Maternal arsenic exposure, arsenic methylation efficiency, and birth outcomes in the Biomarkers of Exposure to ARsenic (BEAR) pregnancy cohort in Mexico.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
BACKGROUND:Exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) from drinking water is a global public health problem, yet much remains unknown about the extent of exposure in susceptible populations. OBJECTIVES:We aimed to establish the Biomarkers of Exposure to ARsenic (BEAR) prospective pregnancy cohort in Gómez Palacio, Mexico, to better understand the effects of iAs exposure on pregnant women and their children. METHODS:Two hundred pregnant women were recruited for this study. Concentrations of iAs in drinking water (DW-iAs) and maternal urinary concentrations of iAs and its monomethylated and dimethylated metabolites (MMAs and DMAs, respectively) were determined. Birth outcomes were analyzed for their relationship to DW-iAs and to the concentrations and proportions of maternal urinary arsenicals. RESULTS:DW-iAs for the study subjects ranged from < 0.5 to 236 μg As/L. More than half of the women (53%) had DW-iAs that exceeded the World Health Organization's recommended guideline of 10 μg As/L. DW-iAs was significantly associated with the sum of the urinary arsenicals (U-tAs). Maternal urinary concentrations of MMAs were negatively associated with newborn birth weight and gestational age. Maternal urinary concentrations of iAs were associated with lower mean gestational age and newborn length. CONCLUSIONS:Biomonitoring results demonstrate that pregnant women in Gómez Palacio are exposed to potentially harmful levels of DW-iAs. The data support a relationship between iAs metabolism in pregnant women and adverse birth outcomes. The results underscore the risks associated with iAs exposure in vulnerable populations.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Laine, JE; Bailey, KA; Rubio-Andrade, M; Olshan, AF; Smeester, L; Drobná, Z; Herring, AH; Stýblo, M; García-Vargas, GG; Fry, RC
Published Date
- February 2015
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 123 / 2
Start / End Page
- 186 - 192
PubMed ID
- 25325819
Pubmed Central ID
- 25325819
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1552-9924
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0091-6765
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1289/ehp.1307476
Language
- eng