Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2025
11:01
Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Quantification of Social Behavior in Adult Rats
Published on: December 14, 2014
9.7K
Association between gestational arsenic exposure and infant physical development: a prospective cohort study
Panyuan Cai1, Hongning He2,3, Xiaoyue Song2,3
1Experimental Teaching Center of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China.
BMC Public Health
|August 22, 2024
Summary
Gestational arsenic exposure, particularly in late pregnancy, is linked to increased risk of small for gestational age infants and negatively impacts infant growth up to one year, especially in boys.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Reproductive Health
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- Arsenic pollution is a global issue with known associations between maternal arsenic exposure during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes.
- Limited research has explored the long-term effects of gestational arsenic exposure on infant growth and development post-birth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between arsenic exposure during pregnancy and newborn birth size.
- To determine if these associations persist and affect infant growth in the first year of life.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study involving 1100 pregnant women was conducted.
- Urinary arsenic concentrations were measured in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters using atomic fluorescence spectrometry.
- Relationships between arsenic levels and fetal growth parameters, Small for Gestational Age (SGA), and infant physical development up to one year were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Third-trimester urinary arsenic concentration was associated with a higher incidence of SGA (OR = 2.860, P = 0.021).
- Late pregnancy arsenic exposure adversely affected infant physical development before age one.
- Infant boys' weight and length at 6 and 12 months showed a negative correlation with maternal urinary arsenic levels in late pregnancy.
Conclusions:
- Third-trimester arsenic exposure negatively impacts fetal growth and continues to affect offspring growth within the first year of life.
- The findings highlight the critical window of late pregnancy for arsenic's detrimental effects on child development.
Related Concept Videos
01:07Teratogenicity
2.4K
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
2.4K
02:27Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
6.5K
Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
6.5K
01:20Gene-Environment Interactions
270
Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
270