Abstract
Observational studies have indicated that low-to-moderate exposure to cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) adversely affects birth anthropometry, but results are inconclusive. The aim of this study was to elucidate potential impact on birth anthropometry of exposure to Cd, Pb, and Hg in pregnant women, and to identify the main dietary sources. In the NICE (Nutritional impact on Immunological maturation during Childhood in relation to the Environment) birth-cohort in northern Sweden, blood and urine were collected from pregnant women in early third trimester. Cd, Pb and Hg were measured in erythrocytes (n = 584), and Cd also in urine (n = 581), by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Dietary data were collected through a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire administered in mid-third trimester. Birth anthropometry data were extracted from hospital records. In multivariable-adjusted spline regression models, a doubling of maternal erythrocyte Cd (median: 0.29 μg/kg) above the spline knot of 0.50 μg/kg was associated with reduced birth weight (B: −191 g; 95% CI: −315, −68) and length (−0.67 cm; −1.2, −0.14). The association with birth weight remained when the analysis was restricted to never-smokers. Likewise, a doubling of erythrocyte Hg (median 1.5 μg/kg, mainly MeHg) above 1.0 μg/kg, was associated with decreased birth weight (−59 g; −115, −3.0), and length (−0.29 cm; −0.54, −0.047). Maternal Pb (median 11 μg/kg) was unrelated to birth weight and length. Erythrocyte Cd was primarily associated with intake of plant derived foods, Pb with game meat, tea and coffee, and Hg with fish. The results indicated that low-level maternal Cd and Hg exposure were associated with poorer birth anthropometry. Further prospective studies in low-level exposed populations are warranted.
Highlights
The toxic metals cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg), areK
Both Pb and MeHg are well-known developmental neurotoxicants (EFSA, 2010, 2012b), and more recently, maternal Cd exposure has been found to be inversely associated with neurodevelopment (Gustin et al, 2018; Liu et al, 2019)
The present study found that the inverse association of maternal erythrocyte Cd above 0.50 mg/kg with birth weight and length remained among never-smokers, which was shown for nonsmokers in the U.K study (Taylor et al, 2016)
Summary
K. Gustin et al / Environmental Pollution 265 (2020) 114986 accumulates in the placenta, potentially causing placental toxicity (Kippler et al, 2010; Punshon et al, 2019), Pb passes across the placenta to the fetus (Agrawal, 2012), and MeHg is transported actively to the fetus (Bjornberg et al, 2005). Gustin et al / Environmental Pollution 265 (2020) 114986 accumulates in the placenta, potentially causing placental toxicity (Kippler et al, 2010; Punshon et al, 2019), Pb passes across the placenta to the fetus (Agrawal, 2012), and MeHg is transported actively to the fetus (Bjornberg et al, 2005) Both Pb and MeHg are well-known developmental neurotoxicants (EFSA, 2010, 2012b), and more recently, maternal Cd exposure has been found to be inversely associated with neurodevelopment (Gustin et al, 2018; Liu et al, 2019). In a recent Spanish study, total Hg concentrations in cord blood were inversely associated with fetal biparietal diameter, but not with femur length, abdominal circumference or estimated fetal weight (Ballester et al, 2018)
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