Chronic Community Exposure to Environmental Metal Mixtures Is Associated with Selected Cytokines in the Navajo Birth Cohort Study (NBCS).

ABSTRACT: Many tribal populations are characterized by health disparities, including higher rates of infection, metabolic syndrome, and cancer-all of which are mediated by the immune system. Members of the Navajo Nation have suffered chronic low-level exposure to metal mixtures from uranium mine wastes for decades. We suspect that such metal and metalloid exposures lead to adverse health effects via their modulation of immune system function. We examined the relationships between nine key metal and metalloid exposures (in blood and urine) with 11 circulating biomarkers (cytokines and CRP in serum) in 231 pregnant Navajo women participating in the Navajo Birth Cohort Study. Biomonitored levels of uranium and arsenic species were considerably higher in participants than NHANES averages. Each biomarker

SUBMITTER: Thompson Gonzalez N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9690552 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature