Predictors of toxic metal exposures among US women of reproductive age.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury are ubiquitous toxicants that may be especially harmful to unborn children. We therefore sought to identify temporal trends and predictors of toxic metal biomarkers among US women of reproductive age, including those who were pregnant and/or breastfeeding.

Methods

Interviews and examinations were performed among a representative sample of women, aged 20-44 years, as part of the 2003-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. A range of sociodemographic, lifestyle, and dietary factors were evaluated as predictors of urinary inorganic arsenic, urinary cadmium, blood mercury, and blood lead concentrations.

Results

Levels of all four toxic metal biomarkers declined during the study period. Older age, racial/ethni

SUBMITTER: Bulka CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6709576 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature