Blood cadmium concentrations and environmental exposure sources in newcomer South and East Asian women in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada

C L S Wiseman; A Parnia; D Chakravartty; J Archbold; N Zawar; R Copes; D C Cole

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2016.12.013

Blood cadmium concentrations and environmental exposure sources in newcomer South and East Asian women in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada

Environ Res. 2017 Apr:154:19-27. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.12.013. Epub 2016 Dec 21.

Authors

C L S Wiseman¹, A Parnia², D Chakravartty², J Archbold³, N Zawar², R Copes⁴, D C Cole⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of the Environment, University of Toronto, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Canada. Electronic address: clare.wiseman@utoronto.ca.
² Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Canada.
³ Toronto Public Health, Canada.
⁴ Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Canada; Public Health Ontario, Canada.
⁵ School of the Environment, University of Toronto, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Canada.

PMID: 28012400
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.12.013

Abstract

Background: Immigrant women are often identified as being particularly vulnerable to environmental exposures and health effects. The availability of biomonitoring data on newcomers is limited, thus, presenting a challenge to public health practitioners in the identification of priorities for intervention.

Objectives: In fulfillment of data needs, the purpose of this study was to characterize blood concentrations of cadmium (Cd) among newcomer women of reproductive age (19-45 years of age) living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Canada and to assess potential sources of environmental exposures.

Methods: A community-based model, engaging peer researchers from the communities of interest, was used for recruitment and follow-up purposes. Blood samples were taken from a total of 211 newcomer women from South and East Asia, representing primary, regional origins of immigrants to the GTA, and environmental exposure sources were assessed via telephone survey. Metal concentrations were measured in blood samples (diluted with 0.5% (v/v) ammonium hydroxide and 0.1% (v/v) octylphenol ethoxylate) using a quadrupole ICP-MS. Survey questions addressed a wide range of environmental exposure sources, including dietary and smoking patterns and use of nutritional supplements, herbal products and cosmetics.

Results: A geometric mean (GM) blood Cd concentration of 0.39µg/L (SD:±2.07µg/L) was determined for study participants (min/max: <0.045µg/L (LOD)/2.36µg/L). Several variables including low educational attainment (Relative Ratio (RR) (adjusted)=1.50; 95% CI 1.17-1.91), milk consumption (RR (adjusted)=0.86; 95% CI 0.76-0.97), and use of zinc supplements (RR (adjusted)=0.76; 95% CI 0.64-0.95) were observed to be significantly associated with blood Cd concentrations in the adjusted regression model. The variable domains socioeconomic status (R²_adj=0.11) and country of origin (R²_adj=0.236) were the strongest predictors of blood Cd.

Conclusion: Blood Cd concentrations fell below those generally considered to be of human health concern. However, negative health effects cannot be entirely excluded, especially for those that fall in the upper percentile range of the distribution, given the mounting evidence for negative health outcomes at low environmental exposure concentrations.

Keywords: Biomonitoring; Cadmium; Immigrant; Metal exposures; Women.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Asia, Southeastern
Cadmium / blood*
Dietary Supplements
Educational Status
Emigrants and Immigrants
Environmental Exposure / analysis*
Female
Humans
Middle Aged
Ontario / ethnology
Young Adult

Substances

Cadmium