Geographic clustering of elevated blood heavy metal levels in pregnant women

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Katherine E. King¹  Monica D. Nye²  Ross Meentemeyer³  Eric Money³  Cathrine Hoyo⁴  Rachel L. Maguire⁴  Randy Jirtle⁴  Lloyd Michener⁵  Michelle A. Mendez⁶  Susan K. Murphy⁷  Amy P. Murtha⁷  Wayne Robarge⁸  Thomas H. Darrah⁹  Avner Vengosh^1,10 

[1] Biodemography of Aging Research Unit (BARU), Duke University, Room A110C, Erwin Mill Building, 2024 W. Main St, 27708, Durham, NC, USA;Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC, USA;Center for Geospatial Analytics, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7106, 5125 Jordan Hall, Raleigh, NC, USA;Department of Biological Sciences, and Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7633, 850 Man Campus Dr, Raleigh, NC, USA;Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University, 2200 Main St, Durham, NC, USA;Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina, 101 Manning Dr, Chapel Hill, NC, USA;Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University, 2608 Erwin Rd, Suite 210, Durham, NC, USA;Department of Soil Science, North Carolina State University, PO Box 7619, Raleigh, NC, USA;Division of Water, Climate, and the Environment, School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University, 275 Mendenhall Laboratory, 125th South Oval, Columbus, OH, USA;Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 450 Research Dr, Durham, NC, USA;

关键词: Cadmium;    Lead;    Mercury;    Arsenic;    Spatial analysis;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-015-2379-9

 received in 2015-05-09, accepted in 2015-10-02,  发布年份 2015

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundCadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As) exposure is ubiquitous and has been associated with higher risk of growth restriction and cardiometabolic and neurodevelopmental disorders. However, cost-efficient strategies to identify at-risk populations and potential sources of exposure to inform mitigation efforts are limited. The objective of this study was to describe the spatial distribution and identify factors associated with Cd, Pb, Hg, and As concentrations in peripheral blood of pregnant women.MethodsHeavy metals were measured in whole peripheral blood of 310 pregnant women obtained at gestational age ~12 weeks. Prenatal residential addresses were geocoded and geospatial analysis (Getis-Ord Gi* statistics) was used to determine if elevated blood concentrations were geographically clustered. Logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with elevated blood metal levels and cluster membership.ResultsGeospatial clusters for Cd and Pb were identified with high confidence (p-value for Gi* statistic <0.01). The Cd and Pb clusters comprised 10.5 and 9.2 % of Durham County residents, respectively. Medians and interquartile ranges of blood concentrations (μg/dL) for all participants were Cd 0.02 (0.01–0.04), Hg 0.03 (0.01–0.07), Pb 0.34 (0.16–0.83), and As 0.04 (0.04–0.05). In the Cd cluster, medians and interquartile ranges of blood concentrations (μg/dL) were Cd 0.06 (0.02–0.16), Hg 0.02 (0.00–0.05), Pb 0.54 (0.23–1.23), and As 0.05 (0.04–0.05). In the Pb cluster, medians and interquartile ranges of blood concentrations (μg/dL) were Cd 0.03 (0.02–0.15), Hg 0.01 (0.01–0.05), Pb 0.39 (0.24–0.74), and As 0.04 (0.04–0.05). Co-exposure with Pb and Cd was also clustered, the p-values for the Gi* statistic for Pb and Cd was <0.01. Cluster membership was associated with lower education levels and higher pre-pregnancy BMI.ConclusionsOur data support that elevated blood concentrations of Cd and Pb are spatially clustered in this urban environment compared to the surrounding areas. Spatial analysis of metals concentrations in peripheral blood or urine obtained routinely during prenatal care can be useful in surveillance of heavy metal exposure.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© King et al. 2015