Determinants of Exposure to Potentially Toxic Metals in Pregnant Women of the DSAN-12M Cohort in the Recôncavo Baiano, Brazil

Abstract

Exposure to potentially toxic metals (PTM) threatens maternal and child health. We investigated the determinants of exposure to lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and manganese (Mn) in 163 pregnant women from the Recôncavo Baiano, Brazil, enrolled in the DSAN-12M cohort. We measured these metals in biological samples (blood, toenails, and hair) and the Pb dust loading rates (RtPb) at their homes by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry (GFAAS). Questionnaires were applied to collect sociodemographic and general habits data. Only 2.91% (n = 4) of the pregnant women had As levels above the detection limit. Few participants had levels above the recommended reference values for blood Pb (5.1; 95% CI: 2.1–10.1%), and Mn in hair or toenails (4.3; 95% CI: 2.3–10.1%). On the other hand, 61.1 (95% CI: 52.4–69.3%) had elevated blood Cd levels. After binary logistic regression, low socioeconomic status, domestic waste burning, being a passive smoker, multiparity, and renovating the house significantly increased the chances of having high levels of Mn, Pb, and Cd. We detected a worrying situation related to exposure to Cd, showing the urgency of implementing human biomonitoring in the general population, especially in situations of social vulnerability.

Rapid Market Screening to assess lead concentrations in consumer products across 25 low- and middle-income countries

“…We found a high frequency (45%) and relatively wide geographic distribution of lead in ceramic foodware (see Table 4 ). Challenges regarding the use of lead-based glazes have been well-documented in Mexico 9 , 33 , 34 , and have been identified elsewhere 35 , but the RMS study shows a fairly uniform geographic distribution of contaminated items. This does not necessarily mean that these pieces all contribute to exposure equally.…”

A Cross-Sectional Analysis Investigating Pregnant Women’s Renal Function and Its Association with Lead and Cadmium Exposures—The DSAN Birth Cohort Study in Recôncavo Baiano, Brazil

“…The pregnant women recruited into the DSAN-12M study are from the Nazaré das Farinhas and Aratuípe municipalities in the Recôncavo Baiano, Brazil. Detailed information on this study’s demographic characteristics, recruitment strategy, and duration has been described elsewhere [ 24 , 25 ]. In this study, we investigated the relationship between Pb and Cd exposures and measures of kidney function in pregnant women by using biospecimen and semi-structured survey data.…”

“…Detailed explanation of biological data collection and processing were previously described [ 25 , 28 ]. Briefly, a whole blood specimen was processed and analyzed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry (GFAAS) to determine Pb and Cd concentrations according to Menezes-Filho et al and Kummrow [ 29 , 30 ].…”

“…In Brazil, the primary factors significantly associated with increased Pb and Cd exposure were cigarette smoking, contaminated drinking water, proximity to industrial processes, and diet [ 7 , 23 ]. For pregnant women within Recôncavo Baiano, Brazil, Bah et al (2020, 2023) found that low socioeconomic status, domestic waste burning, passive smoking, multiparity, and housing renovations were significantly associated with having higher levels of Pb and Cd [ 24 , 25 ]. Exposure to these toxic metals is particularly recurrent in Aratuípe and Nazaré, municipalities of Recôncavo Baiano, because of the residents’ geographic location near estuarian rivers and a primarily shellfish diet.…”

“…Shellfish are reservoirs for contaminants since they are filter feeders and toxic metals accumulate in sediments and water [ 26 , 27 ]. Furthermore, food in this region is commonly prepared using Pb-glazed pottery produced in Maragogipinho Village in Aratuípe and sold in Nazaré and elsewhere [ 24 , 25 ].…”