Assessment of Household and Outdoor Air Pollution Exposure Link to Urinary Metals Content in Pregnant Women

Isabella Karakis,Itai Kloog,Lena Novack,Ofir Tirosh,Batia Sarov,Daniella Landau,Roni Gat,Maayan Yitshak-Sade,Nofar Shemesh

doi:10.3390/atmos11060638

Abstract

We aimed to estimate the association of urinary metal content with the exposure to hazardous household factors and ambient air pollution in pregnant women. We analyzed urine samples of 143 women enrolled at delivery and assessed household exposure by questionnaire. Air pollution estimates were based on monitoring stations and satellite-based models. Complaints about noise, rubbish, and sewage in the neighborhood were associated with higher uranium concentrations (prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.42, 1.46, and 1.18, respectively). Complaints about noise were more frequent in women with higher cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, cadmium, and vanadium urine concentrations (PRs = 2.42–9.43), and complaints about smell in women with higher cobalt and strontium (PRs = 2.55–6.27). Exposure to nitrogen oxides was associated with higher concentrations of nickel, aluminum, lead, and chromium in urine (PRs = 1.80–5.85). Women exposed to elevated levels of particulate matter were more likely to have higher concentrations of cobalt, nickel, thallium, lead, iron, strontium, barium, silver, and chromium (PRs = 1.97–13.64). Exposure to high levels of sulfur dioxide was positively associated with cobalt and nickel (PR = 1.98 and 1.88, respectively). The current analysis suggests the possibility of a related simultaneous exposure to multiple pollutants. Further studies are warranted to corroborate the findings and reveal the multiple exposure effect on human health.

Highlights

The typical pathway suggested for the effect of most pollutants on human health begins with absorption into the body and, via the inflammatory reaction, proceeds to the developmentAtmosphere 2020, 11, 638; doi:10.3390/atmos11060638 www.mdpi.com/journal/atmosphereAtmosphere 2020, 11, 638 of pathophysiological processes [1,2]
In studies performed in Belgium [11], Korea [12], and France [13], higher concentrations of Pb, Cd, and mercury (Hg) were recorded in blood and urine samples of subjects residing in proximity to industrial zones compared to subjects from the reference areas
We administered the questionnaire to 64.3% of the women (92/143) who could be reached by the study interviewers during their peri-partum hospitalization

Summary

Introduction

The typical pathway suggested for the effect of most pollutants on human health begins with absorption into the body and, via the inflammatory reaction, proceeds to the developmentAtmosphere 2020, 11, 638; doi:10.3390/atmos11060638 www.mdpi.com/journal/atmosphereAtmosphere 2020, 11, 638 of pathophysiological processes [1,2]. The evaluation of the association between the body levels of pollutants and measured external exposures is imperative for the risk assessment of potential hazardous factors at a large population scale. The link between exposure to ambient pollutants and biomarkers has been reported in multiple occupational health studies. Studies of non-occupational populations were able to establish a link between residence in a polluted area and metal detection in human liquids. In a study of the adult population via the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in 1988–1994 and 1999–2008, Pb values in blood were related to Pb air measurements, while the dose of Pb measured in humans steadily decreased with an overall reduction of ambient Pb [15]

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