Centre for Arctic Health and Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Greenland Center for Health Research, University of Greenland, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Apr 1;16(7):1171. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16071171.
Environmental contaminants such as heavy metals are transported to the Arctic regions via atmospheric and ocean currents and enter the Arctic food web. Exposure is an important risk factor for health and can lead to increased risk of a variety of diseases. This study investigated the association between pregnant women's levels of heavy and essential metals and the birth outcomes of the newborn child. This cross-sectional study is part of the ACCEPT birth cohort (Adaption to Climate Change, Environmental Pollution, and dietary Transition) and included 509 pregnant Inuit women ≥18 years of age. Data were collected in five Greenlandic regions during 2010⁻2015. Population characteristics and birth outcomes were obtained from medical records and midwives, respectively, and blood samples were analyzed for 13 metals. Statistical analysis included one-way ANOVA, Spearman's rho, and multiple linear and logistic regression analyses. The proportion of current smokers was 35.8%. The levels of cadmium, chromium, and nickel were higher compared to reported normal ranges. Significant regional differences were observed for several metals, smoking, and parity. Cadmium and copper were significantly inversely related to birth outcomes. Heavy metals in maternal blood can adversely influence fetal development and growth in a dose⁻response relationship. Diet and lifestyle factors are important sources of toxic heavy metals and deviant levels of essential metals. The high frequency of smokers in early pregnancy is of concern, and prenatal exposure to heavy metals and other environmental contaminants in the Greenlandic Inuit needs further research.
环境污染物，如重金属，通过大气和海洋流输送到北极地区，并进入北极食物链。暴露是健康的一个重要风险因素，可能导致多种疾病的风险增加。本研究调查了孕妇体内重金属和必需金属水平与新生儿出生结局之间的关系。这项横断面研究是 ACCEPT 出生队列（适应气候变化、环境污染和饮食转型）的一部分，包括 509 名年龄在 18 岁及以上的因纽特孕妇。数据于 2010 年至 2015 年在格陵兰的五个地区收集。人口特征和出生结局分别从病历和助产士那里获得，同时分析了 13 种金属的血液样本。统计分析包括单因素方差分析、斯皮尔曼 rho 检验、多元线性和逻辑回归分析。当前吸烟者的比例为 35.8%。与报告的正常范围相比，镉、铬和镍的水平更高。几种金属、吸烟和产次存在显著的区域差异。镉和铜与出生结局呈显著负相关。母体血液中的重金属会以剂量-反应关系对胎儿发育和生长产生不利影响。饮食和生活方式因素是有毒重金属和必需金属异常水平的重要来源。在早孕时吸烟的高频率令人担忧，格陵兰因纽特人的产前暴露于重金属和其他环境污染物需要进一步研究。
