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Associations between prenatal metal exposure and growth rate in children: Based on Hangzhou Birth Cohort Study

Yexinyi Zhou1, Jiena Zhou1, Yinyin He1

  • 1Department of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.

The Science of the Total Environment
|January 19, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal exposure to selenium, chromium, manganese, and cobalt affects children's growth rates. Associations varied by metal and child's sex, highlighting the impact of maternal metal exposure on offspring development.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Development
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Prenatal metal exposure is linked to child anthropometry.
  • Limited research exists on the impact of prenatal metal exposure on children's anthropometric growth rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal exposure to multiple metals during pregnancy and the growth rate of anthropometric indicators in offspring.
  • To explore potential sex-specific differences in these associations.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 743 mother-child pairs from the Hangzhou Birth Cohort Study.
  • Measurement of eleven metals in maternal blood during pregnancy.
  • Assessment of offspring anthropometric indicators (weight, length/height, head circumference, BMI) with a Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) model.

Main Results:

  • Selenium (Se) positively associated with length/height gain rate.
  • Chromium (Cr) positively associated with weight gain rate.
  • Manganese (Mn) and Cobalt (Co) inversely associated with head circumference growth rate.
  • Maternal Mn exposure linked to lower BMI change rate.
  • Associations were generally stronger in girls than boys.
  • Significant associations found for metal mixtures.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal exposure to Se, Cr, Mn, and Co is associated with children's growth rates.
  • Observed sex-specific disparities in metal-growth rate associations.
  • Maternal exposure to multiple metals significantly impacts offspring development.
Abstract

Keywords:
Child growthLongitudinal studyMetalsPregnancy exposure

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