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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Pediatr.
Sec. Children and Health
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fped.2024.1291076
This article is part of the Research Topic Early-life Exposure to Environmental Pollutants: Effects on Fetal Growth, Child Development, and Health in Later Life View all 3 articles

Relationship between pregnant women's combined exposure to heavy metals and their offspring's congenital heart defects in Lanzhou, China

Provisionally accepted
Lulu Chen Lulu Chen 1Yaqin Zhao Yaqin Zhao 1Jianhao Sun Jianhao Sun 1Xinjuan Jiao Xinjuan Jiao 1Zhenzhen Wu Zhenzhen Wu 2Jian Wang Jian Wang 2Jie Qiu Jie Qiu 2Baohong Mao Baohong Mao 2Qing Liu Qing Liu 2*
  • 1 Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
  • 2 Gansu Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Abstract Background: Previous research has demonstrated that exposure to individual heavy metals elevates the incidence rate of congenital heart defects (CHDs). However, there is a paucity of data concerning the relationship between combined exposure to multiple heavy metals and the occurrence of CHDs. This study seeks to investigate the association between combined heavy metal exposure in pregnant women and the incidence of CHDs in their offspring in Lanzhou, China. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of the birth cohort study undertaken at our hospital from 2010 to 2012, with the objective of investigating the association between combined heavy metal exposure in pregnant women and the incidence of CHDs in their offspring. This analysis was performed utilizing a multifactorial conditional logistic regression model. Result: A nested case-control study was conducted involving 97 case groups and 194 control groups. The research identified a significant correlation between the concentrations of nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and titanium (Ti) in the blood of pregnant women and the risk of CHDs. Specifically, compared to low exposure levels, elevated concentrations of Ni in maternal blood were associated with a 2.098-fold increase in the risk of CHDs in offspring (OR 3.098, 95% CI 1.322-7.260). Similarly, high levels of Pb in maternal blood were linked to a 1.192-fold increase in the risk of CHDs in offspring (OR 2.192, 95% CI 1.021-4.707). Furthermore, elevated levels of Ti in maternal blood were also associated with an increased risk of CHDs. Elevated Ti exposure levels in maternal blood are associated with a 3.065-fold increased risk of CHDs in offspring (OR 4.065, 95% CI 1.887-8.758). When compared to low exposure levels, the combined exposure to four heavy metals in the blood of pregnant women is linked to a 4.946-fold increased risk of CHDs in their offspring (OR 5.946, 95% CI 2.872-12.309). Conclusion: The cumulative exposure levels of Ni, barium (Ba), Pb, and Ti in the blood of pregnant women are correlated with an elevated risk of CHDs in their offspring.

    Keywords: congenital heart defects, heavy metals, Maternal blood, Pregnancy, Combined exposure

    Received: 12 Sep 2023; Accepted: 14 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Chen, Zhao, Sun, Jiao, Wu, Wang, Qiu, Mao and Liu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Qing Liu, Gansu Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu Province, China

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