Rare earth elements and hypertension risk among housewives: A pilot study in Shanxi Province, China.
Studies have shown that residents living near rare earth mining areas have high concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs) in their hair. However, the adverse effects of REEs on human health have rarely been the focus of epidemiological studies. The goal of this study was to evaluate the relationship between REEs in hair and the risk of hypertension in housewives. We recruited 398 housewives in Shanxi Province, China, consisting of 163 women with hypertension (cases) and 235 healthy women without hypertension (controls). We analyzed 15 REEs (lanthanum (La), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), lutetium (Lu), Yttrium (Y), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), and neodymium (Nd)) and calcium (Ca) accumulated in housewives hair over a period of two years. The results revealed that, with the exception of Eu, concentrations of the REEs in hair were higher in the cases than in the controls. The univariate odds ratios (ORs) of the 14 REEs were >1, and four of the REEs (Dy, Tm, Yb, and Y) also had adjusted ORs > 1. The increasing dose-response trends of the four REEs further indicated the potential for increased hypertension risk. Moreover, the REEs were negatively correlated with Ca content in hair. These results might suggest an antagonistic effect of REEs on Ca in the human body. It was concluded that high intake of REEs might increase the risk of hypertension among housewives.
Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/ Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China. Electronic address: binwangpku@foxmail.com.
Bin
B
Wang
Central Laboratory of School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China.
Lailai
L
Yan
Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/ Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China.
Wenhua
W
Huo
Reproductive Medical Center, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, PR China.
Qun
Q
Lu
Department of Child, Adolescent and Women's Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China.
Zixi
Z
Cheng
Department of Child, Adolescent and Women's Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China. Electronic address: jxzhang@bjmu.edu.cn.
Jingxu
J
Zhang
Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/ Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China.
Zhiwen
Z
Li
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology*; D008674:Metals, Rare Earth / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018454:Spouses
D008674:Metals, Rare Earth
Blood pressure; Calcium; Hair; Hypertension; Rare earth elements; Risk