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Age dependence of potentially toxic elements (Sb, Cd, Pb, Ag) in human liver tissue from paediatric subjects
Thomas D B Lyon1, Marina Patriarca, G Howatson
1Scottish Trace Element and Micronutrient Reference Laboratory, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow North West Trust, Glasgow, UK. DLyon@gri-biochem.org.uk
Insights
This study analyzed liver element concentrations in children under six, finding lower levels of cadmium, lead, and antimony than in adults. Silver and lead were detected in newborns, indicating placental transfer and early-life environmental exposure.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Toxic elements are ubiquitous environmental contaminants.
- Assessing internal exposure in pediatric populations is crucial for understanding health risks.
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) investigations sometimes involve toxicological analyses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the age-dependent liver concentrations of antimony (Sb), silver (Ag), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) in pediatric populations.
- To establish reference ranges for these elements in young children as an index of internal exposure.
- To determine if element concentrations differ based on cause of death (SIDS vs. identified disease).
Main Methods:
- Autopsy liver samples were collected from 157 subjects aged less than 1 day to 6 years.
- Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to determine concentrations of Sb, Ag, Cd, and Pb.
- Statistical comparisons were made between groups, including age and cause of death.
Main Results:
- Median concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Sb were lower in pediatric subjects compared to adult populations.
- Ag concentrations were highest at birth and decreased with age.
- Cd levels were low in neonates and infants, increasing in older children; both Ag and Pb were detected in neonatal livers, indicating placental transfer.
Conclusions:
- The presence of Ag and Pb in neonatal liver confirms human placental transfer of these elements.
- Pediatric liver element concentrations reflect environmental exposure during pregnancy and early childhood.
- The data provide a valuable reference for assessing exposure risks in pediatric populations and monitoring environmental trends.
Abstract:
Toxic elements are present at low concentrations in the environment. This work was undertaken to investigate the age dependence of the liver content of selected elements in paediatric populations, as an index of internal exposure. Liver samples were collected at autopsy from 157 subjects, aged < 1 day to 6 years, as part of investigations on a possible role of Sb compounds in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). In addition to Sb, the concentrations of Ag, Cd and Pb were also determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry on the remaining digest. Comparison of 95% confidence intervals of the median concentrations of the four elements suggested that there were no differences between the two categories of cause of death, SIDS or those who had died of an identified disease. Cadmium, lead and antimony median concentrations were lower than corresponding values observed in adult populations. Silver concentrations were significantly higher at birth and decreased with age. Cadmium levels were almost negligible in neonates and infants, but increased in older children. The finding of non-negligible concentrations of both Ag and Pb in neonatal liver provides further direct evidence that these elements cross the human placental barrier. The reported data, by far the largest collection observed in subjects less than 1 year old, are the result of exposure, during pregnancy and in early childhood, to present levels of these elements in the environment. They can serve as a reference to compare post-mortem values from individuals or groups of subjects in this age range when an exposure risk is suspected and to highlight trends in human exposure.