Association between urinary trace metals and multiple health outcomes

Area of Science:

• Environmental health
• Toxicology
• Human health

Background:

• Trace metals are ubiquitous environmental contaminants.
• Understanding their impact on human health is crucial for public health.
• Previous research has suggested links between specific metals and certain diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between 11 types of urinary trace metals and multiple health outcomes.
• To explore potential sex-specific differences in trace metal levels and their health implications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from eight cycles (2005-2020) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
• Analyzed urinary concentrations of 11 trace metals in 3051 participants.
• Employed cross-sectional analysis to evaluate relationships between trace metals and various health conditions.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in trace metal levels were observed between sexes; for example, women had lower barium, cesium, molybdenum, lead, antimony, and thallium, but higher cobalt.
• Cadmium showed significant differences across various health conditions, being the most common.
• Specific metals were linked to increased disease risk: antimony with thyroid problems and sleep disorders in women, cobalt and manganese with arthritis in men.
• Non-linear relationships were found between tin and heart disease, and cadmium and stroke/emphysema.

Conclusions:

• Urinary trace metals, especially cadmium, represent modifiable risk factors for multisystem diseases.
• The health effects of trace metals are influenced by biological sex and co-exposure patterns.
• Public health strategies should consider trace metal exposure and sex-specific effects.