Exposure to heavy metals modifies optimal gestational weight gain: A large nationally representative cohort of the Japan Environment and Children's Study

Prenatal exposure to essential metals and blood pressure at preschool age: A birth cohort study

AIMS

To investigate the association between prenatal exposure to essential metals and the offspring blood pressure (BP) at preschool age.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from a birth cohort study including 1113 mother-child pairs were analyzed. The associations between individual prenatal essential elements and offspring BP were analyzed using generalized linear regression models. Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) and weighted quantile sum regression (WQS), were employed to examine the combined effects of prenatal metal exposures on offspring BP. The associations between essential metals and high blood pressure (HBP) of offspring were appraised using logistic regression model.

RESULTS

In the single-metal models, we found that maternal magnesium (Mg) concentrations were negatively associated with the offspring BP. The results of BKMR and WQS also identified a negative association between maternal essential metals mixtures and offspring BP. Logistic regression showed that compared to the highest quartiles of maternal Mg, the odds ratio (OR) for HBP in the lowest quartiles was 4.27 (95 % CI: 1.84-9.93). No significant associations were observed for other essential metals (all P value > 0.05). Additionally, no significant association was found between umbilical cord blood metal concentrations and offspring BP.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal essential metals mixtures, rather than those in umbilical cord blood, were negatively associated with offspring BP. Besides, lower maternal Mg levels were linked to a higher prevalence of HBP in offspring. Our findings provide significant evidence for exploring the effects of maternal essential metal elements on offspring BP.

Health effects of mixed metal exposure on accelerating aging among the elderly population

BACKGROUND

Human exposure to heavy metals occurs through multiple pathways in daily life. However, the effects of mixed heavy metal exposure on accelerated aging in the elderly U.S. population remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the association between heavy metal concentrations in blood and urine and the onset of accelerated aging.

METHODS

A total of 2530 individuals were included in the blood metals analysis and 716 individuals in the urine metals analysis in this study. GrimAge acceleration (AgeAccelGrim) was calculated as the residuals from regressing DNA methylation GrimAge on chronological age. Weighted multivariable logistic regression models were applied to analyze the relationship between metal exposure with AgeAccelGrim. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) was performed to estimate the effects of individual metals or metals mixtures and AgeAccelGrim.

RESULTS

We found that blood cadmium (Cd) concentration was positively associated with an increased risk of AgeAccelGrim in both females and males, with odds ratios (OR) of 5.73 (95 % confidence interval (95 % CI): 1.88-17.41, P trend = 0.008) and 14.25 (95 % CI: 4.88-41.62, P trend < 0.001), respectively. Moreover, these associations were more pronounced for urinary Cd compared to blood Cd. Blood lead (Pb) was also associated with a 3.52-fold (95 % CI: 1.21-10.24, P trend = 0.007) increase in AgeAccelGrim risk among males. BKMR confirmed the aforementioned findings, identifying Cd as the most significant contributor to accelerated aging.

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure to heavy metals, either individually or in mixture, was positively associated with accelerated biological aging. These associations were more pronounced in males.

Association of co-exposure to metal(loid)s during pregnancy with birth outcomes in the Tibetan plateau

Maternal metal (loid)s exposure has been related to birth outcomes but the results are still inconclusive. Most previous studies have discussed the single metal (loid)s, neglecting the scene of co-exposure. We examined the associations of both single metal (loid)s and metal mixtures with birth outcomes in a birth cohort from the Tibetan Plateau, including body weight, body length, head circumference, small for gestational age (SGA), and Ponderal index (PI). In our analysis of 1069 women, we measured 29 metal (loid)s in urine samples in the third trimester. The associations of single metal (loid)s with categorical or continuous birth outcomes were evaluated using a generalized linear mixed-effects model or linear mixed-effects model, respectively. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, Bayesian kernel machine, and Quantile g-computation regression were used to explore the joint association. We also evaluated the interactive effects of ethnicity and altitude on the effect of metal (loid)s on birth outcomes. Copper (Cu) concentration in maternal urine was positively associated with SGA, birth weight, birth length, and head circumference in the single pollutant models. For instance, Cu was associated with an increased risk of SGA [OR (95% CI) = 1.56 (1.23, 1.97); P < 0.001]. We didn't find significant joint association of metal mixtures with birth outcomes except a positive association between the mixture of Cu, Magnesium (Mg), and Iron (Fe) with the risk of SGA when the exposure level was above its 80th percentile, and Cu dominated the adverse association in a non-linear manner. Living altitude modified the associations of Cu with SGA and the positive association was only found in participants living at high altitude. In conclusion, maternal urinary metal (loid)s, especially Cu, was the dominant harmful metal (loid)s when associated with SGA on the Tibetan Plateau.

Association of chromosomal abnormalities with prenatal exposure to heavy metals: A nested case-control study in high-risk pregnant women in China

Prenatal exposure to heavy metals causes multiple hazards to fetal growth and development. Epidemiological studies on the association between heavy metals and fetal chromosomal abnormalities (CAs) are lacking. We conducted a nested case-control study in a cohort of high-risk pregnant women in China from September 2018 to June 2021. A total of 387 participants were diagnosed with fetal CAs in the case group and 699 were diagnosed with a normal karyotype in the control group. Amniotic fluid concentrations of 10 metals (barium, cobalt, antimony, manganese, ferrum, copper, selenium, strontium, vanadium, and chromium) were measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. We applied quantile g-computation and weighted quantile sum regression to assess the overall effect of metal mixtures and identify metals with significant weight. Logistic and Poisson regression analyses were used to estimate the effects of metals on CAs and CAs subtypes. Our results showed that the metal mixture concentrations were positively associated with the risk of fetal CAs. In adjusted logistic models, Sb was associated with fetal CAs (OR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.02-1.30), and revealed a linear dose-response relationship between Sb level and the risk of fetal CAs. Additionally, the exploratory analysis revealed that Sb levels were associated with Klinefelter syndrome (OR=1.452, 95% CI: 1.063-1.984) and Turner syndrome (OR=1.698; 95% CI,1.048-2.751). Our study revealed that metal mixtures are associated with a higher risk of fetal CAs and that this association may be driven primarily by Sb. Moreover, we provide a genetic perspective on the effects of heavy metals on sexual development in humans.

Current Levels of Environmental Exposure to Cadmium in Industrialized Countries as a Risk Factor for Kidney Damage in the General Population: A Comprehensive Review of Available Data

The growing number of reports indicating unfavorable outcomes for human health upon environmental exposure to cadmium (Cd) have focused attention on the threat to the general population posed by this heavy metal. The kidney is a target organ during chronic Cd intoxication. The aim of this article was to critically review the available literature on the impact of the current levels of environmental exposure to this xenobiotic in industrialized countries on the kidney, and to evaluate the associated risk of organ damage, including chronic kidney disease (CKD). Based on a comprehensive review of the available data, we recognized that the observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs) of Cd concentration in the blood and urine for clinically relevant kidney damage (glomerular dysfunction) are 0.18 μg/L and 0.27 μg/g creatinine, respectively, whereas the lowest observed adverse effect levels (LOAELs) are >0.18 μg/L and >0.27 μg/g creatinine, respectively, which are within the lower range of concentrations noted in inhabitants of industrialized countries. In conclusion, the current levels of environmental exposure to Cd may increase the risk of clinically relevant kidney damage, resulting in, or at least contributing to, the development of CKD.

A combined method for human health risk area identification of heavy metals in urban environments

Multi-medium heavy metals pollution is a crucial pathway to destroy the urban environmental resources cycle. In this study, Nanjing of China, a typical mega city, was taken as the study area. Compared with other cities or countries, Cr, Cu and Zn in human nails and hair in the study area have higher concentration characteristics, while Cd and Pb have lower concentration characteristics. By combining the health risk status of heavy metals in soil and dustfall, the spatial clustering characteristics of heavy metals in soil dustfall and the concentration information of heavy metals in humans in the study area, a potential toxic risk area identification method based on soil-dustfall-human (SDB-HR) was established. Through Monte Carlo analysis, it's found that the risk of Zn and Cr in soil-dustfall to human health is relatively high, with the probability of carcinogenesis reaching 51.2 % and 50.2 %, respectively. By the proposed method, different levels of heavy metal risk areas in urban environments can be more reasonably and effectively identified, which will provide important technical and theoretical support for the precise management of heavy metals in urban environments.

Population attributable fraction of risk factors for low birth weight in the Japan Environment and Children's Study

BACKGROUND

Low birth weight (LBW), which is considered a birth weight of <2500  g, poses significant health problems for children. However, population attributable fraction (PAF) of risk factors for LBW have not been well studied.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to re-evaluate associations between risk factors for LBW reported in previous studies that used the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS) data, and to estimate the magnitude of risk using PAF.

METHODS

Data including 91,559 mother-child dyads were obtained from JECS. Risk factors identified by previous studies that used JECS data were used to calculate odds ratios for LBW using a Bayesian logistic regression model. Based on calculated odds ratios, the PAF was calculated.

RESULTS

Parity, history of adenomyosis, hypertension disorder of pregnancy, maternal age at birth, prepregnancy body mass index, gestational weight gain (GWG), maternal smoking and lead (Pb) exposure were all significantly associated with LBW. The sum of the PAF of all factors was 79.4 %, with the largest PAF among single risk factors being GWG (16.5 %); the environmental portion of the PAF (Pb exposure, 14.6 % + maternal smoking, 12.1 %) surpassed the PAF of GWG.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that the number of births classified as LBW can be reduced by approximately 27% if Pb exposure is reduced to the lowest quartile and maternal smoking is eliminated. Further investigations are needed to identify unknown risk factors for LBW.

Association between Heated Tobacco Product Use during Pregnancy and Fetal Growth in Japan: A Nationwide Web-Based Survey

Combustible cigarette smoking impacts fetal growth during pregnancy. However, the risk associated with heated tobacco products (HTPs) remains unclear. This nationwide cross-sectional study investigated whether HTP use during pregnancy is associated with small for gestational age (SGA) outcomes among 5647 post-delivery women with singleton pregnancies, which were divided into four groups: lifetime never-smokers, former smokers before pregnancy, and current smokers for each of the tobacco products during pregnancy (sole HTP and sole combustion smokers). Information on the prevalence of SGA, defined as birth weight and height below the 10th percentile, was retrieved from the Maternal and Child Health Handbooks of post-delivery women. Using logistic regression, the association between sole HTP smokers during pregnancy and SGA, adjusted for covariates, with lifetime never-smokers as reference, was investigated. The prevalence was: current sole HTP smokers during pregnancy, 1.8% (102/5647); and SGA, 2.9% (164/5647). Sole HTP smokers during pregnancy had a higher prevalence of SGA (5.9% [6/102] vs. 2.7% [111/4144]) with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 2.50 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-6.05) than lifetime never-smokers. Among sole combustion smokers, the adjusted OR for SGA was 1.95 (95% CI, 0.81-4.67). In Japan, HTP smoking during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk for SGA.

Associations of blood and urinary heavy metals with rheumatoid arthritis risk among adults in NHANES, 1999-2018

Heavy metals exposure has been widely recognized as a risk factor for human health. However, limited information is available about the impacts of heavy metals on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Herein, we estimated the associations of 3 blood and 11 urinary metals with the risk of RA among 49830 U.S. adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999-2018. In the single-exposure model, blood cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), urinary Cd, Pb, antimony (Sb), tungsten (Tu), and uranium (Ur) were identified to be positively associated with RA risk. Furthermore, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, quantile-based g computation (qgcomp), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) analyses consistently showed that both blood and urinary metals-mixed exposure were positively correlated with the risk of RA, and highlighted that Cd and Pb were responsible for the outcomes. Such associations were more evident in the young and middle-aged population. These findings indicated that exposure to heavy metals increased RA risk, and advanced the identification of risk factors for RA.

Gestational body weight gain and risk of low birth weight or macrosomia in women of Japan: a nationwide cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Both maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) influence maternal and pediatric outcomes. We sought to clarify the impact of prepregnancy BMI-specific GWG and its patterns on the risk of low birth weight (LBW) or macrosomia using data from a large nationwide study in Japan.

METHODS

This cohort study (n = 98,052) used data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS). The outcome variables in this study were LBW and macrosomia. We stratified the subjects into groups according to prepregnancy BMI.

RESULTS

GWG from pre-pregnancy to the first trimester had a small effect on the risk of LBW and macrosomia. From the first to second trimesters, insufficient GWG was associated with the risk of LBW, and from the second trimester to delivery, a GWG of less than 2 kg was associated with the risk of LBW. These associations were commonly observed in all prepregnancy BMI categories. Irrespective of the GWG from pre-pregnancy to the first trimester, GWG from the first to second trimesters affects LBW and/or macrosomia. Irrespective of the GWG from the first to second trimesters, GWG from the second trimester to delivery affects LBW and/or macrosomia. LBW or macrosomia was associated with the prevalence of a sustained low or high BMI percentile until three years of age, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The present large national cohort study indicates that the risk of LBW or macrosomia is associated with GWG in women in Japan; the significance of this risk depends on the GWG patterns.