Cytogenetic status in newborns and their parents in Madrid: the BioMadrid study.
Monitoring cytogenetic damage is frequently used to assess population exposure to environmental mutagens. The cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay is one of the most widely used methods employed in these studies. In the present study we used this assay to assess the baseline frequency of micronuclei in a healthy population of father-pregnant woman-newborn trios drawn from two Madrid areas. We also investigated the association between micronucleus frequency and specific socioeconomic, environmental, and demographic factors collected by questionnaire. Mercury, arsenic, lead, and cadmium blood levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. The association between micronucleated cell frequency and the variables collected by questionnaire, as well as, the risk associated with the presence of elevated levels of metals in blood, was estimated using Poisson models, taking the number of micronucleated cells in 1,000 binucleated cells (MNBCs) as the dependent variable. Separate analyses were conducted for the 110 newborns, 136 pregnant women, and 134 fathers in whom micronuclei could be assessed. The mean number of micronucleated cells per 1,000 binucleated cells was 3.9, 6.5, and 6.1 respectively. Our results show a statistically significant correlation in MNBC frequency between fathers and mothers, and between parents and newborns. Elevated blood mercury levels in fathers were associated with significantly higher MNBC frequency, compared with fathers who had normal mercury levels (RR:1.21; 95%CI:1.02-1.43). This last result suggests the need to implement greater control over populations which, by reason of their occupation or life style, are among those most exposed to this metal.
Lope
Virginia
V
Cancer and Environmental Epidemiology Unit, National Center for Epidemiology, Carlos III Institute of Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
Pollán
Marina
M
Fernández
Mario
M
de León
América
A
González
Maria José
MJ
Sanz
Juan Carlos
JC
Iriso
Andrés
A
Pérez-Gómez
Beatriz
B
Gil
Elisa
E
Pérez-Meixeira
Ana María
AM
de Paz
Concha
C
Cisneros
Margot
M
de Santos
Amparo
A
Asensio
Angel
A
Astray
Jenaro
J
Martínez
Mercedes
M
García
José Frutos
JF
López-Abente
Gonzalo
G
García-Sagredo
José Miguel
JM
Aragonés
Nuria
N
D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002104:Cadmium / Q000097:blood; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis; D003710:Demography; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury; D001151:Arsenic