Investigating causal relation between prenatal arsenic exposure and birthweight: Are smaller infants more susceptible?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Shortening of gestation and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) are the two main determinants of birthweight. Low birthweight has been linked with prenatal arsenic exposure, but the causal relation between arsenic and birthweight is not well understood.

Objectives

We applied a quantile causal mediation analysis approach to determine the association between prenatal arsenic exposure and birthweight in relation to shortening of gestation and IUGR, and whether the susceptibility of arsenic exposure varies by infant birth sizes.

Methods

In a longitudinal birth cohort in Bangladesh, we measured arsenic in drinking water (n=1182) collected at enrollment and maternal toenails (n=1104) collected ≤1-month postpartum using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrome

SUBMITTER: Rahman ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5623127 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature