Sequential Mediation by Maternal Weight Gain and Late Blood Metal Concentration in the Association Between Heavy Metal Exposure in Early Pregnancy and Fetal Growth.

ABSTRACT:

Background

To assess the mediation effect of gestational weight gain (GWG) and blood heavy metal levels in the late pregnancy affecting the association between early pregnancy metal exposure and fetal growth.

Methods

We analyzed data from Korean Children's Environmental Health Study cohort comprising 4,712 full-term births. Blood levels of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) during pregnancy, and newborn birthweights were retrieved. We applied single-exposure model to assess the association between heavy metal levels and newborn anthropometric measures and conducted path analyses to examine the direct and indirect effects of heavy metal levels in early pregnancy on newborn measures.

Results

Exposure to Pb (β = -15.470, P = 0.036) and Cd (β = -24.150, P

SUBMITTER: Choe SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12775906 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature