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Liew Z, Meng Q, Yan Q, Schullehner J, Hansen B, Kristiansen SM, Voutchkova DD, Olsen J, Ersbøll AK, Ketzel M, Raaschou-Nielsen O, Ritz BR. Association Between Estimated Geocoded Residential Maternal Exposure to Lithium in Drinking Water and Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Offspring in Denmark. JAMA Pediatr 2023; 177:617-624. [PMID: 37010840 PMCID: PMC10071398 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.0346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
Importance Lithium is a naturally occurring and trace element that has mood-stabilizing effects. Maternal therapeutic use of lithium has been associated with adverse birth outcomes. In animal models, lithium modulates Wnt/β-catenin signaling that is important for neurodevelopment. It is unknown whether exposure to lithium in drinking water affects brain health in early life. Objective To evaluate whether autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring is associated with maternal exposure to lithium in drinking water during pregnancy. Design, Setting, and Participants This nationwide population-based case-control study in Denmark identified 8842 children diagnosed with ASD born from 2000 through 2013 and 43 864 control participants matched by birth year and sex from the Danish Medical Birth Registry. These data were analyzed from March 2021 through November 2022. Exposures Geocoded maternal residential addresses during pregnancy were linked to lithium level (range, 0.6 to 30.7 μg/L) in drinking water estimated using kriging interpolation based on 151 waterworks measurements of lithium across all regions in Denmark. Main Outcomes and Measures ASD diagnoses were ascertained using International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision codes recorded in the Danish Psychiatric Central Register. The study team estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for ASD according to estimated geocoded maternal exposure to natural source of lithium in drinking water as a continuous (per IQR) or a categorical (quartile) variable, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and ambient air pollutants levels. The study team also conducted stratified analyses by birth years, child's sex, and urbanicity. Results A total of 8842 participants with ASD (male, 7009 [79.3%]) and 43 864 control participants (male, 34 749 [79.2%]) were studied. Every IQR increase in estimated geocoded maternal exposure to natural source of lithium in drinking water was associated with higher odds for ASD in offspring (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.17-1.29). Elevated odds among offspring for ASD were estimated starting from the second quartile (7.36 to 12.67 μg/L) of estimated maternal exposure to drinking water with lithium and the OR for the highest quartile (more than 16.78 μg/L) compared with the reference group (less than 7.39 μg/L) was 1.46 (95% CI, 1.35-1.59). The associations were unchanged when adjusting for air pollution exposures and no differences were apparent in stratified analyses. Conclusions and Relevance Estimated maternal prenatal exposure to lithium from naturally occurring drinking water sources in Denmark was associated with an increased ASD risk in the offspring. This study suggests that naturally occurring lithium in drinking water may be a novel environmental risk factor for ASD development that requires further scrutiny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyan Liew
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut
- Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Qi Meng
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Qi Yan
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles
| | - Jörg Schullehner
- Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), Aarhus, Denmark
- Centre for Integrated Register-based Research at Aarhus University (CIRRAU), Aarhus, Denmark
- National Centre for Register-Based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Birgitte Hansen
- Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | | | - Jørn Olsen
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Annette Kjær Ersbøll
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Matthias Ketzel
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Ole Raaschou-Nielsen
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Beate R. Ritz
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles
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Thygesen M, Schullehner J, Hansen B, Sigsgaard T, Voutchkova DD, Kristiansen SM, Pedersen CB, Dalsgaard S. Trace elements in drinking water and the incidence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2021; 68:126828. [PMID: 34391071 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2021.126828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trace elements have been suggested to have neurotoxic effects and increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, but studies of a potential role of trace elements in relation to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are very limited. The objective of this study was to conduct an exploratory analysis investigating the associations between 17 geogenic trace elements (Ba, Co, Eu, I, Li, Mo, Rb, Re, Rh, Sb, Sc, Se, Si, Sr, Ti, U and Y) found in Danish drinking water and the risk of developing ADHD. METHODS In this cohort study, 284,309 individuals, born 1994-2007, were followed for incidence of ADHD from the age of five until the end of study, December 31, 2016. We conducted survival analyses, using Poisson regression to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) in three different confounder adjustment scenarios. RESULTS In a model including adjustments for age, sex, calendar year, parental socio-economic status, neighborhood level socio-economic status and parental psychiatric illness, we found that six of the 17 trace elements (Sr, Rb, Rh, Ti, Sb and Re) were associated with an increased risk of ADHD, whereas two (Ba and I) were inversely associated with ADHD. However, when including region as a covariate in the model, most trace elements were no longer associated with ADHD or the association changed direction. Four trace elements (I, Li, Rb, and Y) remained significantly associated with ADHD but in an inverse direction and for three of these (I, Li and Y), we found significant interactions with region in their association with ADHD. CONCLUSION The trace elements under investigation, at levels found in Danish drinking water, do not seem to contribute to the development of ADHD and our findings highlight the importance of examining consistency of associations across geographic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malene Thygesen
- National Centre for Register-based Research, Department of Economics and Business, School of Business and Social Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Aarhus and Copenhagen, Denmark; Centre for Integrated Register Based Research, CIRRAU, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Jörg Schullehner
- Department of Public Health, Section of Environment, Occupation and Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, GEUS, Denmark; Big Data Centre for Environment and Health, BERTHA, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Torben Sigsgaard
- Centre for Integrated Register Based Research, CIRRAU, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Public Health, Section of Environment, Occupation and Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Big Data Centre for Environment and Health, BERTHA, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | | | - Carsten B Pedersen
- National Centre for Register-based Research, Department of Economics and Business, School of Business and Social Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Aarhus and Copenhagen, Denmark; Centre for Integrated Register Based Research, CIRRAU, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Big Data Centre for Environment and Health, BERTHA, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Søren Dalsgaard
- National Centre for Register-based Research, Department of Economics and Business, School of Business and Social Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Aarhus and Copenhagen, Denmark; Centre for Integrated Register Based Research, CIRRAU, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Li X, Tian T, Shang X, Zhang R, Xie H, Wang X, Wang H, Xie Q, Chen J, Kadokami K. Occurrence and Health Risks of Organic Micro-Pollutants and Metals in Groundwater of Chinese Rural Areas. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2020; 128:107010. [PMID: 33124919 PMCID: PMC7598030 DOI: 10.1289/ehp6483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Groundwater is a main drinking-water source for Chinese rural residents. The overall pollution status of organic micropollutants (OMPs) and metals in the groundwater and corresponding health risks are unknown. OBJECTIVES Our objective was to comprehensively screen for and assess the health risks of OMPs and metals in groundwater of rural areas in China where groundwater is used for drinking so as to provide a benchmark for monitoring and improving groundwater quality in future developments. METHODS One hundred sixty-six groundwater samples were collected in the rural areas of China, and 1,300 OMPs and 25 metals were screened by GC-MS, LC-QTOF/MS, and ICP-MS analysis. To assess the noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of the detected pollutants, missing toxicity threshold values were extrapolated from existing databases or predicted by quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models. Monte Carlo simulation was performed to account for uncertainties in the exposure parameters and toxicity thresholds. RESULTS Two hundred thirty-three OMPs and 25 metals were detected from the 166 samples. The concentration summation for the detected OMPs ranged from 2.9 to 1.7×105ng/L among the different sampling sites. Cumulative noncarcinogenic risks for the OMPs were estimated to be negligible. However, high metal risks were calculated in 23% of the sites. Forty-two carcinogens (including 38 OMPs) were identified and the cumulative carcinogenic risks in 34% of the sites were calculated to be >10-4 (i.e., one excess cancer case in a population of 10 thousand people). The carcinogenic risks were estimated to be mainly associated with exposures to the metals, which were calculated to contribute 79% (0-100%) of the cumulative carcinogenic risks. DISCUSSION The overall status of OMPs and metals pollution in the groundwater and the corresponding health risks were determined preliminarily, which may provide a benchmark for future efforts in China to ensure the safety of drinking water for the local residents in rural areas. The joint application of QSARs and Monte Carlo simulation provided a feasible way to comprehensively assess the health risks of the large and ever-increasing number of pollutants detected in the aquatic environment. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6483.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuehua Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Tian Tian
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Xiaochen Shang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Ruohan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Huaijun Xie
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Xuejian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Hanwei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Qing Xie
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Jingwen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Kiwao Kadokami
- Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan
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Kuhn KG, Nielsen EM, Mølbak K, Ethelberg S. Determinants of sporadic Campylobacter infections in Denmark: a nationwide case-control study among children and young adults. Clin Epidemiol 2018; 10:1695-1707. [PMID: 30538574 PMCID: PMC6255050 DOI: 10.2147/clep.s177141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Each year more than 4,000 cases of campylobacteriosis are reported in Denmark, making it the most common bacterial gastrointestinal infection. Here we describe a case-control study to identify sources of infection with a focus on environmental factors. METHODS From January to December 2016, we conducted a prospective case-control study among Danish persons aged 1-30 years. Participants were invited by letter to complete an online questionnaire. Crude and adjusted ORs were calculated and final parsimonious multivariate models developed using logistic regression. RESULTS The study recruited 1366 cases and 4,418 controls, of whom 65% and 66%, respectively, completed the questionnaire. A multivariate model for domestically acquired cases showed, among others, increased risk of infection with bathing in fresh water (OR=5.1), contact to beach sand (OR=1.8), owning a pet dog with diarrhea (OR=4.6), and eating minced beef (OR=2.6) or chicken (OR=2.5). The model for children highlighted similar risk factors but also included bathing in a paddling pool (OR=13.6) and eating fresh strawberries (OR=5.3). A separate analysis for persons reporting foreign travel showed increased infection risk when traveling to Asia, Africa, or Turkey and that eating from street kitchens and having contact to water during traveling were also risk factors. CONCLUSION Environmental factors and animal contact account for a sizeable proportion of domestic Campylobacter infections in the age group studied. The study also re-confirmed handling/consumption of chicken as an important risk factor while highlighting minced beef as a potential new risk factor. Overall, these results contribute to a better understanding of the transmission dynamics of Campylobacter and will be used to improve national guidelines for prevention of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Gaardbo Kuhn
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology & Prevention, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark,
| | - Eva Møller Nielsen
- Bacteria, Parasites & Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kåre Mølbak
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology & Prevention, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark,
- Institute of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Steen Ethelberg
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology & Prevention, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark,
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