Effect of exposures to multiple metals on blood pressure and hypertension in the elderly: a community-based study.

A chronic disease, hypertension (HTN) is prevalent among the elderly. Exploring the factors that influence HTN and blood pressure (BP) changes is of great public health significance. However, mixed exposure to multiple serum metals has had less research on the effects on BP and HTN for the elderly. From April to August 2019, 2372 people participated in the community physical examination program for the elderly in Tongling City, Anhui Province. We measured BP and serum levels of 10 metals and collected basic demographic information. We analyzed the relationship between metal levels and changes in BP and HTN by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, Bayesian kernel machine regression model, and generalized linear model. In multiple models, lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were still significantly associated with HTN occurrence after adjusting for potential confounders (Pb: ORquartile 4 VS quartile 1 = 1.20, 95% CI 1.01-1.43; Cd: ORquartile 4 VS quartile 1 = 1.37, 95% CI 1.16-1.62). In the male subgroup, results were similar to those of the general population. In the female group, Cd was positively correlated with HTN and systolic blood pressure, while Pb was not. According to this study, Pb and Cd were correlated with BP and HTN positively, and there was a certain joint effect. To some extent, our findings provide clues for the prevention of hypertension in the elderly.

Association between exposure to heavy metals in atmospheric particulate matter and sleep quality: A nationwide data linkage study.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated that long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) is associated with poor sleep quality. However, no studies have linked PM constituents, particularly heavy metals, to sleep quality. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the association between exposure to heavy metals in PM and sleep quality. METHODS: We obtained nationwide data from the Korean Community Health Survey conducted in 2018 among adults aged 19-80 years. Sleep quality was evaluated using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Poor sleep quality was defined as PSQI ≥5. One-year and three-month average concentrations of heavy metals (lead, manganese, cadmium, and aluminum) in PM with diameter ≤10 µm were obtained from nationwide air quality monitoring data and linked to the survey data based on individual district-level residential addresses. Logistic regression analyses were performed after adjusting for age, gender, education level, marital status, smoking status, alcohol consumption, history of hypertension, and history of diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: Of 32,050 participants, 17,082 (53.3%) reported poor sleep quality. Increases in log-transformed one-year average lead (odds ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.20), manganese (1.31; 1.25-1.37), cadmium (1.03; 1.00-1.05), and aluminum concentrations (1.17; 1.10-1.25) were associated with poor sleep quality. Increases in log-transformed three-month average manganese (odds ratio, 1.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.17) and aluminum concentrations (1.28; 1.21-1.35) were associated with poor sleep quality. CONCLUSION: We showed for the first time that exposure to airborne lead, manganese, cadmium, and aluminum were associated with poor sleep quality. This study may be limited by self-reported sleep quality and district-level exposure data.

Sex-specific associations between co-exposure to multiple metals and externalizing symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood.

Externalizing disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), account for the majority of the child/adolescent referrals to mental health services and increase risk for later-life psychopathology. Although the expression of externalizing disorders is more common among males, few studies have addressed how sex modifies associations between metal exposure and adolescent externalizing symptoms. This study aimed to examine sex-specific associations between co-exposure to multiple metals and externalizing symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood. Among 150 adolescents and young adults (55% female, ages: 15-25 years) enrolled in the Public Health Impact of Metals Exposure (PHIME) study in Brescia, Italy, we measured five metals (manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni)) in four biological matrices (blood, urine, hair, and saliva). Externalizing symptoms were assessed using the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) Youth Self-Report (YSR) or Adult Self Report (ASR). Using generalized weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, we investigated the moderating effect of sex (i.e., assigned at birth) on associations between the joint effect of exposure to the metal mixture and externalizing symptoms, adjusting for age and socioeconomic status. We observed that metal mixture exposure was differentially associated with aggressive behavior in males compared to females (ß = -0.058, 95% CI [-0.126, -0.009]). In males, exposure was significantly associated with more externalizing problems, and aggressive and intrusive behaviors, driven by Pb, Cu and Cr. In females, exposure was not significantly associated with any externalizing symptoms. These findings suggest that the effect of metal exposure on externalizing symptoms differs in magnitude between the sexes, with males being more vulnerable to increased externalizing symptoms following metal exposure. Furthermore, our findings support the hypothesis that sex-specific vulnerabilities to mixed metal exposure during adolescence/young adulthood may play a role in sex disparities observed in mental health disorders, particularly those characterized by externalizing symptoms.

Exposure of the general French population to metals and metalloids in 2014-2016: Results from the Esteban study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the Esteban study was to describe levels of various biomarkers of exposure to several environmental pollutants, including metals and metalloids, among the French population. This paper describes the distribution of concentrations of 28 metals and metalloids in two different populations, and estimates the main determinants of exposure to total arsenic, the sum of inorganic arsenic (iAs) and its two metabolites monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury and nickel. METHODS: Esteban is a cross-sectional study conducted between 2014 and 2016 on a random sample of 2503 adults (18-74 years old) and 1104 children (6-17 years old) from the general population. The data collected included biological samples (blood, hair, and urines), socio-demographic characteristics, environmental and occupational exposure, and information on dietary factors and lifestyle. The geometric mean and percentiles of the distribution were estimated for each metal. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify the determinants of exposure using a generalized linear model. RESULTS: Only four metals had a quantification rate below 90% in adults (beryllium, iridium, palladium, and platinum), and three metals in children (beryllium, iridium, and platinum). The concentrations of total arsenic, cadmium, chromium and mercury were higher than those found in most international studies. The determinants significantly associated with exposure were mainly diet and smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Esteban provided a nationwide description of 28 metal and metalloid exposure levels for adults (some never measured before) and for the first time in children. The study results highlighted widespread exposure to several metals and metalloids. These results could be used to advocate public health decisions for continued efforts to reduce harmful exposure to toxic metals. The Reference values (RV95) built from Esteban could also be used to support future government strategies.

Metal levels in waste pickers in Brasilia, Brazil: hair and nail as exposure matrices.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare workplace conditions and metal exposures in 431 waste pickers who worked nearby at the Estrutural Dump in Brasilia utilizing hair (n = 310) and nail (n = 355) as matrices of exposure. Waste pickers were grouped according to their workplace (open waste dump: G1 and sorting plants: G2). Hair and nail samples were collected and analyzed using ICP-MS. The work duration in the facilities was significantly different between the groups with averages of 16.46 (8.48) yrs and 9.26 (6.28) yrs for hair donors in G1 and G2, and 15.92 (7.72) yrs and 8.55 (5.77) yrs for toenail donors in G1 and G2, respectively. The arithmetic means (µg/g) of cadmium, copper, lead, and manganese in hair were significantly higher in G2 (0.076 ± 0.133; 19.61 ± 18.16; 2.27 ± .56 and 3.87 ± 5.59, respectively) compared to G1 (0.069 ± 0.235; 15.72 ± 15.18; 1.72 ± 4.04 and 3.65 ± 5.5, respectively). Concentrations of arsenic, barium, cadmium, copper, cobalt, lead, manganese, and molybdenum in nail were significantly higher in G2 (0.57 ± 0.39; 22.74 ± 42.06; 0.1 ± 0.08; 22.7 ± 51.60; 0.48 ± 0.45; 4.69 ± 9.43; 19.07 ± 20.75; 1.80 ± 1.76, respectively) compared to G1 (0.40 ± 0.28; 15.32 ± 22.31; 0.08 ± 0.11; 11.91 ± 16.25; 0.37 ± 0.37; 3.94 ± 15.04; 13.01 ± 19.08; 1.16 ± 1.80, respective. Our findings suggest that the studied population was exposed to toxic metals and indicates the need for chemical exposure prevention policies to monitor chemical risk exposures in waste pickers.

Associations between patterns of blood heavy metal exposure and health outcomes: insights from NHANES 2011-2016.

BACKGROUND: Extensive research has explored the association between heavy metal exposure and various health outcomes, including malignant neoplasms, hypertension, diabetes, and heart diseases. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between patterns of exposure to a mixture of seven heavy metals and these health outcomes. METHODS: Blood samples from 7,236 adults in the NHANES 2011-2016 studies were analyzed for levels of cadmium, manganese, lead, mercury, selenium, copper, and zinc. Cluster analysis and logistic regression identified three distinct patterns of mixed heavy metal exposure, and their associations with health outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Pattern 1 exhibited higher odds ratios (ORs) for malignancy during NHANES 2011-2012 (OR = 1.33) and 2015-2016 (OR = 1.29) compared to pattern 2. Pattern 3 showed a lower OR for malignancy during NHANES 2013-2014 (OR = 0.62). For hypertension, pattern 1 displayed higher ORs than pattern 2 for NHANES 2011-2012 (OR = 1.26), 2013-2014 (OR = 1.31), and 2015-2016 (OR = 1.41). Pattern 3 had lower ORs for hypertension during NHANES 2013-2014 (OR = 0.72) and 2015-2016 (OR = 0.67). In terms of heart diseases, pattern 1 exhibited higher ORs than pattern 2 for NHANES 2011-2012 (OR = 1.34), 2013-2014 (OR = 1.76), and 2015-2016 (OR = 1.68). Pattern 3 had lower ORs for heart diseases during NHANES 2013-2014 (OR = 0.59) and 2015-2016 (OR = 0.52). However, no significant trend was observed for diabetes. All three patterns showed the strongest association with hypertension among the health outcomes studied. CONCLUSIONS: The identified patterns of seven-metal mixtures in NHANES 2011-2016 were robust. Pattern 1 exhibited higher correlations with hypertension, heart disease, and malignancy compared to pattern 2, suggesting an interaction between these metals. Particularly, the identified patterns could offer valuable insights into the management of hypertension in healthy populations.

Association of serum metal levels with type 2 diabetes: A prospective cohort and mediating effects of metabolites analysis in Chinese population.

Several studies have suggested an association between exposure to various metals and the onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the results vary across different studies. We aimed to investigate the associations between serum metal concentrations and the risk of developing T2D among 8734 participants using a prospective cohort study design. We utilized inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to assess the serum concentrations of 27 metals. Cox regression was applied to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) for the associations between serum metal concentrations on the risk of developing T2D. Additionally, 196 incident T2D cases and 208 healthy control participants were randomly selected for serum metabolite measurement using an untargeted metabolomics approach to evaluate the mediating role of serum metabolite in the relationship between serum metal concentrations and the risk of developing T2D with a nested casecontrol study design. In the cohort study, after Bonferroni correction, the serum concentrations of zinc (Zn), mercury (Hg), and thallium (Tl) were positively associated with the risk of developing T2D, whereas the serum concentrations of manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), barium (Ba), lutetium (Lu), and lead (Pb) were negatively associated with the risk of developing T2D. After adding these eight metals, the predictive ability increased significantly compared with that of the traditional clinical model (AUC: 0.791 vs. 0.772, P=8.85×10-5). In the nested casecontrol study, a machine learning analysis revealed that the serum concentrations of 14 out of 1579 detected metabolites were associated with the risk of developing T2D. According to generalized linear regression models, 7 of these metabolites were significantly associated with the serum concentrations of the identified metals. The mediation analysis showed that two metabolites (2-methyl-1,2-dihydrophthalazin-1-one and mestranol) mediated 46.81% and 58.70%, respectively, of the association between the serum Pb concentration and the risk of developing T2D. Our study suggested that serum Mn, Zn, Mo, Ba, Lu, Hg, Tl, and Pb were associated with T2D risk. Two metabolites mediated the associations between the serum Pb concentration and the risk of developing T2D.

Aging of nanosized titanium dioxide modulates the effects of dietary copper exposure on Daphnia magna - an assessment over two generations.

Nanosized titanium dioxide (nTiO2) is widely used in products, warranting its discharge from various sources into surface water bodies. However, nTiO2 co-occurs in surface waters with other contaminants, such as metals. Studies with nTiO2 and metals have indicated that the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) can mitigate their toxicity to aquatic organisms. In addition, "aging" of nTiO2 can affect toxicity. However, it is a research challenge, particularly when addressing sublethal responses from dietary exposure over multiple generations. We, therefore exposed the alga Desmodesmus subspicatus to nTiO2 (at concentrations of 0.0, 0.6 and 3.0 mg nTiO2/L) in nutrient medium aged for 0 or 3 days with copper (Cu) at concentrations of 0 and 116 µg Cu/L and with NOM at concentrations equivalent to 0 and 8 mg total organic carbon (TOC) per litre. Subsequently, the exposed alga was fed to Daphnia magna for 23 days over two generations and survival, reproduction and body length were assessed as endpoints of toxicity. In parallel, Cu accumulation and depuration from D. magna were measured. The results indicate that the reproduction of D. magna was the most sensitive parameter in this study, being reduced by 30% (at both parental (F0) and filial (F1) generations) and 50% (at F0 but not F1) due to the dietary Cu exposure in combination with nTiO2 for 0 and 3 days aging, respectively. There was no relationship between the effects observed on reproduction and Cu body burden in D. magna. Moreover, D. magna from the F1 generation showed an adaptive response to Cu in the treatment with 3.0 mg nTiO2/L aged for 3 days, potentially due to epigenetic inheritance. Unexpectedly, the presence of NOM hardly changed the observed effects, pointing towards the function of algal exopolymeric substances or intracellular organic matter, rendering the NOM irrelevant. Ultimately, the results indicate that the transferability of the impacts observed during the F0 to the responses in the F1 generation is challenging due to opposite effect directions. Additional mechanistic studies are needed to unravel this inconsistency in the responses between generations and to support the development of reliable effect models.

Assessment of growth, reproduction, and vermi-remediation potentials of Eisenia fetida on heavy metal exposure.

Heavy metal pollution is a significant environmental concern with detrimental effects on ecosystems and human health, and traditional remediation methods may be costly, energy-intensive, or have limited effectiveness. The current study aims were to investigate the impact of heavy metal toxicity in Eisenia fetida, the growth, reproductive outcomes, and their role in soil remediation. Various concentrations (ranging from 0 to 640 mg per kg of soil) of each heavy metal were incorporated into artificially prepared soil, and vermi-remediation was conducted over a period of 60 days. The study examined the effects of heavy metals on the growth and reproductive capabilities of E. fetida, as well as their impact on the organism through techniques such as FTIR, histology, and comet assay. Atomic absorption spectrometry demonstrated a significant (P < 0.000) reduction in heavy metal concentrations in the soil as a result of E. fetida activity. The order of heavy metal accumulation by E. fetida was found to be Cr > Cd > Pb. Histological analysis revealed a consistent decline in the organism's body condition with increasing concentrations of heavy metals. However, comet assay results indicated that the tested levels of heavy metals did not induce DNA damage in E. fetida. FTIR analysis revealed various functional group peaks, including N-H and O-H groups, CH2 asymmetric stretching, amide I and amide II, C-H bend, carboxylate group, C-H stretch, C-O stretching of sulfoxides, carbohydrates/polysaccharides, disulfide groups, and nitro compounds, with minor shifts indicating the binding or accumulation of heavy metals within E. fetida. Despite heavy metal exposure, no significant detrimental effects were observed, highlighting the potential of E. fetida for sustainable soil remediation. Vermi-remediation with E. fetida represents a novel, sustainable, and cutting-edge technology in environmental cleanup. This study found that E. fetida can serve as a natural and sustainable method for remediating heavy metal-contaminated soils, promising a healthier future for soil.

Association between blood cadmium and depression varies by age and smoking status in US adult women: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2005-2016.

BACKGROUND: Cadmium, a toxic metal, is widely encountered in diverse environmental contexts. Despite its pervasive exposure, there is limited research on the association between blood cadmium levels and depression, especially among females. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between blood cadmium levels and depression in adult women. METHODS: Data spanning 2005-2016 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were selected. Depression was diagnosed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9, score ≥10). Multiple logistic regression, multiple linear regression, and smoothed curve fitting were used to investigate the relationship between blood cadmium and depression. Subgroup analyses and interaction tests were performed to evaluate the stability of this association across populations. RESULTS: A total of 1,173 individuals were diagnosed with depression. The heightened prevalence of depression was linked to increased blood cadmium levels, a trend that persisted even after quartering blood cadmium. In the fully adjusted model, each incremental unit of blood cadmium was associated with a 33% rise in the prevalence of depression (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.21-1.45). Participants in the highest quartile were 63% more likely to experience depression compared to those in the lowest quartile of blood cadmium (OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.15-2.30), and PHQ-9 score increased by 0.73 (ß = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.30-1.17). This positive association may be relevant to the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Blood cadmium levels are associated with depression in adult women, and this association varies by age and smoking status.

Metal Exposure Promotes Colorectal Tumorigenesis via the Aberrant N6-Methyladenosine Modification of ATP13A3.

Element contamination, including that from heavy metals, is associated with gastrointestinal tumorigenesis, but the effects and mechanisms of crucial element exposure associated with colorectal cancer remain unclear. We profiled 56 elements by ICP-MS and used logistic regression, LASSO, BKMR, and GAM to identify colorectal cancer-relevant elements. A series of biochemical experiments were performed to demonstrate the cytotoxicity and the mechanisms of malignant transformation after metal exposure. Using an elementomics approach, we first found that the metal thallium (Tl) was positively correlated with many toxic metals and was associated with a significantly increased risk of colorectal cancer. Acute exposure to Tl induced cytotoxicity and cell death by accelerating the generation of reactive oxygen species and DNA damage. Chronic exposure to Tl led to the inhibition of cell death and thereby induced the malignant transformation of normal colon cells and xenograft tumor formation in nude mice. Furthermore, we describe the first identification of a significant metal quantitative trait locus for the novel colorectal cancer susceptibility locus rs1511625 near ATP13A3. Mechanistically, Tl increased the level of aberrant N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of ATP13A3 via the METLL3/METTL14/ALKBH5-ATP13A3 axis to promote colorectal tumorigenesis. This study provides a basis for the development of public health strategies for reducing metal exposure among populations at high risk for colorectal cancer.

Chronic Exposure to Drinking Water As, Pb, and Cd at Provisional Guideline Values Reduces Weight Gain in Male Mice via Gut Microflora Alterations and Intestinal Inflammation.

Few studies have investigated the long-term effect of exposure to arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) via drinking water at the provisional guideline values on gut microflora. In this study, male and female mice were exposed to water As, Pb, or Cd at 10, 10, or 5 µg L-1 for 6 months. At the end of the exposure, the net weight gain of male mice exposed to As and Pb (9.91 ± 1.35 and 11.2 ± 1.50 g) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower compared to unexposed control mice (14.1 ± 3.24 g), while this was not observed for female mice. Relative abundance of Akkermansia, a protective gut bacterium against intestinal inflammation, was reduced from 29.7% to 3.20%, 4.83%, and 17.0% after As, Pb, and Cd exposure in male mice, which likely caused chronic intestinal inflammation, as suggested by 2.81- to 9.60-fold higher mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory factors in ileal enterocytes of male mice. These results indicate that long-term exposure to drinking water As, Pb, and Cd at concentrations equivalent to the China provisional guideline values can cause loss of protective bacteria and lead to chronic intestinal inflammation, thereby affecting body weight gain in male mice.

Prenatal Lead Exposure Is Associated with Reduced Abundance of Beneficial Gut Microbial Cliques in Late Childhood: An Investigation Using Microbial Co-Occurrence Analysis (MiCA).

Many analytical methods used in gut microbiome research focus on either single bacterial taxa or the whole microbiome, ignoring multibacteria relationships (microbial cliques). We present a novel analytical approach to identify microbial cliques within the gut microbiome of children at 9-11 years associated with prenatal lead (Pb) exposure. Data came from a subset of participants (n = 123) in the Programming Research in Obesity, Growth, Environment and Social Stressors cohort. Pb concentrations were measured in maternal whole blood from the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Stool samples collected at 9-11 years old underwent metagenomic sequencing to assess the gut microbiome. Using a novel analytical approach, Microbial Co-occurrence Analysis (MiCA), we paired a machine learning algorithm with randomization-based inference to first identify microbial cliques that were predictive of prenatal Pb exposure and then estimate the association between prenatal Pb exposure and microbial clique abundance. With second-trimester Pb exposure, we identified a two-taxa microbial clique that included Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Ruminococcus callidus and a three-taxa clique that also included Prevotella clara. Increasing second-trimester Pb exposure was associated with significantly increased odds of having the two-taxa microbial clique below the median relative abundance (odds ratio (OR) = 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.01-1.05]). Using a novel combination of machine learning and causal inference, MiCA identified a significant association between second-trimester Pb exposure and the reduced abundance of a probiotic microbial clique within the gut microbiome in late childhood.

Environmental exposure to manganese and health risk assessment from personal sampling near an industrial source of airborne manganese.

Manganese (Mn), despite being a trace element necessary in small quantities for the correct functioning of the organism, at higher concentrations can induce health disorders, mainly in motor and cognitive functions, even at levels found in non-occupational environments. For this reason, US EPA guidelines define safe reference doses/concentrations (RfD/RfC) for health. In this study, the individualised health risk of exposure to Mn through different media (air, diet, soil) and routes of entry into the organism (inhalation, ingestion and dermal absorption) was assessed according to the procedure defined by the US EPA. Calculations related to Mn present in ambient air were made on the basis of data obtained from size-segregated particulate matter (PM) personal samplers carried by volunteers recruited in a cross-sectional study conducted in the Santander Bay (northern Spain), where an industrial source of airborne Mn is located. Individuals residing in the vicinity of the main Mn source (within 1.5 km) were found to have a hazard index (HI) higher than 1, indicating that there is a potential risk for these subjects to develop health alterations. Also, people living in Santander, the capital of the region, located 7-10 km from the Mn source, may have some risk (HI > 1) under some wind conditions (SW). In addition, a preliminary study of media and routes of entry into the body confirmed that inhalation of PM2.5-bound Mn is the most important route contributing to the overall non-carcinogenic health risk related to environmental Mn.

Heavy metal levels and flavonoid intakes are associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: an NHANES analysis (2007-2010 to 2017-2018).

BACKGROUND: The association between exposure to environmental metals and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is preventing chronic lung diseases. However, little is currently known about the interaction between heavy metals and flavonoids in relation to the risk of COPD. This study aims to bridge this knowledge gap by leveraging The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database to evaluate thecorrelation between blood levels of heavy metals (cadmium, lead, mercury) and the intake of various flavonoid compounds (isoflavones, anthocyanidins, flavan-3-ols, flavanones, flavones, flavonols, total flavonoids). Additionally, appropriate dietary recommendations are provided based on the study findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the 2007-2010 and 2017-2018 NHANES data. Specialized weighted complex survey design analysis software was used for data analysis. Multivariate logistic regression models and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to evaluate the relationship between blood heavy metal levels, flavonoids intake, and COPD incidence in all participants, and to explore the effect of different levels of flavonoids intake on COPD caused by heavy metal exposure. RESULTS: A total of 7,265 adults aged ≥ 40 years were analyzed. Higher levels of blood cadmium (Cd), blood lead and Anthocyanidin (AC) intake were independently associated with an increased risk of COPD (Cd highest quantile vs. lowest: OR = 1.73, 95% CI, 1.25-2.3; Lead highest quantile vs. lowest quantile: OR = 1.44, 95% CI, 1.11-1.86; AC highest quantile vs. lowest: OR = 0.73, 95% CI, 0.54-0.99). When AC intake exceeded 11.56 mg/d, the effect of Cd exposure on COPD incidence decreased by 27%, and this finding was more significant in smokers. CONCLUSION: Higher levels of Cd (≥ 0.45ug/L) and lead (≥ 0.172 ug/L) were positively correlated with the risk of COPD among participants aged 40 years and above, while AC intake (≥ 11.56 mg/d) could reduce the risk related to blood Cd.

Susceptibility of Hyphantria cunea larvae to Beauveria bassiana under Cd Stress: An integrated study of innate immunity and energy metabolism.

Biological control is widely used for integrated pest management. However, there are many abiotic factors that can affect the biocontrol efficiency. In this study, we investigated the susceptibility of Hyphantria cunea larvae to Beauveria bassiana under Cd stress, and the corresponding mechanism was analyzed around innate immunity and energy metabolism. The results showed that mortality of H. cunea larvae treated with Cd and B. bassiana was significantly higher than those treated with B. bassiana alone, and the combined lethal effect exhibited a synergistic effect. Compared with the single fungal treatment group, the total hemocyte count in the combined Cd and fungal treatment group decreased significantly, accompanied by a decrease in phagocytosis, encapsulation, and melanization activity. The expression levels of three phagocytosis-related genes, one encapsulation-promoting gene, and one melanization-regulating gene were significantly lower in the combined treatment group than those in the single fungal treatment group. Furthermore, pathogen recognition ability, signal transduction level, and immune effector expression level were weaker in the combined treatment group than those in the single fungal treatment group. The expression levels of 14 key metabolites and 7 key regulatory genes in glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle pathways were significantly lower in the combined treatment group than those in the single fungal treatment group. Taken together, the weakness of innate immunity and energy metabolism in response to pathogen infection resulted in an increased susceptibility of H. cunea larvae to B. bassiana under Cd pre-exposure. Microbial insecticide is a preferred strategy for pest control in heavy metal-polluted areas. AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND MATERIAL: All the data that support the findings of this study are available in the manuscript.

Association of metal exposure with arterial stiffness in Chinese adults.

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness is an important indicator of cardiovascular aging. However, studies assessing the association between metal exposure and arterial stiffness are limited. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the independent and joint associations of metal exposure with arterial stiffness. METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited 2982 Chinese adults from August 2018 to March 2019 in Wuhan, China. The concentrations of 20 urinary metals were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Arterial stiffness was assessed by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). We used generalized linear model (GLM) to estimate the association of single metal exposure with baPWV. We used weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression to estimate the association of metal mixture with baPWV. RESULTS: In GLM regression analysis, each doubling of urinary copper (Cu) and chromium (Cr) concentrations were associated with 6.48 (95 % CI: 2.51-10.45) cm/s and 3.78 (95 % CI: 0.42-7.14) cm/s increase in baPWV, respectively. In WQS regression analysis, each unit increase in WQS index of the metal mixture was associated with a 9.10 (95 % CI: 2.39-15.82) cm/s increase in baPWV. Cu, Zn, and Cr were the dominant urinary metals associated with baPWV. CONCLUSION: Metal exposure, both individually and in mixture, was associated with an increased risk of arterial stiffness. Our findings may provide a target for preventative strategies against cardiovascular aging.

Naphthaleneoxypropargyl-Containing Piperazine as a Regulator of Effector Immune Cell Populations upon an Aseptic Inflammation.

This study investigated the effects of aseptic inflammation and heavy metal exposure on immune responses, as well as the potential immunomodulatory properties of the newly synthesized 1-[1-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-(naphthalene-1-yloxy)but-2-ynyl]-4-methylpiperazine complexed with ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD). Aseptic inflammation was induced by a subcutaneous injection of turpentine in rats, while heavy metal exposure was achieved through a daily administration of cadmium chloride and lead acetate. The levels of immune cell populations, including cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), monocytes, and granulocytes, were assessed in the spleen. The results showed that aseptic inflammation led to decreased levels of CTL, monocytes, and granulocytes on the 14th day, indicating an inflammatory response accompanied by a migration of effector cells to the inflamed tissues. The exposure to cadmium chloride and lead acetate resulted in systemic immunotoxic effects, with reduced levels of B cells, CD4+ Th cells, monocytes, and granulocytes in the spleen. Notably, piperazine complexed with ß-CD (the complex) exhibited significant stimulatory effects on CD4+, CD8+, and myeloid cell populations during aseptic inflammation, even in the presence of heavy metal exposure. These findings suggest the potential immunomodulatory properties of the complex in the context of aseptic inflammation and heavy metal exposure.

The effects of metals and mixture exposure on lung function and the potential mediating effects of oxidative stress.

Exposure to metals is associated with lung function decline. However, limited data are available about effects of co-exposure of metals on lung function. Additionally, the mechanism of the association between metals and lung function remains unclear. We conducted a longitudinal panel study in 2017-2018 among 45 healthy college students. Urinary 15 metals, lung function, biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation of participants were measured. Linear mixed effect (LME) and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were applied to explore the associations of urinary metals and mixture with lung function. Furthermore, we analyzed the mediating effect of biomarkers in the association between urinary metals and lung function. LME models showed the negative associations of aluminum (Al), vanadium (V), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd) or antimony (Sb) with Forced vital capacity (FVC), and V, Co, Ni, and Sb with Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). BKMR models indicated the overall effect of metals mixture was negatively associated with FEV1 and FVC; urinary Sb was identified as the major contributor to decreased FVC and FEV1. Urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine mediated the association of Al, Mn, or Sb with FVC and the relationship of V with FEV1. The results revealed the longitudinal dose-response relationships of urinary metals with pulmonary function among healthy adults. Oxidative stress may be the underlying mechanisms of metals exposure associated with decreased lung function. Due to the small sample size, the interpretation of the results of this study should be cautious, and more studies are needed to verify the findings of this study.

[Heavy metal exposure and reproductive toxicity: Advances in studies].

Heavy metals are among the major pollutants affecting the environment, with a higher density of metal element than that of water and an extensive presence in the natural environment. Trace elements such as zinc, copper, nickel and chromium mediate important physiological functions and metabolic regulation at normal levels, and insufficient intake of them will lead to related diseases. Heavy metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury do not participate in the normal metabolism of the human body and will cause damage to the body even at an extremely low dose. Heavy metal pollution mainly comes from industrial wastewater, fossil fuel combustion, wastewater, smelting, mining, vehicle exhaust, hazardous waste dumping, and fertilizer abuse. Unable to be biodegraded, heavy metals have a long biological half-life in nature, which in turn leads to bio-accumulation and -amplification. Eating contaminated vegetables is one way of being exposed to heavy metals. Heavy metals produce adverse effects not only on the human reproductive system, but also on the fetus by penetrating the placental barrier, and on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis as well, consequently affecting sexual maturation and reproductive function. With the sharp increase of heavy metals in the environment, researches on their reproductive toxicity and antagonistic drugs have an important clinical significance.