Maternal exposure to low-level heavy metals during pregnancy and birth size

Abstract

We evaluated the effect of environmental, low-level exposure to heavy metals during pregnancy, as estimated by urine analysis, on birth size of the newborns. Spot urine samples were collected from unexposed 78 pregnant women in Tokyo during 2007 and 2008. The urinary concentrations of beryllium (Be), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), cadmium (Cd), tin (Sn), antimony (Sb), and lead (Pb) were measured by ICP-MS. The birthweight (BW), length (BL) and head circumference (HC) of the newborns delivered to the subjects were measured and relationship with urinary metal concentration was examined. The geometric mean concentration of urinary Be, Cu, As, Zn, Se, Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, and Pb were 0.031, 12.8, 393, 76.9, 37.6, 79.0, 0.766, 0.232, < 0.21, 0.483 microg g-creatinine(-1), respectively. The mean birth size of the newborn was close to the national average value in Japan. Stepwise multiple regression analysis using birth size as a dependent variable and urinary metal concentrations and covariates as independent variables extracted urinary Cd with a significant negative standardized partial regression coefficient (beta) for BW along with gestational age and maternal BMI. For HC, Sn was selected with a negative beta. The present study suggested that even a low-level Cd body burden of general population has slight but significant negative effect on BW.

Maternal urinary cadmium concentrations in relation to preterm birth in the Healthy Baby Cohort Study in China

“…The observed urinary Cd in our study population was comparable with the pregnant women in Europe (median, 0.31 μg/L) (Akesson et al, 2002), and in the Pacific Northwest (median, 0.50-0.60 μg/g creatinine) (Mohanty et al, 2015). However, the Cd level in the present study was lower than that observed in pregnant women in Bangladesh (median, 0.64 μg/L) (Kippler et al, 2012) and in Japan (geometric mean, 0.77 μg/g creatinine; arithmetic mean, 0.98 μg/g creatinine) (Shirai et al, 2010).…”

Metals exposure and risk of small-for-gestational age birth in a Canadian birth cohort: The MIREC study

“…Multiple studies have found an association with SGA Odland et al, 1999;Xie et al, 2013;Gundacker et al, 2010;Jelliffe-Pawlowski et al, 2006;Berkowitz et al, 2006;González-Cossío et al, 1997) while others report no relationship (Shirai et al, 2010;Jones et al, 2010;Sowers et al, 2002). The different matrices used and the varying exposure levels may explain the conflicting results.…”

“…Several small studies have reported an association between urinary arsenic (primarily inorganic) and birthweight, including a study in Bangladesh (Rahman et al, 2009), in Romania (Gelmann et al, 2013), in New Hampshire USA (Fei et al, 2013), However, no significant association between urinary arsenic levels and SGA was reported in a study in Japan (Shirai et al, 2010). We found urinary arsenobetaine levels 42.25 mg As/L to be associated with an increased risk of SGA.…”

“…In general, the literature regarding metal exposure and fetal growth outcomes is inconsistent. Some studies report an association (Rahman et al, 2009;Llanos and Ronco, 2009;Bellinger et al, 1991;Chen et al, 2006;Foldspang and Hansen, 1990;Hopenhayn et al, 2003;Kippler et al, 2011;Lee et al, 2010;Lin et al, 2011;Nishijo et al, 2004;Odland et al, 1999;Osman et al, 2000;Ramón et al, 2009;Shirai et al, 2010;Tian et al, 2009;Xie et al, 2013;Yang et al, 2003;Zhu et al, 2010) while others report no association (Odland et al, 1999;Osman et al, 2000;Ding et al, 2013;Daniels et al, 2007;Galicia-García et al, 1997;Jones et al, 2010;Sowers et al, 2002;Menai et al, 2012;Loiacono et al, 1992;Lucas et al, 2004). Few studies have examined low-level exposure as currently experienced in most developed countries such as Canada, thus any resultant health effects are relatively unknown.…”

Postnatal Growth Following Prenatal Lead Exposure and Calcium Intake

“…16 Furthermore, the consequences of reduced infantile growth are far from negligible, because even a small reduction could affect health outcomes significantly in later life. 28 Previously, Afeiche et al 16 reported that prenatal lead exposure was associated with lower…”