Dataset Information

Environmental factors predicting blood lead levels in pregnant women in the UK: the ALSPAC study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lead is a widespread environmental toxin. The behaviour and academic performance of children can be adversely affected even at low blood lead levels (BLL) of 5-10 µg/dl. An important contribution to the infant's lead load is provided by maternal transfer during pregnancy.

Objectives

Our aim was to determine BLL in a large cohort of pregnant women in the UK and to identify the factors that contribute to BLL in pregnant women.

Methods

Pregnant women resident in the Avon area of the UK were enrolled in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) in 1991-1992. Whole blood samples were collected at median gestational age of 11 weeks and analysed by inductively coupled plasma dynamic reaction cell mass spectrometry (n?=?4285). Self-completion postal questionnaires were used to collect data during pregnancy on lifestyle, diet and other environmental exposures. Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS v19.

Results

The mean±SD BLL was 3.67±1.47 (median 3.41, range 0.41-19.14) µg/dl. Higher educational qualification was found to be one of the strongest independent predictor of BLL in an adjusted backwards stepwise logistic regression to predict maternal BLL <5 or ?5 µg/dl (odds ratio 1.26, 95% confidence interval 1.12-1.42; p<0.001). Other predictive factors included cigarette smoking, alcohol and coffee drinking, and heating the home with a coal fire, with some evidence for iron and calcium intake having protective effects.

Conclusion

The mean BLL in this group of pregnant women is higher than has been found in similar populations in developed countries. The finding that high education attainment was independently associated with higher BLL was unexpected and currently unexplained. Reduction in maternal lead levels can best be undertaken by reducing intake of the social drugs cigarettes, alcohol and caffeine, although further investigation of the effect of calcium on lead levels is needed.

SUBMITTER: Taylor CM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3764234 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Environmental factors predicting blood lead levels in pregnant women in the UK: the ALSPAC study.

Taylor Caroline M CM Golding Jean J Hibbeln Joseph J Emond Alan M AM

PloS one 20130905 9

<h4>Background</h4>Lead is a widespread environmental toxin. The behaviour and academic performance of children can be adversely affected even at low blood lead levels (BLL) of 5-10 µg/dl. An important contribution to the infant's lead load is provided by maternal transfer during pregnancy.<h4>Objectives</h4>Our aim was to determine BLL in a large cohort of pregnant women in the UK and to identify the factors that contribute to BLL in pregnant women.<h4>Methods</h4>Pregnant women resident in the ...[more]

PMID: 24039753

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Project description:We investigated gene-environment (G × E) interactions related to childhood antisocial behavior between polymorphisms implicated by recent genome-wide association studies (GWASs) and two key environmental adversities (maltreatment and smoking during pregnancy) in a large population cohort (ALSPAC). We also studied the MAOA candidate gene and addressed comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ALSPAC is a large, prospective, ethnically homogeneous British cohort. Our outcome consisted of mother-rated conduct disorder symptom scores at age 7;9 years. G × E interactions were tested in a sex-stratified way (α = 0.0031) for four GWAS-implicated variants (for males, rs4714329 and rs9471290; for females, rs2764450 and rs11215217), and a length polymorphism near the MAOA-promoter region. We found that males with rs4714329-GG (P = 0.0015) and rs9471290-AA (P = 0.0001) genotypes were significantly more susceptible to effects of smoking during pregnancy in relation to childhood antisocial behavior. Females with the rs11215217-TC genotype (P = 0.0018) were significantly less susceptible to effects of maltreatment, whereas females with the MAOA-HL genotype (P = 0.0002) were more susceptible to maltreatment effects related to antisocial behavior. After adjustment for comorbid ADHD symptomatology, aforementioned G × E's remained significant, except for rs11215217 × maltreatment, which retained only nominal significance. Genetic variants implicated by recent GWASs of antisocial behavior moderated associations of smoking during pregnancy and maltreatment with childhood antisocial behavior in the general population. While we also found a G × E interaction between the candidate gene MAOA and maltreatment, we were mostly unable to replicate the previous results regarding MAOA-G × E's. Future studies should, in addition to genome-wide implicated variants, consider polygenic and/or multimarker analyses and take into account potential sex stratification.

Project description:BackgroundInjectable contraceptive use is common, with 74 million users worldwide. Use of the injectable contraceptive depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is associated with bone mineral density loss. We hypothesize that increased bone resorption with DMPA use allows for mobilization of the toxic metal lead stored in bone to blood, presenting users with increased systemic exposure to lead.ObjectiveThe objective of our study was to investigate the association between current DMPA use and blood lead concentrations.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis using enrollment data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle & Fibroids (SELF), a cohort of 1,693 African-American women who were 23-35 years of age. Data on DMPA use were collected by computer-assisted telephone interview. Blood lead concentrations were measured in whole blood samples among 1,548 participants (91% of cohort). We estimated the adjusted percent difference in blood lead concentrations and 95% confidence intervals (CI) between current DMPA users and nonusers using multivariable linear regression.ResultsGeometric mean blood lead concentration was 0.69μg/dL (95% CI: 0.67, 0.71). After adjustment, current DMPA users (7% of cohort) had blood lead concentrations that were 18% higher than those of nonusers (95% CI: 8%, 29%). Similar associations were observed with additional analyses to assess for potential bias from smoking, DMPA-induced amenorrhea, use of estrogen-containing contraceptives, having given birth in the prior year, and history of medical conditions or current medication use associated with bone loss.DiscussionOur results indicate that current DMPA use is associated with increased blood lead concentrations. Further research, particularly in populations highly exposed to lead, is warranted to consider tradeoffs between the adverse effects of lead on human health and the importance of DMPA as a contraceptive option to prevent unintended pregnancy. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7017.

Dataset Information

Environmental factors predicting blood lead levels in pregnant women in the UK: the ALSPAC study.

Background

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Environmental factors predicting blood lead levels in pregnant women in the UK: the ALSPAC study.

Similar Datasets

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