Evidence of exposure to chemicals and heavy metals during pregnancy in Japanese women

Abstract

PurposePrenatal exposure to environmental chemicals is a growing concern, because such exposures have been shown to be associated with various diseases. The levels of chemicals and heavy metals in maternal blood, cord blood, maternal urine and amniotic fluid in Japanese pregnant women were investigated.MethodsA total of 145 women, including 14 fetal growth restriction cases, were included in the present study. The levels of phthalates (di[2‐ethylhexyl]phthalate and mono[2‐ethylhexyl]phthalate), perfluorinated compounds (perfluorooctane sulfonate, perfluorohexanoic acid, perfluorooctanoic acid, and perfluorononanoic acid), pesticides (dimethylphosphate, dimethylthiophosphate, diethylphosphate, diethylthiophosphate, 3‐phenoxybenzoic acid, and octachlorodipropyl ether), bisphenol A, nicotine (nicotine, nornicotine, cotinine, norcotinine, and trans‐3’‐hydroxycotinine), polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and heavy metals were measured. The relationship between fetal growth and the levels of chemicals and heavy metals were investigated.ResultsPhthalates, perfluorinated compounds, pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and heavy metals were detected in high frequency, whereas nicotine and bisphenol A were almost negative. Phthalates, perfluorinated compounds, and several heavy metals were transferred to the fetus. High perfluorononanoic acid levels in the maternal blood and cord blood, and low perfluorooctanoic acid level in the cord blood were significantly and negatively associated with fetal growth.ConclusionsThe present study showed that pregnant women in Japan and their fetuses are exposed to a variety of chemicals and heavy metals.

Prenatal Exposure to Aluminum and Status of Selected Essential Trace Elements in Rural South African Women at Delivery

“…These results are comparable to the 13.92 ± 14.09 μg/L concentrations of Al in plasma, which were measured in a cohort of pregnant women practicing the ancestral cultural custom of ingestion of earth (geophagy) in French Guiana [ 31 ]. A comparable study measured Al in maternal blood in Japanese women and the Al levels reported were 7.83 μg/L [ 32 ]. In most of the reported studies, a direct comparison with our results and the measured umbilical serum Al in neonates is not possible.…”

“…In contrast, levels of Se in serum in our study population were similar to those reported for the general population while the concentrations of Mn in whole blood were higher [ 44 ]. The recent Jamaican study already mentioned measured Al and Mn concurrently in the umbilical cord blood and reported higher levels of Mn (43.7 μg/L) [ 32 ].…”

Blood heavy metals and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the first trimester of pregnancy among migrant workers

“…They have been identified as among the priority metals of public health importance by the World Health Organization [3]. Prenatal exposure to these heavy metals is a growing concern because of its adverse effects on the pregnancy resulting an array of negative consequences [4]. The level of heavy metals in maternal blood and its effects on pregnant women has been evaluated in many previous studies.…”

Introductory Chapter: Environmental, Genetic, and Epigenetic Risk Factors in Adverse Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes

“…The environment can have an important influence on fetal development. Variety of chemicals have been reported to be present in urine, blood, and amniotic fluid, which indicated that pregnant women around the world are highly exposed to chemicals [10][11][12]. Additionally, several studies also have shown that a wide range of chemicals has been detected in cord blood and fetal tissues, including bisphenol-A (BPA), phthalates, pesticides, and heavy metals [10,13].…”