title: Maternal and fetal exposure to cadmium, lead, manganese and mercury: The MIREC study.
abstract: Given the susceptibility of the fetus to toxicants, it is important to estimate their exposure. Approximately 2000 pregnant women were recruited in 2008-2011 from 10 cities across Canada. Cd, Pb, Mn and total Hg were measured in maternal blood from the 1st and 3rd trimesters, umbilical cord blood, and infant meconium. Nutrient intakes of vitamin D, iron, and calcium (Ca) were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire and a dietary supplement questionnaire. Median concentrations in 1st trimester maternal blood (n = 1938) were 0.20, 8.79 and 0.70 μg/L for Cd, Mn and Hg, respectively, and 0.60 μg/dL for Pb. While the median difference between the paired 1st and 3rd trimester concentrations of Cd was 0, there was a significant decrease in Pb (0.04 μg/dL) and Hg (0.12 μg/L) and an increase in Mn (3.30 μg/L) concentrations over the course of the pregnancy. While Cd was rarely detected in cord blood (19%) or meconium (3%), median Pb (0.77 μg/dL), Mn (31.87 μg/L) and Hg (0.80 μg/L) concentrations in cord blood were significantly higher than in maternal blood. Significant negative associations were observed between estimated Ca intake and maternal Cd, Pb, Mn and Hg, as well as cord blood Pb. Vitamin D intake was associated with lower maternal Cd, Pb, and Mn as well as Pb in cord blood. Even at current metal exposure levels, increasing dietary Ca and vitamin D intake during pregnancy may be associated with lower maternal blood Pb and Cd concentrations and lower Pb in cord blood.
authors.affiliation: Population Studies Division, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada. Electronic address: Tye.arbuckle@canada.ca.
authors.forename: Tye E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Arbuckle
authors.affiliation: Population Studies Division, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Chun Lei
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier universitaire de sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada; Sainte Justine University Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Anne-Sophie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Morisset
authors.affiliation: Population Studies Division, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Hope
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Weiler
authors.affiliation: Centre de toxicologie du Québec, Institut national de santé publique Québec, Quebec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Ciprian Mihai
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cirtiu
authors.affiliation: Chemicals Surveillance Division, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Legrand
authors.affiliation: Population Studies Division, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Karelyn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Adrienne S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ettinger
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier universitaire de sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada; Sainte Justine University Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002104:Cadmium / Q000097:blood*; D002118:Calcium / Q000737:chemistry; D002170:Canada; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007477:Ions; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008345:Manganese / Q000097:blood*; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D002104:Cadmium; D014807:Vitamin D; D007854:Lead; D008345:Manganese; D008628:Mercury; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Biomonitoring; Blood; Cadmium; Lead; Manganese; Meconium; Mercury; Nutrient intake; Pregnancy