Effect of Environmental Exposure to Cadmium on Pregnancy Outcome and Fetal Growth: A Study on Healthy Pregnant Women in China

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential effect of environmental exposure to cadmium on pregnancy outcome and fetal growth. Normal pregnant women were selected from Da-ye city of Hubei province, a cadmium-polluted area, from November 2002 through January 2003. Whole blood of pregnant women, cord blood, and placenta were collected and cadmium levels were determined by inductively coupled plasma emission mass spectroscopy. Incidence rate of preterm labor (gestational age < or = 37 weeks) and neonatal asphyxia, neonatal birth height, and birth weight were compared between lower and higher cadmium exposure level groups. Whole blood cadmium of 44 mothers ranged from 0.80 to 25.20 microg/L. Cadmium concentration in maternal blood was significantly higher than that in cord blood (t = 11.44, P < 0.01). Placenta cadmium ranged from 0.084 to 3.97 microg/g dry weight. After adjustment for maternal age, history of gestation, abortion and lactation, Logistic regression analysis showed that there was no significant association between cadmium exposure levels and pregnancy outcome (premature labor or neonatal asphyxia). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that, cord blood cadmium level, but not maternal blood cadmium and placenta cadmium, was significantly negatively associated with neonatal birth height (t= -2.33, P < 0.05). Compared with lower cord blood cadmium level (< or = 0.40 microg/L), higher level of cord blood cadmium (>0.40 microg/L) was associated with 2.24cm decrease in neonatal birth height. There was no significant association between cadmium exposure and birth weight. It was concluded that environmental exposure to cadmium significantly lower neonatal birth height.

Birth outcomes and background exposures to select elements, the Longitudinal Investigation of Fertility and the Environment (LIFE)

“…Even at term, adult mortality is associated with earlier delivery (Crump et al, 2011). Investigators have described associations between background exposures to toxic and essential elements in pregnant women and birth outcomes (Al-Saleh et al, 2014; Gundacker et al., 2010; Kippler et al, 2012a; Kippler et al, 2012b; Kozikowska et al, 2013; Lee et al, 2010; Lin et al, 2011; Menai et al, 2012; Shirai et al, 2010; Tian et al, 2009; van Wijngaarden et al, 2014; Zhang et al, 2004). However, there are few data to assess the impact of preconception exposures; measurements made during pregnancy are subject to within-woman variability concurrent to gestation-related physiologic adaptations (Selevan et al, 2000).…”

Heavy Metal Toxicity and the Environment

“…Animal studies have demonstrated reproductive and teratogenic effects. Small epidemiologic studies have noted an inverse relationship between cadmium in cord blood, maternal blood or maternal urine and birth weight and length at birth [127, 128]. …”

Toxicological responses of environmental mixtures: Environmental metal mixtures display synergistic induction of metal-responsive and oxidative stress genes in placental cells

“…This is because iAs can readily cross the placenta (Concha et al, 1998) and Cd, while doing so less readily, also crosses the placenta (Iyengar and Rapp, 2001; Zhang et al 2004). Epidemiologic studies support relationships between chronic iAs exposure and increased risk of spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, preterm birth, and neonatal death in pregnant women (Ahmad et al, 2001; von Ehrenstein et al, 2006; Rahman et al, 2007).…”

“…In pregnant women, Cd accumulation in the placenta causes inhibition of trophoblastic invasion, decreased steroidogenesis, and adjusted handling of nutritive essential metals that are deleterious to fetal and maternal health ( reviewed by Estaban-Vasallo et al, 2012). Consequently, Cd exposure has been associated with birth outcome effects such as lower birth weight and decreased birth height (Salpietro et al, 2002; Chisolm & Handorf, 1996; Zhang et al, 2004). …”