarized the trend of blood lead levels in US pregnant women over 2001–2018. Continued effort is still required to control lead sources better and protect this population from lead exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Yujie Yang
- Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Juan Zhang
- Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Na Liu
- Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Na Liu
| | - Huifang Xi
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Huifang Xi
| | - Hong Liang
- Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- *Correspondence: Hong Liang
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Niedzwiecki MM, Eggers S, Joshi A, Dolios G, Cantoral A, Lamadrid-Figueroa H, Amarasiriwardena C, Téllez-Rojo MM, Wright RO, Petrick L. Lead exposure and serum metabolite profiles in pregnant women in Mexico City. Environ Health 2021; 20:125. [PMID: 34893088 PMCID: PMC8665540 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00810-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lead (Pb) exposure is a global health hazard causing a wide range of adverse health outcomes. Yet, the mechanisms of Pb toxicology remain incompletely understood, especially during pregnancy. To uncover biological pathways impacted by Pb exposure, this study investigated serum metabolomic profiles during the third trimester of pregnancy that are associated with blood Pb and bone Pb. METHODS We used data and specimens from 99 women enrolled in the Programming Research in Obesity, Growth, Environment, and Social Stressors birth cohort in Mexico City. Maternal Pb exposure was measured in whole blood samples from the third trimester of pregnancy and in the tibia and patella bones at 1 month postpartum. Third-trimester serum samples underwent metabolomic analysis; metabolites were identified based on matching to an in-house analytical standard library. A metabolome-wide association study was performed using multiple linear regression models. Class- and pathway-based enrichment analyses were also conducted. RESULTS The median (interquartile range) blood Pb concentration was 2.9 (2.6) µg/dL. Median bone Pb, measured in the tibia and patella, were 2.5 (7.3) µg/g and 3.6 (9.5) µg/g, respectively. Of 215 total metabolites identified in serum, 31 were associated with blood Pb (p < 0.05). Class enrichment analysis identified significant overrepresentation of metabolites classified as fatty acids and conjugates, amino acids and peptides, and purines. Tibia and patella Pb were associated with 14 and 8 metabolites, respectively (p < 0.05). Comparing results from bone and blood Pb, glycochenodeoxycholic acid, glycocholic acid, and 1-arachidonoylglycerol were positively associated with blood Pb and tibia Pb, and 7-methylguanine was negatively associated with blood Pb and patella Pb. One metabolite, 5-aminopentanoic acid, was negatively associated with all three Pb measures. CONCLUSIONS This study identified serum metabolites in pregnant women associated with Pb measured in blood and bone. These findings provide insights on the metabolic profile around Pb exposure in pregnancy and information to guide mechanistic studies of toxicological effects for mothers and children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M Niedzwiecki
- Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, United States, NY
| | - Shoshannah Eggers
- Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, United States, NY
| | - Anu Joshi
- Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, United States, NY
| | - Georgia Dolios
- Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, United States, NY
| | | | | | - Chitra Amarasiriwardena
- Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, United States, NY
| | | | - Robert O Wright
- Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, United States, NY
| | - Lauren Petrick
- Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, United States, NY
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Lobo GP, Kalyan B, Gadgil AJ. Predicting childhood lead exposure at an aggregated level using machine learning. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2021; 238:113862. [PMID: 34673354 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113862] [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: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Childhood lead exposure affects over 500,000 children under 6 years old in the US; however, only 14 states recommend regular universal blood screening. Several studies have reported on the use of predictive models to estimate lead exposure of individual children, albeit with limited success: lead exposure can vary greatly among individuals, individual data is not easily accessible, and models trained in one location do not always perform well in another. We report on a novel approach that uses machine learning to accurately predict elevated Blood Lead Levels (BLLs) in large groups of children, using aggregated data. To that end, we used publicly available zip code and city/town BLL data from the states of New York (n = 1642, excluding New York City) and Massachusetts (n = 352), respectively. Five machine learning models were used to predict childhood lead exposure by using socioeconomic, housing, and water quality predictive features. The best-performing model was a Random Forest, with a 10-fold cross validation ROC AUC score of 0.91 and 0.85 for the Massachusetts and New York datasets, respectively. The model was then tested with New York City data and the results compared to measured BLLs at a borough level. The model yielded predictions in excellent agreement with measured data: at a city level it predicted elevated BLL rates of 1.72% for the children in New York City, which is close to the measured value of 1.73%. Predictive models, such as the one presented here, have the potential to help identify geographical hotspots with significantly large occurrence of elevated lead blood levels in children so that limited resources may be deployed to those who are most at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- G P Lobo
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, United States.
| | - B Kalyan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, United States
| | - A J Gadgil
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, United States
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Lead (Pb) and neurodevelopment: A review on exposure and biomarkers of effect (BDNF, HDL) and susceptibility. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2021; 238:113855. [PMID: 34655857 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant and a potent toxic compound. Humans are exposed to Pb through inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact via food, water, tobacco smoke, air, dust, and soil. Pb accumulates in bones, brain, liver and kidney. Fetal exposure occurs via transplacental transmission. The most critical health effects are developmental neurotoxicity in infants and cardiovascular effects and nephrotoxicity in adults. Pb exposure has been steadily decreasing over the past decades, but there are few recent exposure data from the general European population; moreover, no safe Pb limit has been set. Sensitive biomarkers of exposure, effect and susceptibility, that reliably and timely indicate Pb-associated toxicity are required to assess human exposure-health relationships in a situation of low to moderate exposure. Therefore, a systematic literature review based on PubMed entries published before July 2019 that addressed Pb exposure and biomarkers of effect and susceptibility, neurodevelopmental toxicity, epigenetic modifications, and transcriptomics was conducted. Finally included were 58 original papers on Pb exposure and 17 studies on biomarkers. The biomarkers that are linked to Pb exposure and neurodevelopment were grouped into effect biomarkers (serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and serum/saliva cortisol), susceptibility markers (epigenetic markers and gene sequence variants) and other biomarkers (serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL), maternal iron (Fe) and calcium (Ca) status). Serum BDNF and plasma HDL are potential candidates to be further validated as effect markers for routine use in HBM studies of Pb, complemented by markers of Fe and Ca status to also address nutritional interactions related to neurodevelopmental disorders. For several markers, a causal relationship with Pb-induced neurodevelopmental toxicity is likely. Results on BDNF are discussed in relation to Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) 13 ("Chronic binding of antagonist to N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) during brain development induces impairment of learning and memory abilities") of the AOP-Wiki. Further studies are needed to validate sensitive, reliable, and timely effect biomarkers, especially for low to moderate Pb exposure scenarios.
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Human biomonitoring in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): A systematic review. SCIENTIFIC AFRICAN 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2021.e00906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Larose MP, Haeck C, Ouellet-Morin I, Barker ED, Côté SM. Childcare Attendance and Academic Achievement at Age 16 Years. JAMA Pediatr 2021; 175:939-946. [PMID: 34096990 PMCID: PMC8185627 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.1192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Low school preparedness is linked to high school dropout, poor employment, and negative outcomes. Childcare attendance may increase school readiness and foster academic achievement. OBJECTIVE To explore whether childcare attendance was associated with academic achievement at the end of compulsory schooling (age 16 years in the UK), whether maternal education level was a moderator, and the benefit-cost ratio of childcare regarding productivity returns of academic achievement. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In this cohort study, data were included from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) born from April 1991 to December 1992 and the UK National Pupil Database for examination results. Data on academic achievement at age 16 years were available for 11 843 participants. Data were collected from June 2006 to June 2008, and data were analyzed from September 2019 to May 2020. EXPOSURES On average, 3.7%, 5.9%, and 90.4% attended childcare full time, part time, and less than 10 hours per week, respectively. Maternal education was assessed by questionnaire during pregnancy. Analyses included weights for population representativeness and propensity score weights to account for parental selection into childcare. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Academic achievement was defined as no certificate, Level 1 General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE; limited training), or Level 2 GCSE (qualification for academic post-16 education; high school diploma equivalent). Lifetime productivity return estimates were withdrawn from previous economic analysis based on pupil's qualifications. RESULTS Of 14 541 children in the ALSPAC study, 8936 children had complete data on childcare attendance, academic achievement, and maternal education levels. Of these, 4499 (50.3%) were male. Attending childcare was associated with higher probabilities of obtaining a Level 1 or 2 GCSE qualification (Level 1: relative risk, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.16-1.73; Level 2: relative risk, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.30-2.01); however, this association was moderated by the child's maternal education level. When children of mothers with low education attended childcare, their probability of no GCSE qualification went from 28.9% (95% CI, 26.8-31.0) to 20.3% (95% CI, 18.0-22.8), whereas children of mothers with higher education had a probability of no qualification of less than 10% regardless of childcare attendance. The benefit-cost ratio for each £1 (US $1.40) invested in full-time childcare attendance for children of mothers with low education was £1.71 (95% CI, 1.03-2.45; US $2.39; 95% CI, 1.44-3.43) for those who reached a Level 2 GCSE qualification. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Promoting universal childcare with facilitated access for children of lower socioeconomic backgrounds deserves to be considered as a way to reduce the intergenerational transmission of low academic achievement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Pier Larose
- School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Catherine Haeck
- Department of Economics, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Isabelle Ouellet-Morin
- Department of Criminology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,Montreal Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Edward D. Barker
- Department of Psychology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sylvana M. Côté
- School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,University of Bordeaux, INSERM U1219, Bordeaux, France,Sainte-Justine’s Hospital Research Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Taylor CM, Golding J, Kordas K. Prenatal lead exposure: associations with growth and anthropometry in early childhood in a UK observational birth cohort study. Wellcome Open Res 2021. [DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16338.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Lead is a neurotoxic metal that crosses the placenta freely. It has adverse effects on a range of birth outcomes. The few studies reporting on the associations of prenatal exposure to lead and child growth have had conflicting results. This study aimed to examine the effect of prenatal exposure to lead on children’s growth from 4 to 61 months of age. Methods: Pregnant women were enrolled in the UK Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Whole blood samples for pregnancies with a live birth were analysed for lead (n=4140). A 10% subsample of the offspring cohort (Children in Focus) were invited to clinics at 10 time points (4–61 months) at which anthropometric measurements were carried out; z-scores for height, weight and BMI were calculated using the 1990 British Growth Reference Standards. Associations between prenatal log10-lead concentrations and z-scores and other anthropometric measures were modelled using adjusted linear regression models in an imputed dataset for children who attended at least one clinic (n=574). Results: The median prenatal blood lead concentration was 3.60 (IQR 2.61–4.16) µg/dl. There was no evidence for any associations of prenatal lead exposure with z-scores for BMI, height or weight in adjusted models from age 4 to 61 months. There were no associations for other anthropometric measures including mid-upper arm circumference, head circumference and waist circumference. There was some evidence for a weakly positive effect of prenatal lead exposure on head circumference in girls at age 43 and 61 months (at 61 months unstandardised B coefficient 1.59 (95% CI 0.12, 3.16) cm, p=0.048) but not at other ages. Conclusions: There was no consistent evidence of associations between prenatal exposure to lead and measures of growth and anthropometry from age 4 to 61 months in this cohort of children in the UK.
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Taylor CM, Golding J, Kordas K. Prenatal lead exposure: associations with growth and anthropometry in early childhood in a UK observational birth cohort study. Wellcome Open Res 2020. [DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16338.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Lead is a neurotoxic metal that crosses the placenta freely. It has adverse effects on a range of birth outcomes. The few studies reporting on the associations of prenatal exposure to lead and child growth have had conflicting results. This study aimed to examine the effect of low-level prenatal exposure to lead on children’s growth from 4 to 61 months old. Methods: Pregnant women were enrolled in the UK Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Whole blood samples for pregnancies with a live birth were analysed for lead (n=4140). A 10% subsample of the offspring cohort (Children in Focus) were invited to clinics at 10 time points (4–61 months) at which anthropometric measurements were carried out; z-scores for height, weight and BMI were calculated using the 1990 British Growth Reference Standards. Associations between prenatal log10-lead concentrations and z-scores and other anthropometric measures were modelled using adjusted linear regression models in an imputed dataset for children who attended at least one clinic (n=574). Results: The mean prenatal blood lead concentration was 3.59±1.50 (range 1.22–14.70) µg/dl. There was no evidence for any associations of low-level prenatal lead exposure with z-scores for BMI, height or weight in adjusted models from age 4 to 61 months. There were no associations for other anthropometric measures including mid-upper arm circumference, head circumference and waist circumference. There was some evidence for a weakly positive effect of prenatal lead exposure on head circumference in girls at age 43 and 61 months (at 61 months unstandardised B coefficient 1.59 (95% CI 0.12, 3.16) cm, p=0.048) but not at other ages. Conclusions: There was no consistent evidence of associations between prenatal exposure to lead and measures of growth and anthropometry from age 4 to 61 months in this cohort of children in the UK.
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Kabamba M, Tuakuila J. Toxic metal (Cd, Hg, Mn, Pb) partition in the maternal/foetal unit: A systematic mini - review of recent epidemiological studies. Toxicol Lett 2020; 332:20-26. [PMID: 32569801 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2020.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to summarise the available information regarding the partition of toxic metal (Cd, Hg, Mn, Pb) levels in the maternal/foetal unit from large epidemiological studies. We performed a systematic search of PubMed/MedLine, EMBASE, and ISI Web of Science for papers on Cd, total Hg, Mn or Pb levels in the maternal/cord blood that were published in English (n > = 200; 2010-2017). Data on year of publication, sample size, location, year of survey, and main results were extracted. We found a total of 35 papers. Most studies included large convenience samples of healthy pregnant women. The maternal/cord blood was properly used as a biomarker of prenatal exposure to toxic metals. The partition of these toxic metal levels in the maternal/foetal unit was metal-specific. Cd median levels (IQR) in cord blood reported worldwide were much lower [∼ 70 % < LOD = ± 0.11 μg/L] than those found in maternal blood [0.23 μg/L (0.15-0.35), ∼ 65 % > LOD]. Considering that Cd was under LOD in 70 % of the cord blood, Cd cord:maternal ratio as well as Cd cord proportion were not provided. Total Hg median levels (IQR) in cord blood [0.75 μg/L (0.40-1.19), ∼30 % < LOD = ±0.35 μg/L] were usually higher than in maternal blood [0.55 μg/L (0.40-0.85), ∼ 10 % < LOD = ±0.15 μg/L]. Hg cord:maternal ratio was 1.34 (1.00-1.91), and infants born would have Hg cord:(cord + maternal) proportion ranged from 0.50 to 0.63. Mn was the only metal that was detected in 100 % in both maternal (LOD : ±0.50 μg/L) and cord (LOD = ±0.2 μg/L) blood. Mn median levels (IQR) in cord blood [32.96 μg/L (26.90-40.10)] were 2 times higher than in maternal blood [14.01 μg/L (11.50-17.58)]. Mn cord:maternal ratio was 2.35 (1.09-3.80), and infants born would have Mn proportion ranged from 0.52 to 0.79. Pb median levels (IQR) in cord blood [5.79 μg/L (4.34-8.38), ∼ 5% < LOD : ±2.07 μg/L] were usually equal to or lower than those reported in maternal blood [8.07 μg/L (5.79-10.76), ∼ 1% < LOD = ±1.03 μg/L]. Pb cord:maternal ratio was 0.71 (0.59-0.96), and infants born would have Pb proportion ranged from 0.37 to 0.49. Globally, the results indicate that total Hg and Mn levels were lower in maternal blood but higher in cord blood. However, much greater variability was seen with Cd and Pb. At delivery, total Hg and Pb levels in maternal blood were strong predictors of cord blood levels. Our findings empty that understanding the partition, levels and correlations of toxic metals in the maternal/cord blood may help to elucidate the adverse effects of these metals on foetuses and neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kabamba
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - J Tuakuila
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
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Association between blood lead exposure and mental health in pregnant women: Results from the Japan environment and children's study. Neurotoxicology 2020; 79:191-199. [PMID: 32526257 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2020.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although environmental lead exposure has decreased, several studies have shown that low-level lead exposure can result in adverse psychological symptoms. However, few studies have examined lead neurotoxicity in pregnant women. We investigated the association between lead exposure and psychological symptoms in pregnant women, and between socio-economic status and blood lead levels. METHODS Blood lead levels were measured in 17,267 pregnant women in the Japan Environment and Children's Study. Odds ratios (ORs) for high blood lead levels were calculated using multinomial logistic regression. Psychological symptoms were assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). ORs for depression (K6 ≥ 13 or ≥5) were calculated using logistic regression with adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS The geometric mean of whole blood lead levels was 0.58 μg/dl (range 0.14-6.75 μg/dl). Higher blood lead levels were associated with older age (OR 1.79, 9 5% confidence interval [CI] 1.46-2.19), unmarried status (OR 1.75, 95 % CI 1.31-2.33), lower household income (OR 1.76, 95 % CI 1.38-2.24), and lower educational attainment (OR 1.34, 95 % CI 1.20-1.48). The percentage of women with K6 scores ≥13 and ≥5 was 3 % and 28.2 %, respectively. There was no significant association between lead exposure and K6 score (K6 ≥ 13: OR 1.00, 95 % CI 0.76-1.32; K6 ≥ 5: OR 0.98, 95 % CI 0.88-1.09). CONCLUSION Our results indicate a small but significant association between higher blood lead levels and lower socio-economic status in a population with low blood lead levels, but no association between low-level lead exposure and psychological symptoms.
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McElroy KG, Iobst SE, DeVance-Wilson C, Ludeman E, Barr E. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Nutrients on Blood Lead Levels in Pregnancy. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2020; 49:243-253. [PMID: 32259512 DOI: 10.1016/j.jogn.2020.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To synthesize experimental and nonexperimental research on the relationship between nutrients and blood lead levels in pregnant women. We also performed a meta-analysis on a subgroup of studies on calcium and blood lead levels. DATA SOURCES PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL databases were searched in July 2019. STUDY SELECTION We included articles published in English in any year that reported the results of experimental or observational studies on the effect of nutrients on blood lead levels in pregnancy. DATA EXTRACTION Three nurse reviewers extracted data and appraised the studies using tools from the Joanna Briggs Institute. DATA SYNTHESIS AND META-ANALYSIS We included 28 studies from 16 countries. Study authors examined 14 distinct nutrients, with calcium being the most frequent. The metaregression included nine analyses of the effect of calcium on blood lead levels and showed a small but significant inverse relationship. The quality of evidence for the effect of calcium on lead levels was high. Eleven analyses were related to the effect of iron on blood lead levels. The quality of evidence was high, and we found mostly negative associations between iron intake and blood lead levels. The quality of evidence for the remaining nutrients was moderate, with few significant findings. CONCLUSION Targeted nutritional interventions may be beneficial for pregnant women with current lead exposure or a history of elevated lead levels, particularly those with calcium- or iron-deficient diets. More rigorously designed studies are needed in this area.
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Taylor CM, Doerner R, Northstone K, Kordas K. Maternal Diet During Pregnancy and Blood Cadmium Concentrations in an Observational Cohort of British Women. Nutrients 2020; 12:nu12040904. [PMID: 32224907 PMCID: PMC7230298 DOI: 10.3390/nu12040904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Few studies have investigated the extent to which diet predicts body Cd concentrations among women of reproductive age, and pregnant women in particular. The aim of this study was to examine diet as a predictor of blood Cd concentrations in pregnant women participating in the UK Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Whole blood samples were analysed for Cd (median 0.26 (IQR 0.14–0.54) µg/L). Dietary pattern scores were derived from principal components analysis of data from a food frequency questionnaire. Associations between dietary pattern scores and foods/food groups with blood Cd ≥ median value were identified using adjusted logistic regression (n = 2169 complete cases). A health conscious dietary pattern was associated with a reduced likelihood of B-Cd ≥0.26 µg/l (OR 0.56 (95% CI 0.39–0.81)). There were similarly reduced likelihoods for all leafy green and green vegetables (0.72 (0.56–0.92) when consumed ≥4 times/week vs ≤1 to ≥3 times/week) and with all meats (0.66 (0.46–0.95) when consumed ≥4 times/week vs ≤ once in 2 weeks). Sensitivity analysis excluding smokers showed similar results. The evidence from this study provides continued support for a healthy and varied diet in pregnancy, incorporating foods from all food groups in accordance with national recommendations, without the need for specific guidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M. Taylor
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, 1–5 Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2NU, UK
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44(0)117-428-3099
| | - Rita Doerner
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK; (R.D.); (K.N.)
| | - Kate Northstone
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK; (R.D.); (K.N.)
| | - Katarzyna Kordas
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA;
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Regulation of Nrf2 and NF-κB during lead toxicity in bovine granulosa cells. Cell Tissue Res 2020; 380:643-655. [PMID: 32185525 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03177-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Lead (Pb), one of the pervasive and protracted environmental heavy metals, is believed to affect the female reproductive system in many species. The Nrf2 and NF-κB are the two key transcriptional factors regulating cellular redox status and response against stress and inflammation respectively, showing an interaction between each other. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Pb on bovine granulosa cells (GCs) and its association with the regulation of Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways. For this, bovine GCs were cultured in vitro and exposed to different doses of Pb for 2 h. Cellular response to Pb insult was investigated 24 h post treatment. Results showed that exposure of GCs to Pb-induced ROS accumulation and protein carbonylation. Additionally, GCs exhibited reduction in cell viability and decrease in the expression of cell proliferation marker genes (CCND2 and PCNA). This was accompanied by cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. Moreover, Pb downregulated both Nrf2 and NF-κB and their downstream genes. Lead increased the expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress marker genes (GRP78 and CHOP) and the proapoptotic gene (caspase-3) while the antiapoptotic gene (BCL-2) was reduced. Our findings suggest that Pb-driven oxidative stress affected GCs proliferation, enhances ER stress, induces cell cycle arrest and mediates apoptosis probably via disruption of Nrf2/NF-κB cross-talk. However, further functional analysis is required to explain different aspects of Nrf2 and NF-κB interactions under metal challenge.
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Gharehzadehshirazi A, Kadivar M, Shariat M, Shirazi M, Zarkesh MR, Ghanavati Najed M. Comparative analyses of umbilical cord lead concentration in term and IUGR complicated neonates. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019; 34:867-872. [PMID: 31096814 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2019.1620726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lead as a toxic heavy metal can readily transfer through the placenta; this condition may increase the risk of lead toxicity for a developing fetus. Therefore, we undertook this study to evaluate the association between umbilical cord blood lead levels and the risk of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) occurrence. METHODS A cross-sectional study was done at an academic hospital (Tehran, Iran, 2017). The population study was term and IUGR complicated neonates. Immediately after birth, 3-ml umbilical cord blood was collected in some tubes and sent to a laboratory to assay plasma lead levels. Demographic data related neonates and their mothers were gathered from the medical record. All recorded data were analyzed to compare the cord blood lead levels among normal term and IUGR neonates as the primary outcome. RESULTS Totally 152 neonates, 76 in each group with inclusion criteria entered the study. Of all neonates, 71 subjects (47%) were male. The mean (±SD) cord blood lead levels was 6.5 ± 4.2 µg/l. Of all neonates, 102 (67.1%) had high cord blood lead levels (≥5 µg/dl) and 50 subjects (32.8%) had low cord blood lead levels (<5 µg/dl). The mean gestational age, birth weight and head circumference of term neonates were significantly higher than IUGR complicated neonates (p-value = .0001). On the other hand, no significant difference was observed between two groups regarding the mean cord blood lead concentrations (6.2 ± 2.2 and 6.8 ± 5.6 µg/dl; p-value = .855). ANOVA analyses showed no relationships between cord blood lead levels and all assessed qualitative variables except from mother's educational status (in IUGR group; p-value = .048 and in term group; p-value = .010). CONCLUSION Our results highlighted that IUGR occurrence was not associated with fetal blood lead levels alone. Moreover, highly educated mothers had neonates with low blood lead levels, showing that maternal education may be a potentially protective factor against this toxin exposure in newborns. The majority of neonates in the present study had high blood lead concentrations that show a necessity for more efforts and strategies regarding protection against potential deleterious effects of lead toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maliheh Kadivar
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mamak Shariat
- Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahboobeh Shirazi
- Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Zarkesh
- Department of Neonatology, Yas Women Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Caspersen IH, Thomsen C, Haug LS, Knutsen HK, Brantsæter AL, Papadopoulou E, Erlund I, Lundh T, Alexander J, Meltzer HM. Patterns and dietary determinants of essential and toxic elements in blood measured in mid-pregnancy: The Norwegian Environmental Biobank. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 671:299-308. [PMID: 30928759 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inadequate stores or intakes of essential minerals in pregnancy, or too high exposure to both toxic and essential elements, can have adverse effects on mother and child. The main aims of this study were to 1) describe the concentrations and patterns of essential and toxic elements measured in maternal whole blood during pregnancy; 2) identify dietary, lifestyle and sociodemographic determinants of element status; and 3) explore the impact of iron deficiency on blood element concentrations. METHODS This study is based on blood samples collected from 2982 women in gestational week 18 in The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort study (MoBa) which were analyzed as part of the Norwegian Environmental Biobank. We derived blood element patterns by exploratory factor analysis, and associations between blood element patterns and diet were explored using sparse partial least squares (sPLS) regression. RESULTS Blood concentrations were determined for the essential elements (in the order of most abundant) Zn > Cu > Se > Mn > Mo > Co, and the toxic metals Pb > As > Hg > Cd > Tl. The concentrations were in ranges that were similar to or sometimes more favorable than in other pregnant and non-pregnant European women. We identified two blood element patterns; one including Zn, Se and Mn and another including Hg and As. For the Zn-Se-Mn pattern, use of multimineral supplements was the most important dietary determinant, while a high score in the Hg-As pattern was mainly determined by seafood consumption. Concentrations of Mn, Cd and Co were significantly higher in women with iron deficiency (plasma ferritin < 12 μg/L) than in women with plasma ferritin ≥ 12 μg/L. CONCLUSION Our study illustrates complex relationships and coexistence of essential and toxic elements. Their potential interplay adds to the challenges of studies investigating health effects related to either diet or toxicants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ida Henriette Caspersen
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Cathrine Thomsen
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Line Småstuen Haug
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Helle K Knutsen
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anne Lise Brantsæter
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eleni Papadopoulou
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Iris Erlund
- Genomics and Biomarkers Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Thomas Lundh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Institution of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jan Alexander
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Helle Margrete Meltzer
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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Taylor CM, Doerner R, Northstone K, Kordas K. Dietary Patterns Are Not Consistently Associated with Variability in Blood Lead Concentrations in Pregnant British Women. J Nutr 2019; 149:1027-1036. [PMID: 31149708 PMCID: PMC6543203 DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxz023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During pregnancy lead crosses the placenta freely and can have adverse effects on the fetus, with the potential for lifelong impact on the child. Identification of dietary patterns and food groups in relation to measures of lead status could provide a more useful alternative to nutrient-specific advice to minimize fetal lead exposure. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate whether dietary patterns and food groups are associated with blood lead concentration (B-Pb) in pregnancy. DESIGN Whole blood samples were collected at a median of 11 wk gestation (IQR 9-13 wk) from women enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children birth cohort study, and analyzed for lead. Dietary pattern scores were derived from principal components analysis of a food-frequency questionnaire (32 wk gestation). Associations of dietary pattern scores (quartiles), and of food groups (frequency of consumption), with the likelihood of B-Pb ≥5 µg/dL identified with adjusted logistic regression (n = 2167 complete cases). RESULTS There was a negative association between the "confectionery" dietary pattern and the likelihood of B-Pb ≥5 µg/dL (OR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.94) in an adjusted model. There were no associations with other dietary patterns. There was a positive association between the food group "all leafy green and green vegetables" and the likelihood of B-Pb ≥5 µg/dL (OR 1.45; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.01). Conversely, the food group "cakes and biscuits" was negatively associated (OR 0.63; 95% CI: 0.43, 0.93). After multiple imputation, there was a positive association of the "healthy" diet pattern and no association of the "confectionery" pattern. CONCLUSIONS We found limited evidence of an association between women's typical diet and B-Pb during pregnancy. Our findings do not indicate need to revise dietary guidance for pregnant women, who are advised to adopt a healthy diet in pregnancy, with a variety of foods consumed in moderation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M Taylor
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Rita Doerner
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK
| | | | - Katarzyna Kordas
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
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Kim S, Xu X, Zhang Y, Zheng X, Liu R, Dietrich K, Reponen T, Ho SM, Xie C, Sucharew H, Huo X, Chen A. Metal concentrations in pregnant women and neonates from informal electronic waste recycling. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2019; 29:406-415. [PMID: 30111780 PMCID: PMC6377357 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-018-0054-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Revised: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Electronic waste (e-waste) is the fastest growing solid waste stream worldwide and mostly ends up in developing countries where residents use primitive methods for recycling. The most infamous e-waste recycling town, Guiyu in Southeast China, has been recycling since the mid-1990s. E-waste contains several harmful chemicals, including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and manganese (Mn). In 2011-12, the e-waste Recycling Exposures and Community Health (e-REACH) Study enrolled 634 pregnant women living in Guiyu and Haojiang, a control site, both in Shantou, China. The women completed a questionnaire and gave maternal blood, cord blood, and maternal urine, which were analyzed for Pb, Cd, Cr, and Mn. Maternal blood Pb, Cd, and Cr concentrations were significantly higher in Guiyu compared to Haojiang. In Guiyu, the geometric mean of Pb concentration in maternal blood was 6.66 µg/dL (range: 1.87-27.09 µg/dL) and was 1.74-fold greater than in Haojiang (95% CI: 1.60, 1.89). In cord blood, Pb concentration was 1.53-fold higher in Guiyu (95% CI: 1.38, 1.68). In maternal urine, Cd (ratio: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.72, 2.69) and Mn (ratio: 2.60, 95% CI: 2.04, 3.31) concentrations were significantly higher in Guiyu in comparison to Haojiang. In conclusion, pregnant women in Guiyu were at risk for increased exposure to heavy metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephani Kim
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Xijin Xu
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease and Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Yuling Zhang
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease and Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Xiangbin Zheng
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease and Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Rongju Liu
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease and Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Kim Dietrich
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Tiina Reponen
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Shuk-Mei Ho
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Changchun Xie
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Heidi Sucharew
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Xia Huo
- School of Environment, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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Bede-Ojimadu O, Amadi CN, Orisakwe OE. Blood Lead Levels in Women of Child-Bearing Age in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review. Front Public Health 2018; 6:367. [PMID: 30619808 PMCID: PMC6305709 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2018.00367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper reported available studies on blood lead level of childbearing age in Sub-Saharan African women. PubMed and Google scholar databases were searched for original articles reporting blood lead levels of women of childbearing age in Sub-Saharan Africa. Searches were not limited to year of study but limited to studies published in English Language. Data were extracted and synthesized by estimating the weighted mean of the reported blood lead levels. Fifteen papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Mean blood lead levels of women in the studies ranged from 0.83 to 99 μg/dl. The overall weighted mean of blood lead levels was 24.73 μg/dl. The weighted mean from analyses of data on blood lead levels of pregnant women alone was 26.24 μg/dl. Identified sources of lead exposure included lead mine, informal lead-acid battery recycling, leaded gasoline and piped water. Elevated BLLs were associated with incidence of preeclampsia, hypertension, and malaria. Important contributing factors for elevated blood lead levels (BLL) in these women include poverty, high environmental lead burden, low awareness on lead exposure hazards and lack of regulation for lead in consumer products. BLLs of women of childbearing age in SSA are unacceptably high. There is need therefore, for aggressive programs to address lead exposure in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onyinyechi Bede-Ojimadu
- Department of Chemical pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
| | - Cecilia Nwadiuto Amadi
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Port-Harcourt, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria
| | - Orish Ebere Orisakwe
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Port-Harcourt, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria
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Taylor CM, Emond AM, Lingam R, Golding J. Prenatal lead, cadmium and mercury exposure and associations with motor skills at age 7 years in a UK observational birth cohort. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 117:40-47. [PMID: 29723752 PMCID: PMC6024074 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lead and mercury are freely transferred across the placenta, while cadmium tends to accumulate in the placenta. Each contributes to adverse neurological outcomes for the child. Although prenatal heavy metal exposure has been linked with an array of neurodevelopmental outcomes in childhood, its association with the development of motor skills in children has not been robustly studied. AIMS/OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between prenatal exposure to lead, cadmium and mercury, measured as maternal blood concentrations during pregnancy, and motor skills, measured as subtests of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (Movement ABC) at age 7 years in a large sample of mother-child pairs enrolled in a UK observational birth cohort study (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, ALSPAC). METHODS Whole blood samples from pregnant women enrolled in ALSPAC were analysed for lead, cadmium and mercury. In a complete case analysis (n = 1558), associations between prenatal blood concentrations and child motor skills assessed by Movement ABC subtests of manual dexterity, ball skills and balance at 7 years were examined in adjusted regression models. Associations with probable developmental coordination disorder (DCD) were also investigated. RESULTS The mean prenatal blood levels were: lead 3.66 ± 1.55 μg/dl; cadmium 0.45 ± 0.54 μg/l; mercury 2.23 ± 1.14 μg/l. There was no evidence for any adverse associations of prenatal lead, cadmium or mercury exposure with motor skills measured at age 7 years with Movement ABC subtests in adjusted regression models. Further, there were no associations with probable DCD. CONCLUSIONS There was no evidence to support a role of prenatal exposure to heavy metals at these levels on motor skills in the child at age 7 years measured using the Movement ABC. Early identification of symptoms of motor skills impairment is important, however, to enable investigation, assessment and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M Taylor
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK.
| | - Alan M Emond
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Raghu Lingam
- School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jean Golding
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK
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Adamou TY, Riva M, Muckle G, Laouan-Sidi EA, Ayotte P. Socio-economic inequalities in blood mercury (Hg) and serum polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations among pregnant Inuit women from Nunavik, Canada. Canadian Journal of Public Health 2018; 109:671-683. [PMID: 30030682 DOI: 10.17269/s41997-018-0077-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We examined the relationships between socio-economic characteristics and mercury (Hg) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations among pregnant Inuit women from Nunavik. METHOD We used biomonitoring data from 208 pregnant Inuit women recruited in the 14 villages of Nunavik between September 2011 and December 2013. Blood samples were collected to monitor levels of blood Hg and serum congener PCB-153 (surrogate of total PCB concentration). Ratio of omega 3/omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, a validated biomarker of marine country food consumption, was also measured in red blood cell membranes to determine maternal dietary profile. Data on socio-economic characteristics (income and education), health-related lifestyles, and reproductive history were collected through questionnaires. Association between socio-economic characteristics and contaminant concentrations was assessed using linear regressions. RESULTS We observed a significant inverse relationship between education and Hg levels. Lower concentrations of Hg were observed among women who had completed high school compared to women who had not completed high school. However, no association was observed between level of education and concentration of PCBs. CONCLUSION Socio-economic disparities in maternal exposure to Hg exist in Nunavik. Further research is needed to determine whether environmental health inequalities also exist in other subgroups of the Nunavik population and in other Indigenous communities in Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thérèse Yéro Adamou
- Population Health and Practice-changing Research Group, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Hôpital Saint-Sacrement, 1050 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, Qc, G1S 4L8, Canada. .,Faculty of Nursing, Université Laval, Pavillon Ferdinand Vandry, 1050 avenue de la médecine, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Mylène Riva
- Department of Geography, McGill University, Burnside Hall Building, 805 Sherbrooke street west, Montreal, QC, H3A 0B9, Canada.,Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University, Avenue des pins, Montréal, QC, H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- Population Health and Practice-changing Research Group, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Hôpital Saint-Sacrement, 1050 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, Qc, G1S 4L8, Canada.,School of Psychology, Université Laval, Pavillon Félix-Antoine-Savard, 2325 rue des Bibliothèques, Québec, Qc, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Elhadji Anassour Laouan-Sidi
- Population Health and Practice-changing Research Group, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Hôpital Saint-Sacrement, 1050 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, Qc, G1S 4L8, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Population Health and Practice-changing Research Group, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Hôpital Saint-Sacrement, 1050 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, Qc, G1S 4L8, Canada.,Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, 945 avenue Wolfe, Québec, Qc, G1V 5B3, Canada
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Yan J, Gao Z, Wang J, Ma W, Ying X, Zhou C, Yan C. Family environmental and dietary implications for low-level prenatal lead exposure in Wujiang City, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:12780-12787. [PMID: 29473138 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-1102-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
To explore the potential environmental and dietary factors during pregnancy affecting low-level prenatal lead exposure, we conducted a longitudinal study in Wujiang City, China. A total of 1976 mother-infant pairs were included from 2009 to 2010. An interviewed questionnaire was conducted and cord blood samples were collected. The geometric means of cord blood lead level was 30.3 μg/L (95% CI, 29.8-30.8) with 99.24% below 100 μg/L. Maternal age, passive smoking, and living in the countryside were significantly associated with cord blood lead concentrations. Multiple logistic models showed that some family environmental factors including using firewood and electricity as kitchen fuel were positively correlated with increased cord blood lead levels. Among dietary sources recorded in this study, meat consumption (> 3 times/week), fish consumption (1-3 times/week), vegetables consumption (> 1 times/day), and fruit intake (> 1 times/day) had inverse relationship with cord blood lead levels. In general, our findings may have important implications for family environmental and dietary direction during pregnancy to decrease prenatal lead exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Yan
- MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Zhenyan Gao
- MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Ju Wang
- MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Wenjuan Ma
- MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xiaolan Ying
- MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Cancan Zhou
- MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Chonghuai Yan
- MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University of Medicine, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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Golding J, Rai D, Gregory S, Ellis G, Emond A, Iles-Caven Y, Hibbeln J, Taylor C. Prenatal mercury exposure and features of autism: a prospective population study. Mol Autism 2018; 9:30. [PMID: 29713443 PMCID: PMC5914043 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-018-0215-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mercury (Hg) has been suspected of causing autism in the past, especially a suspected link with vaccinations containing thiomersal, but a review of the literature shows that has been largely repudiated. Of more significant burden is the total quantity of Hg in the environment. Here, we have used the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) to test whether prenatal exposure from total maternal blood Hg in the first half of pregnancy is associated with the risk of autism or of extreme levels of autistic traits. This is the largest longitudinal study to date to have tested this hypothesis and the only one to have considered early pregnancy. Methods We have used three strategies: (1) direct comparison of 45 pregnancies resulting in children with diagnosed autism from a population of 3840, (2) comparison of high scores on each of the four autistic traits within the population at risk (n~2800), and (3) indirect measures of association of these outcomes with proxies for increased Hg levels such as frequency of fish consumption and exposure to dental amalgam (n > 8000). Logistic regression adjusted for social conditions including maternal age, housing circumstances, maternal education, and parity. Interactions were tested between risks to offspring of fish and non-fish eaters. Results There was no suggestion of an adverse effect of total prenatal blood Hg levels on diagnosed autism (AOR 0.89; 95% CI 0.65, 1.22) per SD of Hg (P = 0.485). The only indication of adverse effects concerned a measure of poor social cognition when the mother ate no fish, where the AOR was 1.63 [95% CI 1.02, 2.62] per SD of Hg (P = 0.041), significantly different from the association among the offspring of fish-eaters (AOR = 0.74 [95% CI 0.41, 1.35]). Conclusion In conclusion, our study identifies no adverse effect of prenatal total blood Hg on autism or autistic traits provided the mother ate fish. Although these results should be confirmed in other populations, accumulating evidence substantiates the recommendation to eat fish during pregnancy. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13229-018-0215-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Golding
- 1Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN UK
| | - Dheeraj Rai
- 2Centre for Academic Mental Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN UK
| | - Steven Gregory
- 1Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN UK
| | - Genette Ellis
- 1Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN UK
| | - Alan Emond
- 1Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN UK
| | - Yasmin Iles-Caven
- 1Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN UK
| | - Joseph Hibbeln
- 3Section on Nutritional Neurosciences, LMBB, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, 31 Center Drive 1B/58, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | - Caroline Taylor
- 1Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN UK
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Taylor CM, Kordas K, Golding J, Emond AM. WITHDRAWN: Data relating to prenatal lead exposure and child IQ at 4 and 8 years old in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Data Brief 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2017.08.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Data relating to prenatal lead exposure and child IQ at 4 and 8 years old in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Neurotoxicology 2017; 62:224-230. [PMID: 28765090 PMCID: PMC5630198 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2017.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
As part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), measures of child IQ were collected by trained psychologists. The Wechsler Pre-school and Primary Scale of Intelligence – Revised UK edition (WPPSI) was used at age 4 years in a subsample of children enrolled in ALSPAC (the Children in Focus cohort), chosen at random from the last 6 months of ALSPAC births (about 10% of the participants). At age 8 years all children enrolled in the main cohort were invited to complete a short form of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC)-III UK. Prenatal blood lead (B-Pb) concentrations were measured by inductively-couple plasma mass spectrometry in samples from women at a median gestation age of 11 weeks. Child blood lead was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry in samples from children attending the Children in Focus clinic at age 30 months. Maternal reports at 32 weeks’ gestation were used to generate data on a range of potential confounders. The data were used to determine the associations between prenatal exposure to lead and child IQ at 4 and 8 years. The effect of child B-Pb at 3 years as a moderator of these associations was tested. (For results, please see doi:10.1016/j.neuro.2017.07.003 Taylor et al., (2017)).
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Golding J, Hibbeln JR, Gregory SM, Iles-Caven Y, Emond A, Taylor CM. Maternal prenatal blood mercury is not adversely associated with offspring IQ at 8 years provided the mother eats fish: A British prebirth cohort study. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2017; 220:1161-1167. [PMID: 28754500 PMCID: PMC5584731 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Revised: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Conflicting evidence concerning possible harm from mercury (Hg) in regard to offspring cognition if the woman eats fish has prompted this study to examine evidence from a British pre-birth cohort to investigate the relationship between the two. Methods Pregnant women (median prenatal blood mercury 1.86 μg/L) resident in the study area with delivery between April 1991 and December 1992 were followed up and verbal, performance and total intelligence quotient (IQ) of 2062 offspring were measured at age 8. Analysis treated IQ as (a) continuous and (b) the lowest 25% of the distribution. Multiple and logistic regression analyses took account of social and demographic variables. Stratification considered children of fish eaters separately. Results Before adjustment, mean full-scale IQ increased with increasing Hg (change with 1SD of Hg = +2.02; 95%CI +1.40,+2.64 IQ points; P < 0.0001); after adjustment effect size was reduced although still positive (+0.61;95%CI -0.06,+1.29 IQ points; P = 0.073). The adjusted positive relationship was stronger when fish-eating mothers were considered separately (+0.84:95%CI +0.13,+1.56 IQ points; P = 0.021) in comparison with the outcomes for non-fish eaters, where the adjusted relationship was negative (-2.22;95%CI -5.00,+0.56 IQ points; P = 0.117). The binary outcome showed a similar pattern with the adjusted OR for non-fish-eaters 1.79 (95%CI 1.10,2.93; P = 0.019) per SD of Hg, significantly different from that for fish consumers (0.94;95%CI:0.82,1.08)(Pinteraction<0.05). There were no differences between the sexes in the associations, nor did the level of the mother’s blood selenium change the effect sizes. Conclusion The relationship between intrauterine exposure to mercury and offspring IQ appears to be benign provided the mother consumes fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Golding
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK.
| | - Joseph R Hibbeln
- Section on Nutritional Neurosciences, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health,5625 Fishers Lane, Rm 3N-07, MSC 9410 Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Steven M Gregory
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK.
| | - Yasmin Iles-Caven
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK.
| | - Alan Emond
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK.
| | - Caroline M Taylor
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK.
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Taylor CM, Kordas K, Golding J, Emond AM. Effects of low-level prenatal lead exposure on child IQ at 4 and 8 years in a UK birth cohort study. Neurotoxicology 2017; 62:162-169. [PMID: 28687448 PMCID: PMC5630203 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2017.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Revised: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The association between prenatal exposure to lead and deficits in offspring cognitive function is not well established. Our aim was to evaluate the association between prenatal lead exposure and child IQ at age 4 and 8 years in an observational birth cohort study. There was no association of prenatal lead exposure with child IQ at either 4 or 8 years old. There was a suggestion, however, that boys are more susceptible than girls to prenatal exposure to lead.
Background The association between childhood exposure to lead (Pb) and deficits in cognitive function is well established. The association with prenatal exposure, however, is not well understood, even though the potential adverse effects are equally important. Objectives To evaluate the association between low prenatal exposure to lead and IQ in children, to determine whether there were sex differences in the associations, and to evaluate the moderation effect of prenatal Pb exposure on child IQ. Methods Whole blood samples from pregnant women enrolled in ALSPAC (n = 4285) and from offspring at age 30 months (n = 235) were analysed for Pb. Associations between prenatal blood lead concentrations (B-Pb) and child IQ at age 4 and 8 years (WPPSI and WISC-III, respectively) were examined in adjusted regression models. Results There was no association of prenatal lead exposure with child IQ at 4 or 8 years old in adjusted regression models, and no moderation of the association between child B-Pb and IQ. However, there was a positive association for IQ at age 8 years in girls with a predicted increase in IQ (points) per 1 μg/dl of: verbal 0.71, performance 0.57, total 0.73. In boys, the coefficients tended to be negative (−0.15, −0.42 and −0.29 points, respectively). Conclusion Prenatal lead exposure was not associated with adverse effects on child IQ at age 4 or 8 years in this study. There was, however, some evidence to suggest that boys are more susceptible than girls to prenatal exposure to lead. Further investigation in other cohorts is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M Taylor
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK.
| | - Katarzyna Kordas
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jean Golding
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Alan M Emond
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK
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Wang X, Ding N, Tucker KL, Weisskopf MG, Sparrow D, Hu H, Park SK. A Western Diet Pattern Is Associated with Higher Concentrations of Blood and Bone Lead among Middle-Aged and Elderly Men. J Nutr 2017; 147:1374-1383. [PMID: 28592514 PMCID: PMC5483966 DOI: 10.3945/jn.117.249060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Revised: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Little is known about the effects of overall dietary pattern on lead concentration.Objective: We examined the association of overall dietary patterns, derived from a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire, with bone and blood lead concentrations.Methods: These longitudinal analyses included mostly non-Hispanic white, middle-aged-to-elderly men from the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study. Long-term lead exposures were measured as tibia and patella lead concentrations by using K-shell-X-ray fluorescence. Short-term lead exposures were measured as blood lead concentrations by using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy. Dietary pattern scores were derived by using factor analysis. Linear mixed-effects models were utilized to predict blood lead concentrations among 983 men, aged 44-92 y at baseline, with a total of 3273 observations (during 1987-2008). We constructed linear regression models to determine the relations between dietary patterns and bone lead concentrations among 649 participants with an age range of 49-93 y.Results: Two major dietary patterns were identified: a prudent dietary pattern, characterized by high intakes of fruit, legumes, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, and seafood; and a Western dietary pattern, characterized by high intakes of processed meat, red meat, refined grains, high-fat dairy products, French fries, butter, and eggs. After adjusting for age, smoking status, body mass index, total energy intake, education, occupation, neighborhood-based education and income level, men in the highest tertile of the Western pattern score (compared with the lowest) had 0.91 μg/dL (95% CI: 0.41, 1.42 μg/dL) higher blood lead, 5.96 μg/g (95% CI: 1.76, 10.16 μg/g) higher patella lead, and 3.83 μg/g (95% CI: 0.97, 6.70 μg/g) higher tibia lead. No significant association was detected with the prudent dietary pattern in the adjusted model.Conclusions: These findings suggest that the Western diet is associated with a greater lead body burden among the middle-aged-to-elderly men. More studies are needed to examine the underlying mechanisms by which dietary patterns are associated with lead concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Katherine L Tucker
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Nutritional Sciences, University of Massachusetts at Lowell, Lowell, MA
| | - Marc G Weisskopf
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - David Sparrow
- Normative Aging Study, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA; and
| | - Howard Hu
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
| | - Sung Kyun Park
- Departments of Epidemiology and
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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La-Llave-León O, Salas Pacheco JM, Estrada Martínez S, Esquivel Rodríguez E, Castellanos Juárez FX, Sandoval Carrillo A, Lechuga Quiñones AM, Vázquez Alanís F, García Vargas G, Méndez Hernández EM, Duarte Sustaita J. The relationship between blood lead levels and occupational exposure in a pregnant population. BMC Public Health 2016; 16:1231. [PMID: 27927239 PMCID: PMC5142354 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3902-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pregnant women exposed to lead are at risk of suffering reproductive damages, such as miscarriage, preeclampsia, premature delivery and low birth weight. Despite that the workplace offers the greatest potential for lead exposure, there is relatively little information about occupational exposure to lead during pregnancy. This study aims to assess the association between blood lead levels and occupational exposure in pregnant women from Durango, Mexico. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in a population of 299 pregnant women. Blood lead was measured in 31 women who worked in jobs where lead is used (exposed group) and 268 who did not work in those places (control group). Chi-square test was applied to compare exposed and control groups with regard to blood lead levels. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Multivariable regression analysis was applied to determine significant predictors of blood lead concentrations in the exposed group. Results Exposed women had higher blood lead levels than those in the control group (4.00 ± 4.08 μg/dL vs 2.65 ± 1.75 μg/dL, p = 0.002). Furthermore, women in the exposed group had 3.82 times higher probability of having blood lead levels ≥ 5 μg/dL than those in the control group. Wearing of special workwear, changing clothes after work, living near a painting store, printing office, junkyard or rubbish dump, and washing the workwear together with other clothes resulted as significant predictors of elevated blood lead levels in the exposed group. Conclusions Pregnant working women may be at risk of lead poisoning because of occupational and environmental exposure. The risk increases if they do not improve the use of protective equipment and their personal hygiene. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3902-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osmel La-Llave-León
- Instituto de Investigación Científica, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Avenida Universidad esq. con Volantín, Zona Centro, C.P. 34000, Durango, DGO, Mexico.
| | - José Manuel Salas Pacheco
- Instituto de Investigación Científica, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Avenida Universidad esq. con Volantín, Zona Centro, C.P. 34000, Durango, DGO, Mexico
| | - Sergio Estrada Martínez
- Instituto de Investigación Científica, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Avenida Universidad esq. con Volantín, Zona Centro, C.P. 34000, Durango, DGO, Mexico
| | - Eloísa Esquivel Rodríguez
- Facultad de Enfermería y Obstetricia, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Ave. Cuauhtémoc, 223 norte, CP 34 000, Durango, Mexico
| | - Francisco X Castellanos Juárez
- Instituto de Investigación Científica, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Avenida Universidad esq. con Volantín, Zona Centro, C.P. 34000, Durango, DGO, Mexico
| | - Ada Sandoval Carrillo
- Instituto de Investigación Científica, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Avenida Universidad esq. con Volantín, Zona Centro, C.P. 34000, Durango, DGO, Mexico
| | - Angélica María Lechuga Quiñones
- Instituto de Investigación Científica, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Avenida Universidad esq. con Volantín, Zona Centro, C.P. 34000, Durango, DGO, Mexico
| | | | - Gonzalo García Vargas
- Facultad de Medicina de Gómez Palacio, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, La Salle 1 y Sixto Ugalde, S/N. Col. Revolución, CP. 35050, Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
| | - Edna Madai Méndez Hernández
- Instituto de Investigación Científica, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Avenida Universidad esq. con Volantín, Zona Centro, C.P. 34000, Durango, DGO, Mexico
| | - Jaime Duarte Sustaita
- Facultad de Medicina de Gómez Palacio, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, La Salle 1 y Sixto Ugalde, S/N. Col. Revolución, CP. 35050, Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
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Golding J, Gregory S, Emond A, Iles-Caven Y, Hibbeln J, Taylor CM. Prenatal mercury exposure and offspring behaviour in childhood and adolescence. Neurotoxicology 2016; 57:87-94. [PMID: 27633321 PMCID: PMC5138154 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2016.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Revised: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is considerable discussion over the possible harm caused by fetal exposure to mercury, but evidence of such harm is contradictory at levels commonly found in populations with moderate intakes of fish. Further information is needed to inform debate and clarify policy recommendations. MATERIAL Data were collected prospectively for the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Whole blood taken in the first half of pregnancy was assayed for mercury. The outcomes were offspring behavioural assessments collected using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire at seven time points between ages 4 and 16-17 years; five were completed by the mother and two by the teacher. Socioeconomic and biological confounders were first taken into account; further analyses added maternal blood selenium. Separate analyses compared the relationships between prenatal mercury levels and behaviour traits treated as continuous measures in women who ate fish with those who ate no fish in order to determine whether the relationships differed; the hypothesis was that fish consumption had benefits on the brain and masked any mercury effects. In order to prevent Type II errors, the P value for significance was set at 0.10. RESULTS Prenatal mercury measurements and offspring behaviour results were available for between 2776 (at 47 months) to 1599 mother-child pairs (at 16-17 years). Even given a P value of 0.10, the number of significant results was no greater than expected apart from the relationships with peer problems at 4, 6 and 10-11 years where the relationships with prenatal mercury were negative (i.e. the greater the level of mercury the fewer the problems the child had with his/her peers). There were no significant differences between the associations with mercury found among the offspring of women who ate fish in pregnancy and those who did not, nor did adjustment for selenium make a difference. CONCLUSIONS There were no adverse effects of maternal prenatal mercury levels on the behaviour of the offspring. A similar lack of relationship was found when the analyses were confined to those offspring whose mothers had eaten fish in pregnancy, and no consistent differences were found between the fish and non-fish eaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Golding
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, University of Bristol, UK.
| | - Steven Gregory
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Alan Emond
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, University of Bristol, UK
| | | | - Joseph Hibbeln
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, USA
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Arbuckle TE, Liang CL, Morisset AS, Fisher M, Weiler H, Cirtiu CM, Legrand M, Davis K, Ettinger AS, Fraser WD. Maternal and fetal exposure to cadmium, lead, manganese and mercury: The MIREC study. CHEMOSPHERE 2016; 163:270-282. [PMID: 27540762 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Revised: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/03/2016] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Given the susceptibility of the fetus to toxicants, it is important to estimate their exposure. Approximately 2000 pregnant women were recruited in 2008-2011 from 10 cities across Canada. Cd, Pb, Mn and total Hg were measured in maternal blood from the 1st and 3rd trimesters, umbilical cord blood, and infant meconium. Nutrient intakes of vitamin D, iron, and calcium (Ca) were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire and a dietary supplement questionnaire. Median concentrations in 1st trimester maternal blood (n = 1938) were 0.20, 8.79 and 0.70 μg/L for Cd, Mn and Hg, respectively, and 0.60 μg/dL for Pb. While the median difference between the paired 1st and 3rd trimester concentrations of Cd was 0, there was a significant decrease in Pb (0.04 μg/dL) and Hg (0.12 μg/L) and an increase in Mn (3.30 μg/L) concentrations over the course of the pregnancy. While Cd was rarely detected in cord blood (19%) or meconium (3%), median Pb (0.77 μg/dL), Mn (31.87 μg/L) and Hg (0.80 μg/L) concentrations in cord blood were significantly higher than in maternal blood. Significant negative associations were observed between estimated Ca intake and maternal Cd, Pb, Mn and Hg, as well as cord blood Pb. Vitamin D intake was associated with lower maternal Cd, Pb, and Mn as well as Pb in cord blood. Even at current metal exposure levels, increasing dietary Ca and vitamin D intake during pregnancy may be associated with lower maternal blood Pb and Cd concentrations and lower Pb in cord blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tye E Arbuckle
- Population Studies Division, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Chun Lei Liang
- Population Studies Division, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Anne-Sophie Morisset
- Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier universitaire de sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada; Sainte Justine University Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mandy Fisher
- Population Studies Division, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Hope Weiler
- School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ciprian Mihai Cirtiu
- Centre de toxicologie du Québec, Institut national de santé publique Québec, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Melissa Legrand
- Chemicals Surveillance Division, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Karelyn Davis
- Population Studies Division, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Adrienne S Ettinger
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - William D Fraser
- Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier universitaire de sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada; Sainte Justine University Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Taylor CM, Golding J, Emond AM. Moderate Prenatal Cadmium Exposure and Adverse Birth Outcomes: a Role for Sex-Specific Differences? Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2016; 30:603-611. [PMID: 27778365 PMCID: PMC5111596 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Studies on the effects of moderate prenatal exposure to cadmium (Cd) on birth outcomes have been contradictory and it has been suggested that effects may be partly masked by sex-specific effects. Our aim was to examine the association of Cd exposure in a large group of pregnant women with birth outcomes in the whole group of participants and by sex. METHODS Pregnant women were enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Whole blood samples for singleton pregnancies with a live birth were analysed for Cd (n = 4191). Data collected on the infants included anthropometric variables and gestational age at delivery. Data were analysed using SPSS v18. RESULTS There were adverse associations of maternal blood Cd level with birthweight (unstandardized B coefficient -62.7 g, 95% CI -107.0, -18.4) and crown-heel length (-0.28 cm, 95% CI -0.48, -0.07) in adjusted regression models. On stratification by sex, maternal blood Cd level was adversely associated with birthweight (-87.1 g, 95% CI -144.8, -29.4), head circumference (-0.22 cm, 95% CI -0.39, -0.04), and crown-heel length (-0.44 cm, 95% CI -0.71, -0.18) in girls but not in boys in adjusted regression models. CONCLUSION In these pregnant women with moderate prenatal Cd exposure there evidence of adverse associations with birth anthropometry variables in the whole group. However, there was evidence of associations with anthropometric variables in girls that were not evident in boys. Sex-specific effects require further investigation in large cohorts as a possible contributor to the lack of associations generally found in mixed-sex studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M. Taylor
- Centre for Child and Adolescent HealthSchool of Social and Community MedicineUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Jean Golding
- Centre for Child and Adolescent HealthSchool of Social and Community MedicineUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Alan M. Emond
- Centre for Child and Adolescent HealthSchool of Social and Community MedicineUniversity of BristolBristolUK
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Gregory S, Iles-Caven Y, Hibbeln JR, Taylor CM, Golding J. Are prenatal mercury levels associated with subsequent blood pressure in childhood and adolescence? The Avon prebirth cohort study. BMJ Open 2016; 6:e012425. [PMID: 27742626 PMCID: PMC5073590 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES There have been conflicting data suggesting that prenatal mercury exposure is associated with adverse cardiovascular measures in children. We therefore analysed a large prospective population study to investigate whether prenatal mercury exposure might influence offspring blood pressure (BP) and heart rate adversely. DESIGN Prospective birth cohort. SETTING The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). PARTICIPANTS Maternal whole blood collected in the first half of pregnancy was assayed for mercury and selenium. The offspring were followed throughout childhood and adolescence. OUTCOME MEASURES Offspring resting BP and heart rates measured under standard conditions on six occasions between ages 7 and 17 years (numbers analysed: 1754 at 7 years to 1102 at 17). RESULTS Statistical analyses took account of various factors present in pregnancy, including family adversity, maternal age, parity, smoking and alcohol intake. Unadjusted and adjusted regression analyses assessed the relationship between maternal prenatal mercury levels and offspring resting systolic and diastolic BP, and heart rates. A final set of analyses took account of selenium. Each analysis was carried out for all offspring, those whose mothers had, and those that had not, consumed fish during pregnancy. Further analysis for all offspring ascertained whether there were significant interaction effects between the sexes. There was little evidence to suggest that prenatal mercury exposure resulted in a clinically important increase in offspring BP in the whole group, since no effect size for an increase of 1 SD of blood mercury level was >0.3 mm Hg. Only 1 association was significant at p<0.05 and therefore likely due to chance. CONCLUSIONS This study reveals no evidence to support the hypothesis that prenatal mercury exposure has adverse long-term effects on offspring BP or heart rates during childhood or adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Gregory
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Yasmin Iles-Caven
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Joseph R Hibbeln
- Department of Nutritional Neurosciences, LMBB, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Caroline M Taylor
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jean Golding
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Colapinto CK, Arbuckle TE, Dubois L, Fraser W. Is there a relationship between tea intake and maternal whole blood heavy metal concentrations? JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2016; 26:503-9. [PMID: 26732378 PMCID: PMC4990775 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2015.86] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Revised: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this analysis was to examine the association between tea intake during pregnancy and maternal and infant metal exposures. Data from the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) Study, a pan-Canadian pregnancy cohort, were used. All participants with a gestational age of ⩾20 weeks (n=1954) with available biomarkers were included. Geometric means (GMs) for lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium and manganese in maternal (first and third trimesters) and cord blood, as well as speciated arsenic in maternal urine in the first trimester, were calculated for participants who drank regular, green or herbal tea and for those who did not. Differences between groups were examined using chi-square tests. Adjusted least squares geometric means (LSGMs) were estimated by tea intake, controlling for factors such as country of birth, coffee intake and maternal smoking. Concentrations of all metals were above the limits of detection in most participants in the first trimester: lead (GM): 0.62 μg/dl), mercury (GM: 2.99 nmol/l); cadmium (GM 1.93 nmol/l), arsenic (GM 9.75 nmol/l) and manganese (GM 160.1 nmol/l). Adjusted LSGMs for lead in the first trimester were higher for tea drinkers than for those who were non-tea drinkers (LSGM 0.65 μg/dl, 95%CI: 0.62, 0.69 and 0.61 μg/dl, 95%CI: 0.59, 0.62), and there was evidence of a dose-response relationship for green and herbal tea. Those who consumed herbal tea in the third trimester had significantly higher third trimester maternal and cord blood lead concentrations than non-herbal tea drinkers. This study provides evidence of an association between blood lead concentrations and green or herbal tea consumption. However, the GM blood lead concentrations of the highest tea consumers were still less than 1 μg/dl and within the normal range of blood lead concentrations in the Canadian population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia K Colapinto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12e Avenue Nord, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada J1H 5N4. E-mail:
| | - Tye E Arbuckle
- Population Studies Division, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Environmental and Radiation Health Sciences Directorate, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Environmental Health Center, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lise Dubois
- Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - William Fraser
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
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Iles-Caven Y, Golding J, Gregory S, Emond A, Taylor CM. Data relating to early child development in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), their relationship with prenatal blood mercury and stratification by fish consumption. Data Brief 2016; 9:112-22. [PMID: 27642617 PMCID: PMC5018061 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2016.08.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Revised: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
As part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), measures of early child development were collected using both hands-on expert assessment (on a random 10% sub-sample) by trained psychologists at 18 months using the Griffiths Mental Development Scales (Extended 0–8 years) and from detailed questionnaires completed by the study mothers on the whole cohort using assessments based on the Denver Developmental Screening Test. The development determined by the psychologists on the 10% subsample showed a correlation of 0.49 (R. Wilson, 2003) [9] with the developmental level estimated from the maternal report. Maternal reports were used to determine the associations between prenatal blood mercury levels and scores of social achievement, fine motor skills, gross motor skills and communication at various preschool ages. (For results, please see doi:10.1016/j.neuro.2016.02.006 [1].)
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Iles-Caven
- Centre for Child & Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Jean Golding
- Centre for Child & Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Steven Gregory
- Centre for Child & Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Alan Emond
- Centre for Child & Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK
| | - Caroline M Taylor
- Centre for Child & Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, UK
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Taylor CM, Tilling K, Golding J, Emond AM. Low level lead exposure and pregnancy outcomes in an observational birth cohort study: dose-response relationships. BMC Res Notes 2016; 9:291. [PMID: 27260491 PMCID: PMC4893212 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-016-2092-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background National and international guidelines on safe levels for blood Pb in pregnancy focus on a threshold above which exposure is of concern. However, it has recently been suggested that the decrease in birth weight per unit increase in blood Pb is actually greater at lower than at higher concentrations of Pb without evidence of a lower threshold of effect. Our aim was to investigate whether there was evidence for a differential effect of maternal Pb levels on birth outcomes and/or a threshold value for effects. Methods Blood samples from pregnant women enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) were analysed. Data collected on the infants included anthropometric variables. We fitted adjusted multivariable fractional polynomial models for birth outcomes. Results Adjusted models that assumed a linear relationship between untransformed blood Pb and the outcomes provided the best fit: an increase of 1 µg/dl was associated with changes in birth weight of −9.93 (95 % CI −20.27, 0.41) g, head circumference −0.03 (95 % CI −0.06, 0.00) cm and crown–heel length −0.05 (95 % CI −0.10, 0.00) cm. Conclusion There was no evidence in this study to suggest a supralinear dose–response relationship or a lower threshold for the effect of maternal blood Pb on birth outcomes. This has implications for consideration of national and international guidelines on levels of concern in pregnancy. Exposure to Pb should be kept as low as possible during pregnancy to minimise adverse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M Taylor
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK.
| | - Kate Tilling
- School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jean Golding
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
| | - Alan M Emond
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK
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Taylor CM, Golding J, Emond AM. Blood mercury levels and fish consumption in pregnancy: Risks and benefits for birth outcomes in a prospective observational birth cohort. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2016; 219:513-20. [PMID: 27252152 PMCID: PMC4970655 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2016.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2016] [Revised: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Background To avoid exposure to mercury, government advice on fish consumption during pregnancy includes information on fish species to avoid and to limit, while encouraging consumption of least two portions of fish per week. Some women may, however, chose to avoid fish completely during pregnancy despite potential benefits to the fetus. Objectives Our aims were to evaluate the effects of blood mercury levels in pregnant women on birth outcomes in the UK, and to compare outcomes in those who ate fish with those who did not. Methods Pregnant women were enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Whole blood samples for singleton pregnancies with a live birth were analysed for Hg by inductively coupled plasma dynamic reaction cell mass spectrometry (n = 4044). Fish intake was determined by a food frequency questionnaire during pregnancy. Data collected on the infants included anthropometric variables and gestational age at delivery. Regression models were adjusted for covariates using SPSS v23. Results There were no significant associations of maternal blood Hg level with birthweight, head circumference or crown–heel length in adjusted linear regression models. Similarly, there were no increased odds of low birthweight or preterm delivery in adjusted logistic regression models. When the models were repeated after stratification into fish-eaters and there were no associations except for a negative association with birthweight in non-fish-eaters (unstandardised B coefficient −58.4 (95% confidence interval −113.8, −3.0) g, p = 0.039). Conclusion Moderate mercury levels in pregnancy were not associated with anthropometric variables, or on the odds of low birthweight or preterm birth. Fish consumption may have a protective effect on birthweight. Consumption of fish in line with government guidelines during pregnancy should be encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M Taylor
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Jean Golding
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Alan M Emond
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Pourshahidi LK, Navarini L, Petracco M, Strain J. A Comprehensive Overview of the Risks and Benefits of Coffee Consumption. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2016; 15:671-684. [DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.12206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Revised: 03/04/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. Kirsty Pourshahidi
- Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE); Univ. of Ulster; Coleraine BT52 1SA UK
| | | | | | - J.J. Strain
- Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE); Univ. of Ulster; Coleraine BT52 1SA UK
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Larsen SC, Ängquist L, Laurin C, Morgen CS, Jakobsen MU, Paternoster L, Smith GD, Olsen SF, Sørensen TIA, Nohr EA. Association between Maternal Fish Consumption and Gestational Weight Gain: Influence of Molecular Genetic Predisposition to Obesity. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150105. [PMID: 26930408 PMCID: PMC4773113 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Studies suggest that fish consumption can restrict weight gain. However, little is known about how fish consumption affects gestational weight gain (GWG), and whether this relationship depends on genetic makeup. Objective To examine the association between fish consumption and GWG, and whether this relationship is dependent on molecular genetic predisposition to obesity. Design A nested case-cohort study based on the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC) sampling the most obese women (n = 990) and a random sample of the remaining participants (n = 1,128). Replication of statistically significant findings was attempted in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) (n = 4,841). We included 32 body mass index (BMI) associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 5 SNPs found associated with GWG. BMI associated SNPs were combined in a genetic risk score (GRS). Associations between consumption of fish, GRS or individual variants and GWG were analysed, and interactions between fish and the GRS or individual variants were examined. Results In the DNBC, each portion/week (150 g) of fatty fish was associated with a higher GWG of 0.58 kg (95% CI: 0.16, 0.99, P<0.01). For total fish and lean fish, similar patterns were observed, but these associations were not statistically significant. We found no association between GRS and GWG, and no interactions between GRS and dietary fish on GWG. However, we found an interaction between the PPARG Pro12Ala variant and dietary fish. Each additional Pro12Ala G-allele was associated with a GWG of -0.83 kg (95% CI: -1.29, -0.37, P<0.01) per portion/week of dietary fish, with the same pattern for both lean and fatty fish. In ALSPAC, we were unable to replicate these findings. Conclusion We found no consistent evidence of association between fish consumption and GWG, and our results indicate that the association between dietary fish and GWG has little or no dependency on GRS or individual SNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofus C. Larsen
- Research Unit for Dietary Studies at the Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospitals, the Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Preventive Medicine, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospitals, The Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark
- * E-mail:
| | - Lars Ängquist
- Institute of Preventive Medicine, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospitals, The Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Charles Laurin
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Camilla S. Morgen
- Institute of Preventive Medicine, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospitals, The Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marianne U. Jakobsen
- Department of Public Health, Section for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Lavinia Paternoster
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - George Davey Smith
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Sjurdur F. Olsen
- Department of Epidemiology Research, Centre for Fetal Programming, Statens Serum Institut, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Thorkild I. A. Sørensen
- Institute of Preventive Medicine, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospitals, The Capital Region, Copenhagen, Denmark
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research and Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ellen A. Nohr
- Research Unit of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Golding J, Gregory S, Iles-Caven Y, Hibbeln J, Emond A, Taylor CM. Associations between prenatal mercury exposure and early child development in the ALSPAC study. Neurotoxicology 2016; 53:215-222. [PMID: 26880023 PMCID: PMC4819890 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2016.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Revised: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is evidence that high levels of mercury exposure to the pregnant woman can result in damage to the brain of the developing fetus. However there is uncertainty as to whether lower levels of the metal have adverse effects on the development of the infant and whether components of fish consumption and/or the selenium status of the woman is protective. METHODS In this study we analysed data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) (n=2875-3264) to determine whether levels of total blood mercury of pregnant women collected in the first half of pregnancy are associated with the development of the offspring at ages 6, 18, 30 and 42 months. The developmental measures used maternal self-reported scales for individual types of development (fine and gross motor, social and communication skills) and total scores. Multiple and logistic regression analyses treated the outcomes both as continuous and as suboptimal (the lowest 15th centile). The statistical analyses first examined the association of prenatal mercury exposure with these developmental endpoints and then adjusted each for a number of social and maternal lifestyle factors; finally this model was adjusted for the blood selenium level. RESULTS Total maternal prenatal blood mercury and selenium ranged from 0.17 to 12.76 and 17.0 to 324μg/L respectively. We found no evidence to suggest that prenatal levels of maternal blood mercury were associated with adverse development of the child, even when the mother had consumed no fish during pregnancy. In general, the higher the mercury level the more advanced the development of the child within the range of exposure studied. For example, the fully adjusted effect sizes for total development at 6 and 42 months were +0.51 [95%CI +0.05, +1.00] and +0.43 [95%CI +0.08, +0.78] points per SD of mercury. For the risk of suboptimal development the ORs at these ages were 0.90 [95%CI 0.80, 1.02] and 0.88 [95%CI 0.77, 1.02]. In regard to the associations between blood mercury and child development there were no differences between the mothers who ate fish and those who did not, thus implying that the benefits were not solely due to the beneficial nutrients in fish. CONCLUSIONS We found no evidence of adverse associations between maternal prenatal blood mercury and child development between 6 and 42 months of age. The significant associations that were present were all in the beneficial direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Golding
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Steven Gregory
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Yasmin Iles-Caven
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Joseph Hibbeln
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Alan Emond
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Caroline M Taylor
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social & Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
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Taylor CM, Humphriss R, Hall A, Golding J, Emond AM. Balance ability in 7- and 10-year-old children: associations with prenatal lead and cadmium exposure and with blood lead levels in childhood in a prospective birth cohort study. BMJ Open 2015; 5:e009635. [PMID: 26719320 PMCID: PMC4710813 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Most studies reporting evidence of adverse effects of lead and cadmium on the ability to balance have been conducted in high-exposure groups or have included adults. The effects of prenatal exposure have not been well studied, nor have the effects in children been directly studied. The aim of the study was to identify the associations of lead (in utero and in childhood) and cadmium (in utero) exposure with the ability to balance in children aged 7 and 10 years. DESIGN Prospective birth cohort study. PARTICIPANTS Maternal blood lead (n=4285) and cadmium (n=4286) levels were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in women enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) during pregnancy. Child lead levels were measured in a subsample of 582 of ALSPAC children at age 30 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Children completed a heel-to-toe walking test at 7 years. At 10 years, the children underwent clinical tests of static and dynamic balance. Statistical analysis using SPSS V.19 included logistic regression modelling, comparing categories of ≥ 5 vs <5 µg/dL for lead, and ≥ 1 vs <1 µg/L for cadmium. RESULTS Balance at age 7 years was not associated with elevated in utero lead or cadmium exposure (adjusted OR for balance dysfunction: Pb 1.01 (95% CI 0.95 to 1.01), n=1732; Cd 0.95 (0.77 to 1.20), n=1734), or with elevated child blood lead level at age 30 months (adjusted OR 0.98 (0.92 to 1.05), n=354). Similarly, neither measures of static nor dynamic balance at age 10 years were associated with in utero lead or cadmium exposure, or child lead level. CONCLUSIONS These findings do not provide any evidence of an association of prenatal exposure to lead or cadmium, or lead levels in childhood, on balance ability in children. Confirmation in other cohorts is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M Taylor
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Rachel Humphriss
- School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Children's Hearing Centre, University Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Amanda Hall
- School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Children's Hearing Centre, University Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Jean Golding
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Alan M Emond
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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