Associations of metal mixtures in the meconium with birth outcomes in northern Taiwan

Chi-Sian Kao; Ling-Chu Chien; Chun-Hua Fan; Hung-Chang Lee; Chuen-Bin Jiang

doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114092

Associations of metal mixtures in the meconium with birth outcomes in northern Taiwan

Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2023 Mar:248:114092. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114092. Epub 2022 Dec 6.

Authors

Chi-Sian Kao¹, Ling-Chu Chien², Chun-Hua Fan¹, Hung-Chang Lee³, Chuen-Bin Jiang⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Health, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
² School of Public Health, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Nutrition Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
³ Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, MacKay Children's Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, MacKay Children's Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan. Electronic address: a.4515@mmh.org.tw.

PMID: 36493676
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114092

Abstract

Previous studies investigated prenatal exposure to neurotoxic metals in relation to birth anthropometrics. However, limited information has been developed on associations with birth outcomes of fetal exposure to metal mixtures using the meconium as a biomarker. The purpose of this study was to evaluate relationships of the combined effects of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) concentrations in the meconium on birth outcomes (i.e., birth weight, birth length, and head circumference). This cross-sectional study was conducted in northern Taiwan between January 2007 and December 2009. We collected 526 meconium samples within the first 24 h after birth to measure the in utero mixed-metal exposure determined using inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We used a multivariable regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to estimate associations of the combined effects and identify important mixture components with growth impairments. Our results revealed Hg, Pb, Cd, and As concentrations in the meconium and enhanced the quantity of research on meconium analyses. The overall effects of Hg, Pb, Cd, and As concentrations in the meconium as prenatal exposure biomarkers were negatively associated with birth growth. Fetal exposure to Hg and Pb was correlated with decreased birth weights. Hg and Pb concentrations in the meconium were linearly inversely related to the birth weight, birth length, and head circumference. Effects of fetal exposure to As and Cd on birth outcomes were not obvious. A significant increasing relationship was detected between Hg concentrations in the meconium and maternal fish consumption during pregnancy. Higher Pb concentrations in the meconium were observed among infants of mothers who consumed Chinese herbal medicines. Reducing maternal fish consumption and Chinese herbal medicine consumption during pregnancy could limit infant exposure to metals.

Keywords: Bayesian kernel machine regression; Birth outcome; Fetal exposure; Meconium; Metal mixture.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Animals
Arsenic* / analysis
Bayes Theorem
Birth Weight
Cadmium / analysis
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Lead / analysis
Maternal Exposure
Meconium / chemistry
Mercury* / analysis
Pregnancy
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects* / epidemiology
Taiwan / epidemiology

Substances

Cadmium
Lead
Arsenic
Mercury