Determinants of Blood Cadmium, Lead, Arsenic, Uranium, Mercury and Molybdenum Levels among Pregnant Women in Crete, Greece

Abstract

ISEE-0533 Background and Objectives: Exposure to toxic metals during pregnancy may have detrimental effects on fetal development, in particular the central nervous system. We investigated into the major sociodemographic, dietary and lifestyle determinants of blood concentrations of Cd, Pb, As, U, Hg and Mo among pregnant women from Crete, Greece. Methods: Blood drawn from 50 pregnant women, randomly selected from the population of the mother-child birth cohort “Rhea”, was analyzed for the total concentrations of a number of toxic elements, using ICP-MS after high-pressure microwave-assisted acid digestion. Extensive questionnaire data on dietary fish intakes, smoking habits and self reported exposure to secondhand smoke was collected. Linear regression models were applied, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: The mean levels of Cd, Pb, As, U, Hg and Mo were 0.45 ng/ml, 10 ng/ml, 0.49 ng/ml, 0.047 ng/ml, 1.5 ng/ml and 0.59 ng/ml, respectively. Ethnicity was a strong determinant of blood metal concentrations, as non-Greek women were found to have lower concentrations of Hg (coef −0.58, P < 0.001) and As (coef −0.66, P = 0.022) but higher concentrations of Pb (coef 0.15, P = 0.033) in comparison to women of Greek ethnicity, controlling for age. Current smoking status was related to higher concentrations of Cd (coef 0.45, P < 0.001;) and a tendency for higher As (coef 0.33, P = 0.090) and Hg (coef 0.18, P = 0.090) after adjusting for ethnicity and education. Blood As concentrations were also found to be associated with exposure to secondhand smoke in public venues (coef 0.54, P = 0.039) and to the number of sources of second hand smoke exposure (coef 0.55, P = 0.025). Overall dietary fish intake was not found in the regression analysis to modify serum heavy metal concentrations. Conclusions: Ethnicity as well as active and passive smoking were the main determinants of blood concentrations of Cd, Pb, As and Hg among pregnant women in Crete, Greece.