Association of placental weight at birth with maternal whole blood concentration of heavy metals (cadmium, lead, mercury, selenium, and manganese): The Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS)

Yasuyuki Kinjo; Eiji Shibata; David J. Askew; Rie Tanaka; Reiko Suga; Masayuki Shimono; Toshihide Sakuragi; Seiichi Morokuma; Masanobu Ogawa; Masafumi Sanefuji; Norio Hamada; Masayuki Ochiai; Shouichi Ohga; Mayumi Tsuji; Koichi Kusuhara; Kiyoshi Yoshino

Environment International (Jun 2024)

Association of placental weight at birth with maternal whole blood concentration of heavy metals (cadmium, lead, mercury, selenium, and manganese): The Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS)

Yasuyuki Kinjo,
Eiji Shibata,
David J. Askew,
Rie Tanaka,
Reiko Suga,
Masayuki Shimono,
Toshihide Sakuragi,
Seiichi Morokuma,
Masanobu Ogawa,
Masafumi Sanefuji,
Norio Hamada,
Masayuki Ochiai,
Shouichi Ohga,
Mayumi Tsuji,
Koichi Kusuhara,
Kiyoshi Yoshino

Affiliations

Yasuyuki Kinjo: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakushu 807-8555, Japan; Corresponding authors.
Eiji Shibata: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakushu 807-8555, Japan; Corresponding authors.
David J. Askew: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakushu 807-8555, Japan
Rie Tanaka: Department of Environmental Health, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakushu 807-8555, Japan
Reiko Suga: Regional Center for Japan Environment and Children’s Study, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakushu, Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan
Masayuki Shimono: Regional Center for Japan Environment and Children’s Study, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakushu, Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan
Toshihide Sakuragi: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakushu 807-8555, Japan; Department of Environmental Health, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakushu 807-8555, Japan
Seiichi Morokuma: Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
Masanobu Ogawa: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
Masafumi Sanefuji: Research Center for Environmental and Developmental Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga 849-8501, Japan
Norio Hamada: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan; Research Center for Environmental and Developmental Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
Masayuki Ochiai: Research Center for Environmental and Developmental Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
Shouichi Ohga: Research Center for Environmental and Developmental Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
Mayumi Tsuji: Department of Environmental Health, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakushu 807-8555, Japan; Regional Center for Japan Environment and Children’s Study, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakushu, Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan
Koichi Kusuhara: Regional Center for Japan Environment and Children’s Study, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakushu, Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakushu 807-8555, Japan
Kiyoshi Yoshino: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakushu 807-8555, Japan; Regional Center for Japan Environment and Children’s Study, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakushu, Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 188
p. 108725

Abstract

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Background: Lifelong health is dependent on prenatal growth and development, influenced by the placental intrauterine environment. Charged with dual functions––exchange of oxygen and nutrients as well as a barrier against toxins––the placenta itself is susceptible to environmental exposure to heavy metals. Objective: To examine the use of placenta weight as a biomarker for heavy metal exposure using a large Japanese cohort of pregnant women. Methods: The placenta weight, as a biomarker of exposure to heavy metals (cadmium, lead, and mercury), was investigated using data from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (2011–2014). Selenium and manganese were included as factors directly affecting fetal growth or heavy metal toxicity. Maternal blood samples collected in the second or third trimester were used to measure heavy metal concentrations. The association between maternal blood metal concentrations and placenta weight was explored by applying Z scores and multivariable logistic regression analysis and classifying participants into quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4) according to metal concentrations. Results: This study included a total of 73,005 singleton pregnant women who delivered via live births and met the inclusion criteria. The median heavy metal concentrations in the maternal whole blood were 0.662 ng/g cadmium, 5.85 ng/g lead, 3.61 ng/g mercury, 168 ng/g selenium, and 15.3 ng/g manganese. Regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between placenta weight Z scores and maternal blood metal concentrations: cadmium, 0.0660 (standard error = 0.0074, p < 0.001); selenium, −0.3137 (standard error = 0.0276, p < 0.001); and manganese, 0.1483 (standard error = 0.0110, p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study provides a robust examination of the association between heavy metal exposure and placenta weight. Cadmium and manganese showed a positive correlation with significant differences, whereas selenium showed a negative correlation. Essential elements notably affect placenta weight differently. No significant association was noted between lead or mercury and placenta weight.

Published in Environment International

ISSN: 0160-4120 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environment-international

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