title: Newborns and low to moderate prenatal environmental lead exposure: might fathers be the key?
abstract: This study is part of the BioMadrid Project, a bio-monitoring study designed to assess pollutants in the environment surrounding children born in the Madrid region. Our aim in this report is to evaluate the association between prenatal lead exposure and fetal development using three biological samples (maternal and paternal blood lead at around 34 weeks of gestation as well as cord blood lead levels), three biomarkers of effect in cord blood peripheral lymphocytes (micronucleus in binucleated cells, nucleoplasmic bridges, and nuclear buds), and different anthropometrical characteristics at birth. Maternal and cord blood lead were not associated with newborn measurements or genotoxicity biomarkers. In contrast, increases in father blood lead were coupled with lower weight (mean difference (MD), -110.8 g; 95% confidence intervals (95%CI), -235.6 to 6.00; p < 0.10) and shorter abdominal (MD, -0.81 cm; 95%CI, -1.64 to 0.00; p < 0.05) and cephalic (MD, -0.32 cm; 95%CI, -0.65 to 0.00; p < 0.05) circumferences at birth as well as with the presence of nucleoplasmic bridges (odds ratio, 1.03; 95%CI, 1.00 to 1.06; p < 0.05) and nuclear buds (odds ratio, 1.02; 95%CI, 0.99 to 1.04; p < 0.10). These associations were mainly confined to female babies, in whom paternal lead was also inversely associated with length. Our results support the hypothesis that paternal lead exposure may be affecting the development of newborns.
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Cancer Epidemiology Unit, National Centre for Epidemiology, Carlos III Institute of Health (Instituto de Salud Carlos III-ISCIII), C/ Sinesio Delgado 6, 28029, Madrid, Spain, esthergge@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Esquinas
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aragonés
authors.forename: Mario Antonio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: José Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: García-Sagredo
authors.forename: América
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de León
authors.forename: Concha
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Paz
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Pérez-Meixeira
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iriso
authors.forename: Margot
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cisneros
authors.forename: Amparo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Santos
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.forename: José Frutos
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Ángel
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Asensio
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vioque
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: López-Abente
authors.forename: Jenaro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Astray
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pollán
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pérez-Gómez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D018812:Paternal Exposure; D011247:Pregnancy; D013030:Spain; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007854:Lead