title: Maternal cadmium levels during pregnancy associated with lower birth weight in infants in a North Carolina cohort.
abstract: Cadmium (Cd) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, a known carcinogen, and understudied as a developmental toxicant. In the present study, we examined the relationships between Cd levels during pregnancy and infant birth outcomes in a prospective pregnancy cohort in Durham, North Carolina. The study participants (n = 1027) had a mean Cd level of 0.46 µg/L with a range of <0.08 to 2.52 µg/L. Multivariable models were used to establish relationships between blood Cd tertiles and fetal growth parameters, namely birth weight, low birth weight, birth weight percentile by gestational age, small for gestational age, pre-term birth, length, and head circumference. In multivariable models, high maternal blood Cd levels (≥0.50 µg/L) during pregnancy were inversely associated with birth weight percentile by gestational age (p = 0.007) and associated with increased odds of infants being born small for gestational age (p<0.001). These observed effects were independent of cotinine-defined smoking status. The results from this study provide further evidence of health risks associated with early life exposure to Cd among a large pregnancy cohort.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jill E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.
authors.forename: Ellis
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valentiner
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maxson
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America; Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.
authors.forename: Marie Lynn
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America.
authors.forename: Rebecca C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Fry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002104:Cadmium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D009035:Mothers; D009657:North Carolina; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium