Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
Removal of Trace Elements by Cupric Oxide Nanoparticles from Uranium In Situ Recovery Bleed Water and Its Effect on Cell Viability
Published on: June 21, 2015
Associations between Heavy Metals and Metalloids and Hepatic Fibrosis Risk in Chinese Adults: A Potential Modifying
Lu Yu1, Zheng Li2, Pei Jie Sun3
1Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
Objective:
To investigate associations between heavy metals and metalloids (HMMs) exposure and hepatic fibrosis risk, and to explore the modifying role of thyroid hormones.
Methods:
Using nationally representative data from 9,543 adults in the China National Human Biomonitoring (CNHBM) program, hepatic fibrosis risk was assessed with the Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4). Weighted logistic and linear regression models were applied to evaluate links between 13 HMMs and fibrosis outcomes. Dose-response relationships were modeled with restricted cubic splines, and subgroup analyses were used to explore potential effect modification.
Results:
Blood cobalt (Co) ( OR = 1.613, 95% CI: 1.126-2.310) and blood manganese (Mn) ( OR = 1.699, 95% CI: 1.238-2.331) showed nonlinear positive associations with hepatic fibrosis risk, while urinary tin (Sn) ( OR = 0.888, 95% CI: 0.797-0.990) was inversely associated. Low triiodothyronine (T3) levels increased Co-induced fibrosis risk and may enhance the protective effect of Sn, while high T3 levels exacerbated Mn-related risk. Stratified analysis by thyroxine (T4) levels showed directionally consistent associations with the main findings.
Conclusion:
Blood Co and Mn nonlinearly increased hepatic fibrosis risk, urinary Sn reduced it. T3 levels modulated these metal-specific risks, highlighting thyroid hormones as potential modifiers in HMMs-induced hepatotoxicity.
