Liu Xin, Xiang Qian, Zhang Lei, Li Jingguang, Wu Yongning
College of Food Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory for Deep Processing of Major Grain and Oil, Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory for Processing and Transformation of Agricultural Products, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, China.
Healthcare-associated Infection Control Center, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences, Sichuan People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, China.
Chemosphere. 2024 Jul;359:142321. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142321. Epub 2024 May 14.
Rare earth elements (REEs) are emerging contaminants that are increasingly used in high technology products. However, limited information is available regarding exposure to REEs and associated health effects in neonates. This study aimed to investigate the association between REE concentrations and thyroid hormone levels, as well as birth outcomes in 109 newborns in Beijing, China. We measured the concentrations of 16 REEs and thyroid hormones in umbilical cord serum. To assess the impact of exposure to individual REEs and REE mixtures on thyroid hormone levels and birth outcomes, we employed univariate linear regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and weighted quantile sum (WQS) models. We detected 14 REEs at high rates (92.6%-100%), with yttrium exhibiting the highest median (interquartile range) concentration [43.94 (0.33-172.55) ng/mL], followed by scandium [3.64 (0.46-11.15) ng/mL]. Univariate analyses showed that per logarithmic (ln)-unit change of neodymium (Nd) and samarium (Sm) was associated with 0.039 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.001, 0.007] and 0.031 (95% CI: 0.003, 0.060) increases in free thyroxine (FT4) levels, respectively. Moreover, 14 REEs exhibited significant associations with triiodothyronine (T3) levels, resulting in increases ranging from 0.066 to 0.307. Elevated concentrations of terbium (Tb) [per ln-unit change: -0.021 (95% CI: -0.041, -0.01)] and lutetium (Lu) [-0.023 (95% CI: -0.043, -0.002)] were inversely correlated with birth length in newborns. A further multiple exposure analysis employing the LASSO model identified Sm, Nd, Y, Sc, and Lu as critical factors influencing FT4 and T3 levels. Additionally, WQS analyses showed positive associations between exposure to a mixture of 14 REEs and FT4 (P = 0.046), T3 (P < 0.001), and birth length (P = 0.049). These findings suggest that in utero exposure to REEs might disrupt thyroid hormone homeostasis and impact intrauterine growth. Further studies are warranted to validate these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
稀土元素（REEs）是新兴污染物，在高科技产品中的使用日益增加。然而，关于新生儿接触REEs及其相关健康影响的信息有限。本研究旨在调查中国北京109名新生儿的REE浓度与甲状腺激素水平以及出生结局之间的关联。我们测量了脐带血清中16种REEs和甲状腺激素的浓度。为了评估接触单个REEs和REE混合物对甲状腺激素水平及出生结局的影响，我们采用了单变量线性回归、最小绝对收缩和选择算子（LASSO）以及加权分位数和（WQS）模型。我们以高检出率（92.6%-100%）检测到了14种REEs，钇的中位数（四分位间距）浓度最高[43.94（0.33-172.55）ng/mL]，其次是钪[3.64（0.46-11.15）ng/mL]。单变量分析表明，钕（Nd）和钐（Sm）每对数（ln）单位变化分别与游离甲状腺素（FT4）水平升高0.039[95%置信区间（CI）：0.001，0.007]和0.031（95%CI：0.003，0.060）相关。此外，有14种REEs与三碘甲状腺原氨酸（T3）水平呈显著关联，增幅在0.066至0.307之间。铽（Tb）[每ln单位变化：-0.021（95%CI：-0.041，-0.01）]和镥（Lu）[-0.023（95%CI：-0.043，-0.002）]浓度升高与新生儿出生身长呈负相关。采用LASSO模型进行的进一步多暴露分析确定，Sm、Nd、Y、Sc和Lu是影响FT4和T3水平的关键因素。此外，WQS分析表明，接触14种REE混合物与FT4（P = 0.046）、T3（P < 0.001）和出生身长（P = 0.049）之间存在正相关。这些发现表明，子宫内接触REEs可能会破坏甲状腺激素稳态并影响子宫内生长。有必要进行进一步研究以验证这些发现并阐明潜在机制。
