Associations between Urinary Mercury/Cadmium Concentrations and Anthropometric Features in Korean Children

Investigating the impact of urinary mercury and cadmium on anthropometric parameters in Korean children is crucial amid growing concerns about heavy metal exposure and childhood growth. Using data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2015-2017), we assessed age- and sex-specific ass...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Toxics (Basel) 2024-02, Vol.12 (3), p.175
Main Authors: Shin, Min Won, Kim, Hyo-Bin, Kwon, Ahreum, Park, Mi Jung, Kim, Shin-Hye
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Anthropometry
Body height
Body mass index
Body size
Body weight
Cadmium
Children
Coal-fired power plants
Demographic aspects
Environmental aspects
Environmental health
Ethics
Exercise
Food chains
Growth disorders
Guardians
Health aspects
Heavy metals
Informed consent
Measurement
Mercury
Mercury (metal)
obesity
Overweight
pediatric population
Public health
Quality control
Risk factors
Skin
Socioeconomic factors
Socioeconomic status
Urine
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Summary:Investigating the impact of urinary mercury and cadmium on anthropometric parameters in Korean children is crucial amid growing concerns about heavy metal exposure and childhood growth. Using data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (2015-2017), we assessed age- and sex-specific associations of urinary mercury and cadmium with height and body mass index (BMI) z-scores in 1458 children aged 3-5 (n = 571) and 6-11 years (n = 887). Overall, 5.0% had stunted height (3-5 years: 6.9%, 6-11 years: 3.8%), whereas older children exhibited higher overweight/obesity prevalence (29.2%) than younger ones did (22.2%). In 3-5-year-old boys, urinary mercury correlated negatively with height z-scores ( < 0.001), whereas in girls, urinary cadmium correlated positively ( = 0.015). Boys aged 6-11 years showed positive associations between mercury/cadmium levels and BMI z-scores ( = 0.012). Logistic regression indicated associations between urinary mercury and stunted height likelihood ( = 0.001) and between urinary cadmium and reduced overweight likelihood ( = 0.039) in 3-5-year-old boys. In boys aged 6-11 years, urinary cadmium levels were positively associated with overweight likelihood ( = 0.003). This study underscores the link between elevated urinary mercury, cadmium levels, and growth disruptions in Korean children, emphasizing the need for public health strategies for reducing childhood heavy metal exposure.
ISSN:2305-6304
2305-6304
DOI:10.3390/toxics12030175