Prenatal lead, cadmium and mercury exposure and associations with motor skills at age 7 years in a UK observational birth cohort

Abstract

BackgroundLead and mercury are freely transferred across the placenta, while cadmium tends to accumulate in the placenta. Each contributes to adverse neurological outcomes for the child. Although prenatal heavy metal exposure has been linked with an array of neurodevelopmental outcomes in childhood, its association with the development of motor skills in children has not been robustly studied.Aims/objectiveThe aim of the present study was to investigate the association between prenatal exposure to lead, cadmium and mercury, measured as maternal blood concentrations during pregnancy, and motor skills, measured as subtests of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (Movement ABC) at age 7 years in a large sample of mother–child pairs enrolled in a UK observational birth cohort study (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, ALSPAC).MethodsWhole blood samples from pregnant women enrolled in ALSPAC were analysed for lead, cadmium and mercury. In a complete case analysis (n = 1558), associations between prenatal blood concentrations and child motor skills assessed by Movement ABC subtests of manual dexterity, ball skills and balance at 7 years were examined in adjusted regression models. Associations with probable developmental coordination disorder (DCD) were also investigated.ResultsThe mean prenatal blood levels were: lead 3.66 ± 1.55 μg/dl; cadmium 0.45 ± 0.54 μg/l; mercury 2.23 ± 1.14 μg/l. There was no evidence for any adverse associations of prenatal lead, cadmium or mercury exposure with motor skills measured at age 7 years with Movement ABC subtests in adjusted regression models. Further, there were no associations with probable DCD.ConclusionsThere was no evidence to support a role of prenatal exposure to heavy metals at these levels on motor skills in the child at age 7 years measured using the Movement ABC. Early identification of symptoms of motor skills impairment is important, however, to enable investigation, assessment and treatment.

Exploring telomere length in mother–newborn pairs in relation to exposure to multiple toxic metals and potential modifying effects by nutritional factors

“…The association with lead was found only for the newborn boys. Interestingly, a recent study suggested that male fetuses are particularly susceptible to maternal exposure effects on newborn TL [14], and males appear more susceptible to neurotoxicity in relation to prenatal lead exposure [50, 51]. An inverse association between blood lead and telomere length has been previously reported for 8-year-old children ( n = 99) with low-to-moderate exposure to lead from industrial emission [27].…”

Assessing ototoxicity due to chronic lead and cadmium intake with and without noise exposure in the mature mouse

“…While detrimental neurological effects of metals have been established during development in both children (Sharma and Mogra 2014) and animals (Jones et al 2008), though this is controversial as some studies show no consistent effects (Buchanan et al 2011; Taylor et al 2018). Adult animal models using higher occupational exposures to Pb have been exploited to a lesser extent.…”

The ALSPAC Coordination Test (subtests of the Movement ABC): Methodology and data on associations with prenatal exposures to lead, cadmium and mercury

“…In our parallel paper [1] we show there was no evidence to support a role of prenatal exposure to heavy metals at these levels on motor skills in the child at age 7 years measured using the Movement ABC. Here we show ( Table 1 , Table 2 , Table 3 , Table 4 , Table 5 , Table 6 ): Publications using measures of child motor skills in the ALSPAC cohort.…”

“…In this paper, we describe data acquisition of scores from subtests of the Movement ABC at 7 years. We also include data from models of associations with prenatal blood lead, cadmium and mercury concentrations to support the main analyses in our parallel paper [1] .…”

“…The data were used to determine the associations between prenatal exposure to lead, cadmium and mercury and child motor skills at age 7 years. For results, please see Taylor et al [1] .…”