Associations between prenatal metal exposure and growth rate in children: Based on Hangzhou Birth Cohort Study

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2024-03, Vol.916, p.170164-170164, Article 170164
• Main Authors: Zhou, Yexinyi, Zhou, Jiena, He, Yinyin, Fang, Jiawei, Tang, Jun, Li, Shuai, Guo, Jing, Luo, Qiong, Zhong, Kunhong, Huang, Kegui, Chen, Guangdi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthropometry; blood; Body Mass Index; Child growth; children; chromium; cobalt; Cohort Studies; environment; equations; Female; head circumference; Humans; Longitudinal study; Male; manganese; Maternal Exposure; Metals; Pregnancy; Pregnancy exposure; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects - epidemiology; selenium; weight gain
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170164

It has been reported that prenatal metal exposure is associated with child anthropometry. However, studies focusing on the growth rate of anthropometry among children have not been conducted. This study aimed to examine associations between the exposure of multiple metals during pregnancy and the growth rate of anthropometry among offspring. 743 mother-child pairs from the Hangzhou Birth Cohort Study (HBCS) were included. Levels of eleven metals in mother's blood during pregnancy were measured. Offspring had a mean of 5.7 measurements on anthropometric indicators including weight, length/height, head circumference, and body mass index (BMI) within 1.5 years of birth. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was used to investigate the associations between maternal metal exposure and growth rate of anthropometric indicators in children. Stratification analysis by sex was also examined. Levels of selenium (Se, β = 0.213, 95 % CI = 0.017 to 0.409, P = 0.033) were positively associated with length/height gain per month in children. Levels of chromium (Cr, β = 0.025, 95 % CI = 0.018 to 0.033, P