Urinary Cadmium Concentrations Research Articles

Early postnatal and concurrent exposure to metals and neurobehavioral outcomes at 5 years: Associations with individual environmental exposures and mixtures

BackgroundLittle is known about the effect of postnatal exposure to heavy metals on children’s behavior problems. This study aimed to investigate the association between metal exposure during different stages of postnatal life and neurobehavioral outcomes in preschool children. MethodsUrinary concentrations of six metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, and vanadium) were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in 220 participants at two time points: before 1 year and at 5 years of age. Mothers completed the Child Behavior Checklist when the children were 5 years old. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between metal concentrations and behavioral outcomes. We employed Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to assess possible joint effects and potential interactions between metal mixtures and behavioral outcomes. ResultsConcentrations of urinary arsenic (As) in infants were associated with higher scores for anxious/shy behavior problems (β ranging from 0.03 to 0.23). Further analyses showed that As exposure increased the odds of scores falling into the borderline or clinical range on anxious/depressed, affective, and pervasive developmental problems (ORs: 2.45–3.40). Stratification by sex indicated significance in girls but not in boys. BKMR analysis showed that, among the metal mixtures, As displayed a major effect on behavior scores. Concentrations of urinary cadmium in infants were also associated with higher behavioral scores but did not increase the risk of clinical problems. A cross-sectional survey in 5-year-olds did not show a significant association between concurrent metal exposure and behavioral outcome. ConclusionOur results showed that exposure to As and Cd during infancy was associated with emotional problems in children. The effect of arsenic exposure was more pronounced among female infants. We suggest reducing exposure to toxic metals during early postnatal life to prevent behavioral problems in children."

Serum and urinary cadmium and zinc profiles in breast cancer patients and their association with estrogen and HER-2 receptors, and redox status

BackgroundCadmium, a metal implicated in environmental toxicity, is linked to tumor growth and cancer. On the other hand, zinc plays an essential function in oxidative stress and can counteract cadmium toxicity and carcinogenicity. This research aims to evaluate the urine and serum values of cadmium and zinc in breast cancer (BC) patients and their association with estrogen (ER) and HER-2 receptors, and redox status. MethodsForty BC patients and thirty healthy subjects participated in this study. Cadmium and zinc levels were measured in serum and urine samples by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Redox status markers were determined by colorimetric methods. ResultsThe amount of cadmium in the BC patients was substantially greater than in the healthy subjects. Zinc levels were significantly lower in patients with BC compared to controls. Breast cancer patients with ER-positive tumors had significantly higher urinary cadmium concentrations (U-Cd) compared to patients with ER-negative tumors. There was no significant difference between the parameters of redox status and the value of cadmium and zinc between patients with BC in the HER-2 subgroup. Malondialdehyde levels in the serum were substantially greater in BC patients than in healthy subjects. Total thiol level and catalase and superoxide dismutase activity in serum were considerably lower in BC patients than in healthy subjects. ConclusionsThe etiology of BC may be due to a disturbance in redox status and levels of elements. Increasing U-Cd and lowering zinc levels in the serum could be the risk factors for BC.

Impact of COVID-19 on temporal trends and health risks of urinary metal concentrations among residents of Guangzhou, China

Long-term biomonitoring of urinary metal ions is an essential tool for the epidemiological assessment of chronic exposure levels, enabling us to track changes in metal exposure over time and better understand its health implications. In this study, we evaluated the temporal trends of urinary metal ions among 1962 residents of Guangzhou, China, from 2018 to 2022. The total metal ion concentrations in the urine of the population did not change significantly between 2018 and 2019. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, urinary total metal ion concentrations began to decline dramatically, reaching their lowest level in 2021. A rebound in concentrations was observed in 2022, which returned to the initial levels observed in 2018. Urine chromium and cadmium concentrations peaked in 2020, while urinary lead levels were the highest in 2021, and urinary nickel concentrations were the highest in 2022. Males consistently displayed higher urinary concentrations of lead and arsenic throughout each year of the study. Furthermore, minors consistently had higher urinary nickel levels than adults, whereas adults consistently had higher urinary cadmium concentrations than minors. Cluster analyses were conducted annually on urinary metal ions to examine the differences in their distribution and to evaluate changes in metal exposure patterns over time. The Monte Carlo simulations indicate that the whole population exhibits a high non-carcinogenic risk from arsenic exposure and significant carcinogenic risks associated with exposure to nickel, arsenic, chromium, and cadmium. The next two years were predicted by a gray prediction model, and the results are tested using mean absolute percentage error which demonstrating high accuracy.

Complex interplay of heavy metals and renal injury: New perspectives from longitudinal epidemiological evidence

BackgroundEpidemiological studies have reported associations between heavy metals and renal function. However, longitudinal studies are required to further validate these associations and explore the interactive effects of heavy metals on renal function and their directional influence. MethodThis study, conducted in Northeast China from 2016 to 2021, included a four-time repeated measures design involving 384 participants (1536 observations). Urinary concentrations of chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), and lead (Pb) were measured, along with renal biomarkers including urinary microalbumin (umAlb), urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), and β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) levels. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated. A Linear Mixed Effects Model (LME) examined the association between individual metal exposure and renal biomarkers. Subsequently, Quantile g-computation and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) models assessed the overall effects of heavy metal mixtures. Marginal Effect models examined the directional impact of metal interactions in the BKMR on renal function. ResultResults indicate significant impacts of individual and combined exposures of Cr, Cd, Pb, and Mn on renal biomarkers. Metal interactions in the BKMR model were observed, with synergistic effects of Cd-Cr on NAG, umAlb, UACR; Cd-Pb on NAG, UACR; Pb-Cr on umAlb, UACR, eGFR-MDRD, eGFR-EPI; and an antagonistic effect of Mn-Pb-Cr on UACR. ConclusionBoth individual and combined exposures to heavy metals are associated with renal biomarkers, with significant synergistic interactions leading to renal damage. Our findings elucidate potential interactions among these metals, offering valuable insights into the mechanisms linking multiple metal exposures to renal injury.

Urinary cadmium concentration is associated with the severity and clinical outcomes of COVID-19: a bicenter observational cohort study

BackgroundCadmium and nickel exposure can cause oxidative stress, induce inflammation, inhibit immune function, and therefore has significant impacts on the pathogenesis and severity of many diseases. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can also provoke oxidative stress and the dysregulation of inflammatory and immune responses. This study aimed to assess the potential associations of cadmium and nickel exposure with the severity and clinical outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).MethodsWe performed a retrospective, observational, bicenter cohort analysis of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Taiwan between June 2022 and July 2023. Cadmium and nickel concentrations in blood and urine were measured within 3 days of the diagnosis of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the severity and clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19 were analyzed.ResultsA total of 574 patients were analyzed and divided into a severe COVID-19 group (hospitalized patients) (n = 252; 43.9%), and non-severe COVID-19 group (n = 322; 56.1%). The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 11.8% (n = 68). The severe COVID-19 patients were older, had significantly more comorbidities, and significantly higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 than the non-severe COVID-19 patients (all p < 0.05). Blood and urine cadmium and urine nickel concentrations were significantly higher in the severe COVID-19 patients than in the non-severe COVID-19 patients. Among the severe COVID-19 patients, those in higher urine cadmium/creatinine quartiles had a significantly higher risk of organ failure (i.e., higher APACHE II and SOFA scores), higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, lower PaO2/FiO2 requiring higher invasive mechanical ventilation support, higher risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome, and higher 60-, 90-day, and all-cause hospital mortality (all p < 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression models revealed that urine cadmium/creatinine was independently associated with severe COVID-19 (adjusted OR 1.643 [95% CI 1.060–2.547], p = 0.026), and that a urine cadmium/creatinine value > 2.05 μg/g had the highest predictive value (adjusted OR 5.349, [95% CI 1.118–25.580], p = 0.036).ConclusionsUrine cadmium concentration in the early course of COVID-19 could predict the severity and clinical outcomes of patients and was independently associated with the risk of severe COVID-19.

Food groups consumption and urinary metal mixtures in women from Northern Mexico

ObjectiveWe aimed to evaluate the association between food groups and mixtures of urinary metal concentrations in a sample of women; as well as identify the most important metals within each mixture. MethodsThis is a cross-sectional analysis between food groups consumption and mixtures of various metals in urine from 439 women, ≥18 years old, from Northen Mexico. We estimated the dietary intake of 20 food groups through a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Urinary metal concentration of aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, cesium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, thallium, tin, vanadium, and zinc, were measured by inductively coupled plasma triple quad. We used weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression with binomial family specification to assess the association of food groups and metal mixtures, as well as to identify the most important ones. ResultsWe identified tin, lead, and antimony as the most important metals, in the metal mixtures that were positively associated with the consumption of eggs, non-starchy vegetables, fruits, seafood, corn, oil seeds, chicken, soda, legumes, red and/or processed meats, as well as negatively with the consumption of alliums, corn tortillas and/or vegetable oils. ConclusionOur findings suggest that food consumption is related to more than one metal in the study sample, and highlights the presence of some of them. Further research is required to identify the possible sources of metals in food, as well as the chronic adverse health effects attributed to their simultaneous presence.

Association between urinary cobalt exposure and kidney stones in U.S. adult population: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Purpose Heavy metal exposure can cause impaired or reduced pathology in the kidneys, lungs, liver, and other vital organs. However, the relationship between heavy metal exposure and kidney stones has not been determined. The goal of this research was to determine the association between heavy metal exposure and kidney stones in a population of American adults in general. Materials and methods We evaluated 29,201 individuals (≥20 years) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The association between heavy metal exposure and kidney stones was verified by multiple logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression. Dose–response curves were generated to analyze the relationship between heavy metal concentrations and the occurrence of kidney stones. Moreover, we used propensity score matching (PSM) to exclude the effect of confounding variables. Results After a rigorous enrollment screening process, we included 8518 participants. Logistic regression showed that urinary cadmium (U-Cd) and urinary cobalt (U-Co) concentrations were significantly different in the kidney stone group before PSM (p < 0.001). Dose–response curves revealed that the occurrence of kidney stones increased significantly with increasing U-Cd and U-Co concentrations. After adjustment for covariates, only biomarkers of U-Co were linked to the occurrence of kidney stones. When the lowest quartile was used as a reference, the 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for kidney stones across the other quartiles were 1.015 (0.767–1.344), 1.409 (1.059–1.875), and 2.013 (1.505–2.693) for U-Cos (p < 0.001). Conclusion In the U.S. population, high U-Co levels are positively correlated with the potential risk of kidney stones.

Association of urinary cadmium level with body mass index and body circumferences among older adults over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China

Objective: To investigate the association of urinary cadmium level with body mass index (BMI) and body circumferences among the older adults over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China. Methods: Subjects were older adults over 65 years old from the Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study (HABCS) between 2017 and 2018 conducted in 9 longevity areas in China. A total of 1 968 older adults were included in this study. Information including socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyles, diet intake, and health status was collected by using questionnaires and physical examinations. Urine samples were collected to detect urinary cadmium and creatinine levels. Body circumferences included waist circumference, hip circumference and calf circumference. Subjects were divided into three groups (low:<0.77 μg/g·creatinine, middle:0.77-1.69 μg/g·creatinine, high:≥1.69 μg/g·creatinine) by tertiles of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium concentration. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the association of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium level with BMI and body circumferences. The dose-response relationship of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium concentration with BMI and body circumferences was analyzed by using restrictive cubic splines fitting multiple linear regression model. Results: The mean age of subjects was (83.34±11.14) years old. The median (Q1, Q3) concentration of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium was 1.13 (0.63, 2.09) μg/g·creatinine, and the BMI was (22.70±3.82) kg/m2. The mean values of waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference were (85.42±10.68) cm, (92.67±8.90) cm, and (31.08±4.76) cm, respectively. After controlling confounding factors, the results of the multiple linear regression model showed that for each increment of 1 μg/g·creatinine in creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium, the change of BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference in the high-level group was -0.28 (-0.37, -0.19) kg/m2, -0.74 (-0.96, -0.52) cm, -0.78 (-0.96, -0.61) cm, and -0.20 (-0.30, -0.11) cm, respectively. The restrictive cubic splines curve showed a negative nonlinear association of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium with BMI (Pnonlinear<0.001) and negative linear associations of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium with waist circumference (Plinear<0.001), hip circumference (Plinear<0.001), and calf circumference (Plinear<0.001). Conclusion: Urinary cadmium level is significantly associated with decreased BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference and calf circumference among older adults over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China.

Heavy Metals and Trajectories of Anti-Müllerian Hormone During the Menopausal Transition.

Experimental and epidemiological studies have linked metals with women's reproductive aging, but the mechanisms are not well understood. Disrupted ovarian folliculogenesis and diminished ovarian reserve could be a pathway through which metals impact reproductive hormones and outcomes. The study aimed to evaluate the associations of heavy metals with anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), a marker of ovarian reserve. The study included 549 women from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation with 2252 repeated AMH measurements from 10 to 0 years before the final menstrual period (FMP). Serum AMH concentrations were measured using picoAMH ELISA. Urinary concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead were measured using high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Multivariable linear mixed regressions modeled AMH as a function of time before the FMP interaction terms between metals and time to the FMP were also included. Adjusting for confounders, compared with those in the lowest tertile, women in the highest tertile of urinary arsenic or mercury concentrations had lower AMH concentrations at the FMP (percent change: -32.1%; 95% CI, -52.9 to -2.2, P-trend = .03 for arsenic; percent change: -40.7%; 95% CI, -58.9 to -14.5, P-trend = .005 for mercury). Higher cadmium and mercury were also associated with accelerated rates of decline in AMH over time (percent change per year: -9.0%; 95% CI, -15.5 to -1.9, P-trend = .01 for cadmium; -7.3%; 95% CI, -14.0 to -0.1, P-trend = .04 for mercury). Heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium, and mercury may act as ovarian toxicants by diminishing ovarian reserve in women approaching the FMP.

Associations between metals and metabolomic profiles related to diabetes among adults in a rural region

IntroductionExposure to metals is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Potential mechanisms for metals-T2D associations involve biological processes including oxidative stress and disruption of insulin-regulated glucose uptake. In this study, we assessed whether associations between metal exposure and metabolite profiles relate to biological pathways linked to T2D. Materials and methodsWe used data from 29 adults rural Colorado residents enrolled in the San Luis Valley Diabetes Study. Urinary concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, lead, manganese, and tungsten were measured. Metabolic effects were evaluated using untargeted metabolic profiling, which included 61,851 metabolite signals detected in serum. We evaluated cross-sectional associations between metals and metabolites present in at least 50% of samples. Primary analyses adjusted urinary heavy metal concentrations for creatinine. Metabolite outcomes associated with each metal exposure were evaluated using pathway enrichment to investigate potential mechanisms underlying the relationship between metals and T2D. ResultsParticipants had a mean age of 58.5 years (standard deviation = 9.2), 48.3% were female, 48.3% identified as Hispanic/Latino, 13.8% were current smokers, and 65.5% had T2D. Of the detected metabolites, 455 were associated with at least one metal, including 42 associated with arsenic, 22 with cadmium, 10 with cobalt, 313 with lead, 66 with manganese, and two with tungsten. The metabolic features were linked to 24 pathways including linoleate metabolism, butanoate metabolism, and arginine and proline metabolism. Several of these pathways have been previously associated with T2D, and our results were similar when including only participants with T2D. ConclusionsOur results support the hypothesis that metals exposure may be associated with biological processes related to T2D, including amino acid, co-enzyme, and sugar and fatty acid metabolism. Insight into biological pathways could influence interventions to prevent adverse health outcomes due to metal exposure.

The Relationship between Cadmium Exposure and Mortality in Postmenopausal Females: A Cohort Study of 2001–2018 NHANES

Cadmium is one of the most harmful elements to human health, and the health of postmenopausal females is an important public health issue. However, the correlation between exposure to cadmium and the survival status of postmenopausal women is currently not fully clear. This research intended to explore the correlation between cadmium exposure and mortality among postmenopausal females using a representative sample of the population in the U.S. We drew upon the data of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001–2018). Cox’s proportional hazards models and a restricted cubic spline regression (RCS) model were utilized to analyze the correlation between blood and urine cadmium and the mortality of postmenopausal women. Stratified analyses also were conducted to identify the highest risk factor of mortality for the participants. The mean concentration of blood cadmium was 0.59 μg/L, and the mean concentration of urine cadmium was 0.73 μg/g creatinine. Higher cadmium concentrations in blood and urine were significantly related to an increase in all-cause mortality for postmenopausal females after adjustment for multivariate covariates. Furthermore, there was a linear positive correlation between urine cadmium concentrations and cancer mortality, while there was no correlation between blood cadmium and cancer death. The correlation between cadmium concentrations and all-cause mortality is stronger in older, more overweight women with a history of hypertension or smoking. We propose that cadmium remains an important risk factor of all-cause and cancer mortality among postmenopausal females in the U.S. Further decreases in cadmium exposure in the population can promote the health of postmenopausal women and prolong their lifespan.

Association between urinary concentrations of toxic metals/metalloids and oxidative stress in Brazilians living in areas affected by the Fundão dam failure

The Fundão Dam failure has been the most significant environmental disaster in Brazil. The catastrophe released large amounts of mining waste into the environment, including toxic metals/metalloids, which are recognized to induce carcinogenic effects. The urinary levels of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG), a widely accepted oxidative stress and carcinogenesis biomarker, provide a potential tool for assessing the disaster's health implications. This study investigated the association between urinary levels of some toxic metals/metalloids and 8OHdG in Brazilian individuals living in areas affected by the Fundão dam failure. Urinary concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, while 8OHdG was analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Non-parametric bootstrap regression was used to estimate the associations between the urinary levels of toxic elements and 8OHdG. The results showed that except for Hg, urinary concentrations of all metals/metalloids analyzed here exceeded the reference ranges for the Brazilian population. The regression analysis revealed that As (0.337; CI 95%: 0.203; 0.474), Cd (0.268; CI 95%: 0.036; 0.520), and Ni (0.296; CI 950.108; 0.469) were positively associated with creatinine-adjusted urinary 8OHdG levels. Associations were not found for Hg (0.0122; CI 95%: −0.155; 0.183) and Pb (0.201; CI 95%: −0.040; 0.498). The current findings suggest that high exposure to toxic metals/metalloids might increase 8OHdG levels with potential adverse health effects. This study is the first one in which the relationship between toxic metals/metalloids and oxidative stress biomarkers is investigated in populations affected by environmental disasters. Further prospective studies are necessary to monitor exposure levels and explore additional health impacts.

Association between Sperm Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Concentrations of Urinary Cadmium and Selenium

Elevated sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) is associated with damage to sperm and poorer measures of semen quality. Exposure to cadmium (Cd) can increase oxidative stress and damage sperm mitochondria. The adverse effects of Cd can potentially be reduced by sufficient selenium (Se). The objective of this study was to examine the associations between sperm mtDNAcn and urinary concentrations of Cd and Se, as well as the Cd/Se molar ratio. Participants were recruited from patients who sought infertility treatment at two hospitals in Japan. Urine and semen specimens and self-administered questionnaires were collected on the day of recruitment. Sperm mtDNAcn was measured in extracted sperm DNA by multiplex real-time qPCR. Urinary Cd and Se concentrations were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and their molar weights were calculated to obtain the Cd/Se molar ratio. Linear regression was used to estimate associations after adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking, drinking, exercise, varicocele, and hospital of recruitment. Sperm mtDNAcn showed statistically insignificant associations with creatinine-adjusted concentrations of urinary Cd (β = 0.13, 95% CI −0.18, 0.44) and Se (β = −0.09, 95% CI −0.54, 0.35), and Cd/Se molar ratio (β = 0.12, 95% CI −0.13, 0.37). The current study found no evidence of an association between mtDNAcn and urinary concentrations of Cd or Se, or the Cd/Se molar ratio.

Do Nanoparticles of Calcium Disodium EDTA Minimize the Toxic Effects of Cadmium in Female Rats?

The present study aims to investigate the ability of CaNa2EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) macroparticles and nanoparticles to treat cadmium-induced toxicity in female rats and to compare their efficacies. Forty rats were divided into 4 equal groups: control, cadmium, cadmium + CaNa2EDTA macroparticles and Cd + CaNa2EDTA nanoparticles. Cadmium was added to the drinking water in a concentration of 30 ppm for 10 weeks. CaNa2EDTA macroparticles and nanoparticles (50 mg/kg) were intraperitoneally injected during the last 4 weeks of the exposure period. Every two weeks, blood and urine samples were collected for determination of urea, creatinine, metallothionein and cadmium concentrations. At the end of the experiment, the skeleton of rats was examined by X-ray and tissue samples from the kidney and femur bone were collected and subjected to histopathological examination. Exposure to cadmium increased the concentrations of urea and creatinine in the serum and the concentrations of metallothionein and cadmium in serum and urine of rats. A decrease in bone mineralization by X-ray examination in addition to various histopathological alterations in the kidney and femur bone of Cd-intoxicated rats were also observed. Treatment with both CaNa2EDTA macroparticles and nanoparticles ameliorated the toxic effects induced by cadmium on the kidney and bone. However, CaNa2EDTA nanoparticles showed a superior efficacy compared to the macroparticles and therefore can be used as an effective chelating antidote for treatment of cadmium toxicity.

Association of exposure to environmental vanadium and manganese with lung function among young children: A population-based study

Exposure to environmental metals has been associated with health outcomes including respiratory health. Little is known about the impact of exposure to environmental metals on lung function among young children in general population. This study aimed to investigate the associations of exposure to metals with lung function among young children in a population-based cohort. A total of 1488 children aged 5–8 years attended a follow-up visit as part of the Longitudinal Investigation of Global Health in Taiwanese Schoolchildren (LIGHTS) cohort. We measured urinary samples of vanadium (median: 1.21 ng/mL; interquartile range (IQR): 0.73–1.98), manganese (median: 0.23 ng/mL; IQR: 0.13–0.47), arsenic (median: 40.51 ng/mL; IQR: 21.66–70.49), nickel (median: 1.09 ng/mL; IQR: 0.31–3.60), and cadmium (median: 0.26 ng/mL; IQR: 0.11–0.43) and performed lung function tests. Urinary vanadium concentrations were inversely associated with FVC (β coefficient for the highest quartile versus the other quartiles: −33.40, p = 0.001), FEV1 (β: −41.31, p < 0.001), FEV1/FVC ratio (β: −1.00, p = 0.009), PEF (β: −92.12, p = 0.004), and FEF25–75 (β: −82.85, p < 0.001), after adjusting for relevant confounders. Urinary manganese concentrations were inversely associated with FVC (β: −26.60, p = 0.007), FEV1 (β: −31.62, p = 0.001), PEF (β: −84.86, p = 0.009), and FEF25–75 (β: −69.21, p = 0.002). Stratification analyses found inverse associations of urinary vanadium and manganese concentrations with lung function parameters predominantly among children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. We did not find significant associations of urinary arsenic, nickel, and cadmium concentrations with lung function parameters. In conclusion, this study adds new evidence showing inverse associations of vanadium and manganese exposure with lung function among young children in the general population. Children with environmental tobacco smoke exposure are particularly vulnerable to adverse impact of vanadium and manganese exposure on lung function.

Relationship of individual and mixed urinary metals exposure with liver function in the China National Human Biomonitoring (CNHBM) of Zhejiang Province

BackgroundHeavy metals have been reported to affect liver function. However, there is currently little and inconsistent knowledge about the effects of combined and individual urinary metals on specific parameters of liver function in the general population. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate their associations. MethodsThis study involved 807 general population from the China National Human Biomonitoring of Zhejiang Province 2017–2018. Concentrations of urinary metals, including Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Nickle (Ni), Arsenic (As), Selenium (Se), Molybdenum (Mo), Cadmium (Cd), Thallium (Tl) and Lead (Pb) were measured. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), direct bilirubin (DBIL), total bilirubin (TBIL) as liver function biomarkers. Multivariable linear regression and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression were employed to explore the associations of urinary metals with liver function biomarkers. Subgroup analysis stratified by gender and age, excluding smokers and drinkers for sensitivity analysis. ResultsBoth statistical models indicated that urinary metals were positively associated with ALT and AST, while negatively with TP, ALB, DBIL and TBIL. In the WQS analysis, each quartile increase in the ln-transformed levels of metal mixtures was associated with 4.11 IU/L (95% CI: 1.07, 7.15) higher ALT and 3.00 IU/L (95% CI: 1.75, 4.25) higher AST, as well as, with 0.67 g/L (95% CI: 1.24, −0.11) lower TP, 0.74 g/L (95% CI: 1.09, −0.39) lower ALB, 0.38 μmol/L (95% CI: 0.67, −0.09) lower DBIL, and 1.56 μmol/L (95% CI: 2.22, −0.90) lower TBIL. The association between urinary metals and ALT was primarily driven by Cd (55.8%), Cr contributed the most to the association with AST (20.2%) and TBIL (45.2%), while the association with TP was primarily driven by Ni (38.2%), the association with ALB was primarily driven by As (32.8%), and the association with DBIL was primarily driven by Pb (30.9%). The associations between urinary metals and liver function might differ by sex and age. ConclusionUrinary metals were significantly associated with liver function parameters. Further studies are required to clarify the relationship between heavy metals and liver function.

Cadmium exposure is associated with decreased muscle strength in middle-aged and older adults.

Cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, is ubiquitous in the environment. No previous research has evaluated the relationship of blood and urine cadmium levels with muscle strength measured by isokinetic knee extensor strength. This analysis included participants who were aged 50 years or older and had measurements of cadmium in blood (n = 2052) and urine (n = 811) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Blood and urine cadmium levels were assessed by atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, respectively. Isokinetic dynamometry was used to assess knee extensor strength (peak force). Linear regression models were used to examine the association between cadmium exposure and peak force, with adjustment for potential confounders. The median values (25-75th percentiles) of blood cadmium and creatinine-corrected urine cadmium were 0.50 μg/L (0.40-0.70) and 0.43 μg/g (0.27-0.71), respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, linear dose-response relationships of peak force with blood and urine cadmium concentrations were observed in the present study. Compared to participants in the highest quartile of blood cadmium and urine cadmium, the peak force decreased by 6.99 Newton (95% CI: -21.96, 7.98) and 26.84 Newton (95% CI: -44.34, -9.34) in participants in the lowest quartiles, respectively. The observed associations were more evident among men participants. Our findings suggest that the cadmium levels have a dose response relationship with decreased muscle strength measured by isokinetic knee extensor strength in middle aged and older adults. Further longitudinal investigations are required to disentangle these complexities on this issue.

Urinary cadmium and endometriosis prevalence in a US nationally representative sample: results from NHANES 1999-2006.

Is exposure to toxic metal cadmium associated with increased endometriosis prevalence among a nationally representative sample of the US population? Concentrations of urinary cadmium, a long-term biomarker (10-30 years) of cadmium exposure, were associated with an increased prevalence of endometriosis. Cadmium exhibits estrogenic properties and may increase the risk of endometriosis, a gynecologic condition associated with substantial morbidity, for which estrogen has a central pathogenic role. Previous epidemiological studies of cadmium and endometriosis have yielded mixed results, with null, positive, and inverse associations being reported. We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from four cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2006. The study population comprised participants aged 20-54 years who had an endometriosis diagnosis, available data on urinary cadmium, and a glomerular filtration rate ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (unweighted n = 1647). Urinary cadmium was measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, and we used urinary creatinine concentrations and covariate-adjusted standardization to account for urinary dilution. Self-reported diagnosis of endometriosis was ascertained by interview. We examined the association between quartiles of urinary cadmium and endometriosis using log-binomial regression to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% CIs. We observed twice the prevalence of endometriosis for participants with cadmium concentrations in the second quartile (versus the first quartile) (aPR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1, 3.9) and the third quartile (versus the first quartile) (aPR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1, 3.7). Our data also suggested a 60% increased prevalence of endometriosis with urinary cadmium concentrations in the fourth quartile (versus the first quartile) (aPR 1.6, 95% CI: 0.8, 3.2). In a sensitivity analysis, restricting the study population to premenopausal participants with an intact uterus and at least one ovary (unweighted n = 1298), stronger associations accompanied by wider CIs were observed. We were limited by the ascertainment of urinary cadmium and endometriosis diagnosis at a single time point, given the cross-sectional study design, and we relied on self-report of endometriosis diagnosis. However, urinary cadmium characterizes long-term exposure and findings from validation studies suggest that misclassification of self-reported endometriosis diagnosis may be minimal. This study suggests that cadmium is associated with an increased endometriosis prevalence. Given the substantial morbidity conferred by endometriosis and that the general population is ubiquitously exposed to cadmium, further research is warranted to confirm our findings. This work was supported by the National Institute of Nursing Research (grant R00NR017191 to K.U.) of the National Institutes of Health. The authors report no conflict of interest. N/A.

Association between mediterranean diet and metal(loid) exposure in 4-5-year-old children living in Spain.

Even relatively low levels of metals exposure may impact health, particularly among vulnerable populations such as infants and young children. However, little is known about the interplay between simultaneous metal exposures, common in real-life scenarios, and their association with specific dietary patterns. In this study, we have evaluated the association between adherence to Mediterranean diet (MD) and urinary metal concentrations individually and as an exposure mixture in 713 children aged 4-5-years from the INMA cohort study. We used a validated food frequency questionnaire to calculate two MD indexes scores: aMED and rMED. These indexes gather information on various food groups within the MD and score differently. To measure urinary concentrations of cobalt, copper, zinc, molybdenum, selenium, lead, and cadmium as exposure biomarkers, we used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), coupled with an ion chromatography (IC) equipment for arsenic speciation analysis. We applied linear regression and quantile g-computation, adjusted for confounders, to analyse the association between MD adherence and exposure to the metal mixture. High adherence to MD such as the quintile (Q) 5 MD was associated with higher urinary arsenobetaine (AsB) levels than Q1, with β values of 0.55 (confidence interval - CI 95% 0.01; 1.09) for aMED and 0.73 (CI 95% 0.13; 1.33) for rMED. Consumption of fish was associated with increased urinary AsB but reduced inorganic arsenic concentrations. In contrast, the aMED vegetables consumption increased urinary inorganic arsenic content. A moderate level of adherence to MD (Q2 and Q3) was associated with lower copper urinary concentrations than Q1, with β values of −0.42 (CI 95% −0.72; −0.11) for Q2 and -0.33 (CI 95% −0.63; −0.02) for Q3, but only with aMED. Our study, conducted in Spain, revealed that adhering to the MD reduces exposure to certain metals while increasing exposure to others. Specifically, we observed increase in exposure to non-toxic AsB, highlighting the significance of consuming fish/seafood. However, it is crucial to emphasize the necessity for additional efforts in reducing early-life exposure to toxic metals, even when adhering to certain food components of the MD.

Levels of Arsenic, Cadmium, and Mercury in Urine of Indigenous People Living Close to Oil Extraction Areas in the Peruvian Amazon.

Levels of Arsenic, Cadmium, and Mercury in Urine of Indigenous People Living Close to Oil Extraction Areas in the Peruvian Amazon.