Maternal arsenic exposure associated with low birth weight in Bangladesh.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize the effects of maternal arsenic exposure on birth weight.


METHODS
Hair, toenail, and drinking water samples were collected from pregnant women (n = 52) at multiple time points during pregnancy and from their newborns after birth. Total arsenic was measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The association between arsenic and birth weight was investigated using linear and logistic regression models.


RESULTS
Maternal hair arsenic measured early in pregnancy was associated with decreased birth weight (beta = -193.5 +/- 90.0 g, P = 0.04). Maternal hair and drinking water arsenic levels measured at first prenatal visit were significantly correlated with newborn hair arsenic level (rho = 0.32, P = 0.04 and rho = 0.31, P = 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that maternal arsenic exposure early in pregnancy negatively affects newborn birth weight and that maternal hair provides the best integrated measure of arsenic exposure.
Huyck
Karen L
KL
Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Kile
Molly L
ML
Mahiuddin
Golam
G
Quamruzzaman
Quazi
Q
Rahman
Mahmuder
M
Breton
Carrie V
CV
Dobson
Christine B
CB
Frelich
Janna
J
Hoffman
Elaine
E
Yousuf
Jabed
J
Afroz
Sakila
S
Islam
Shofiqul
S
Christiani
David C
DC
D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis
D001151:Arsenic