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Prenatal cadmium exposure and preterm low birth weight in China
Kai Huang1, Han Li1, Bin Zhang2
1Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education &Ministry of Environmental Protection (HUST) and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
Insights
Prenatal exposure to cadmium (Cd) may increase the risk of preterm low birth weight (PLBW). This risk is higher for female infants, suggesting environmental factors impact infant health.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Reproductive Toxicology
- Perinatal Epidemiology
Background:
- Inconsistent findings exist regarding prenatal cadmium (Cd) exposure and adverse birth outcomes like preterm birth and low birth weight.
- Understanding the specific association between prenatal Cd exposure and preterm low birth weight (PLBW) is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prenatal exposure to cadmium and the risk of preterm low birth weight (PLBW).
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 408 mother-infant pairs from the Healthy Baby Cohort in Hubei, China (2012-2014).
- Maternal urinary cadmium levels were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and adjusted for creatinine.
- Statistical analysis included calculating adjusted odds ratios (OR) and trend tests.
Main Results:
- Higher maternal urinary cadmium levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of PLBW.
- The adjusted OR for PLBW was 2.51 in the highest cadmium tertile compared to the lowest (P trend=0.03).
- The association between cadmium exposure and PLBW was more pronounced in female infants than in male infants.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal cadmium exposure, at levels currently observed in China, may elevate the risk of delivering preterm low birth weight infants.
- Female infants appear to be more susceptible to the adverse effects of prenatal cadmium exposure.
- Findings highlight the need for strategies to reduce cadmium exposure during pregnancy.
Abstract:
Early studies have investigated the effect of prenatal cadmium (Cd) exposure on birth outcomes, such as preterm birth and low birth weight, although the results of these studies are inconsistent. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between prenatal exposure to Cd and the risk of preterm low birth weight (PLBW). A total of 408 mother-infant pairs (102 PLBW cases and 306 pair matched controls) were selected from the participants enrolled in the Healthy Baby Cohort (HBC) study between 2012 and 2014 in Hubei province, China. Concentrations of Cd in maternal urine collected before delivery were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and adjusted by creatinine. A significant association was observed between higher maternal urinary Cd levels and risk of PLBW (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=1.75 for the medium tertile, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.88, 3.47; adjusted OR=2.51 for the highest tertile, 95% CI: 1.24, 5.07; P trend=0.03). The association was more pronounced among female infants than male infants. Our study suggested that prenatal exposure to Cd at the current level encountered in China may potentially increase the risk of delivering PLBW infants, particularly for female infants.
