Abstract
Adequate gestational progression depends to a great extent on placental development, which can modify maternal and neonatal outcomes. Any environmental toxicant, including metals, with the capacity to affect the placenta can alter the development of the pregnancy and its outcome. The objective of this study was to correlate the placenta levels of 14 essential and non-essential elements with neonatal weight. We examined relationships between placental concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, mercury, lithium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, lead, rubidium, selenium, strontium, and zinc from 79 low obstetric risk pregnant women in Ourense (Northwestern Spain, 42°20′12.1″N 7°51.844′O) with neonatal weight. We tested associations between placental metal concentrations and neonatal weight by conducting multivariable linear regressions using generalized linear models (GLM) and generalized additive models (GAM). While placental Co (p = 0.03) and Sr (p = 0.048) concentrations were associated with higher neonatal weight, concentrations of Li (p = 0.027), Mo (p = 0.049), and Se (p = 0.02) in the placenta were associated with lower newborn weight. Our findings suggest that the concentration of some metals in the placenta may affect fetal growth.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
Data from this study are available but anonymized.
References
Ahamed M, Mehrotra PK, Kumar P, Siddiqui MK (2009) Placental lead-induced oxidative stress and preterm delivery. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 27(1):70–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2008.08.013
Al-Enazy S, Ali S, Albekairi N, El-Tawil M, Rytting E (2017) Placental control of drug delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 116:63–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2016.08.002
Al-Saleh I, Shinwari N, Mashhour A, Rabah A (2014) Birth outcome measures and maternal exposure to heavy metals (lead, cadmium and mercury) in Saudi Arabian population. Int J Hyg Environ Health 217(2–3):205–218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2013.04.009
Baghurst PA, Robertson EF, Oldfield RK, King BM, McMichael AJ, Vimpani GV et al. (1991) Lead in the placenta, membranes, and umbilical cord in relation to pregnancy outcome in a lead-smelter community.Environ Health Perspect90:315–3202050080
Barker DJ (2004) The developmental origins of adult disease. J Am Coll Nutr 23(6 Suppl):588S-595S. https://doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2004.10719428
Bedir Findik R, Celik HT, Ersoy AO, Tasci Y, Moraloglu O, Karakaya J (2016) Mercury concentration in maternal serum, cord blood, and placenta in patients with amalgam dental fillings: effects on fetal biometric measurements. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 29(22):3665–3669. https://doi.org/10.3109/14767058.2016.1140737
Broberg K, Concha G, Engström K, Lindvall M, Grandér M, Vahter M (2011) Lithium in drinking water and thyroid function. Environ Health Perspect 119(6):827–830. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1002678
Burton GJ, Fowden AL, Thornburg KL (2016Oct) Placental origins of chronic disease. Physiol Rev 96(4):1509–1565. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00029.2015
Cerrillos L, Fernández R, Machado MJ, Morillas I, Dahiri B, Paz S, Gonzalez-Weller D, Gutiérrez A, Rubio C, Hardisson A, Moreno I, Fernández-Palacín A (2019) Placental levels of metals and associated factors in urban and sub-urban areas of Seville (Spain). J Trace Elem Med Biol 54:21–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2019.03.006
Cortés-Eslava J, Gómez-Arroyo S, Risueño MC, Testillano PS (2018) The effects of organophosphorus insecticides and heavy metals on DNA damage and programmed cell death in two plant models. Environ Pollut 240:77–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.04.119
Crump C, Sundquist K, Sundquist J, Winkleby MA (2011) Gestational age at birth and mortality in young adulthood. JAMA 306(11):1233–1240. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2011.1331
Dack K, Fell M, Taylor CM, Havdahl A, Lewis SJ (2021) Mercury and prenatal growth: a systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 18(13):7140. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18137140.PMID:34281082;PMCID:PMC8297189. Accessed 23 Jan 2022
Di Bona KR, Love S, Rhodes NR et al (2011) Chromium is not an essential trace element for mammals: effects of a “low-chromium” diet. J Biol Inorg Chem 16(3):381–390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00775-010-0734-y
Fagerstedt S, Kippler M, Scheynius A et al (2015) Anthroposophic lifestyle influences the concentration of metals in placenta and cord blood. Environ Res 136:88–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2014.08.044
Falcón M, Viñas P, Osuna E, Luna A (2002) Environmental exposures to lead and cadmium measured in human placenta. Arch Environ Health 57(6):598-602. https://doi.org/10.1080/00039890209602094.
Fernández-Cruz (2019) Health status if the galician maternal-child population based on its exposure to environmental pollutants. Dissertation, University of Vigo (Spain). http://www.investigo.biblioteca.uvigo.es/xmlui/handle/11093/1424. Accessed 11 Oct 2021
Freire C, Amaya E, Gil F et al (2019) Placental metal concentrations and birth outcomes: the Environment and Childhood (INMA) project. Int J Hyg Environ Health 222(3):468–478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2018.12.014
Freire C, Amaya E, Gil F et al (2018) Prenatal co-exposure to neurotoxic metals and neurodevelopment in preschool children: the Environment and Childhood (INMA) project. Sci Total Environ 621:340–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.273
Fréry N, Nessmann C, Girard F, Lafond J, Moreau T, Blot P, Lellouch J, Huel G (1993) Environmental exposure to cadmium and human birthweight. Toxicology 30;79(2):109–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/0300-483x(93)90124-b
Gilbert-Diamond D, Emond JA, Baker ER, Korrick SA, Karagas MR (2016) Relation between in utero arsenic exposure and birth outcomes in a cohort of mothers and their newborns from new hampshire. Environ Health Perspect 124(8):1299–1307. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1510065
Gómez-Roig MD, Mazarico E, Cuadras D et al (2021) Placental chemical elements concentration in small fetuses and its relationship with Doppler markers of placental function. Placenta 110:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2021.05.001
Guo Y, Huo X, Li Y, Wu K, Liu J, Huang J, Zheng G, Xiao Q, Yang H, Wang Y, Chen A, Xu X (2010) Monitoring of lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel in placenta from an e-waste recycling town in China. Sci Total Environ 408(16):3113–3117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.04.018
Harari F, Bottai M, Casimiro E, Palm B, Vahter M (2015a) Exposure to lithium and cesium through drinking water and thyroid function during pregnancy: a prospective cohort study. Thyroid 25(11):1199–1208. https://doi.org/10.1089/thy.2015.0280
Harari F, Langeén M, Casimiro E et al (2015b) Environmental exposure to lithium during pregnancy and fetal size: a longitudinal study in the Argentinean Andes. Environ Int 77:48–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2015.01.011
Hastie T, Tibshirani R (1995) Generalized additive models for medical research. Stat Methods Med Res 4(3):187–196. https://doi.org/10.1177/096228029500400302
Herrera Giménez J (2015) Oligoelementos tóxicos y esenciales y biomarcadores en sangre de gestantes a término: impacto en la rotura prematura de membranas. Dissertation, University of Murcia (Spain). Trent JW (1975) Experimental acute renal failure. Dissertation, University of California. https://digitum.um.es/digitum/bitstream/10201/47215/1/Javier%20Herrera%20Gim%c3%a9nez%20Tesis%20Doctoral.pdf. Accessed 2 Jan 2022
Hussey MR, Burt A, Deyssenroth MA, Jackson BP, Hao K, Peng S, Chen J, Marsit CJ, Everson TM (2020) Placental lncRNA expression associated with placental cadmium concentrations and birth weight. Environ Epigenet 6(1):dvaa003. https://doi.org/10.1093/eep/dvaa003
Irwinda R, Wibowo N, Putri AS (2019) The concentration of micronutrients and heavy metals in maternal serum, placenta, and cord blood: a cross-sectional study in preterm birth. J Pregnancy 2019:5062365. Published 2019 Jan 1. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/5062365
Iyengar GV, Rapp A (2001) Human placenta as a ‘dual’ biomarker for monitoring fetal and maternal environment with special reference to potentially toxic trace elements. Part 2: essential minor, trace and other (non-essential) elements in human placenta. Sci Total Environ 280(1–3):207–219. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0048-9697(01)00826-9
Iyengar GV, Rapp A (2001) Human placenta as a ‘dual’ biomarker for monitoring fetal and maternal environment with special reference to potentially toxic trace elements. Part 3: toxic trace elements in placenta and placenta as a biomarker for these elements. Sci Total Environ 280(1–3):221–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0048-9697(01)00827-0
Jariwala M, Suvarna S, Kiran Kumar G, Amin A, Udas AC (2014) Study of the concentration of trace elements Fe, Zn, Cu, Se and their correlation in maternal serum, cord serum and colostrums. Indian J Clin Biochem 29(2):181–188. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-013-0338-8
Jin L, Zhang L, Li Z, Liu JM, Ye R, Ren A (2013) Placental concentrations of mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic and the risk of neural tube defects in a Chinese population. Reprod Toxicol 35:25–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2012.10.015
Klapec T, Cavar S, Kasac Z, Rucević S, Popinjac A (2008) Selenium in placenta predicts birth weight in normal but not intrauterine growth restriction pregnancy. J Trace Elem Med Biol 22(1):54–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2007.10.004
Kieliszek M (2019) Selenium-fascinating microelement, properties and sources in food. Molecules 24(7):1298. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24071298
Kosik-Bogacka D, Łanocha-Arendarczyk N, Kot K et al (2018) Concentrations of mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) in afterbirth and their relations with various factors. Environ Geochem Health 40(4):1683–1695. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-018-0081-4
Kot K, Łanocha-Arendarczyk N, Kupnicka P, et al (2021) Selected metal concentration in maternal and cord blood. Int J Environ Res Public Health 18(23):12407. Published 2021 Nov 25. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312407
Kozikowska I, Binkowski ŁJ, Szczepańska K et al (2013) Mercury concentrations in human placenta, umbilical cord, cord blood and amniotic fluid and their relations with body parameters of newborns. Environ Pollut 182:256–262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.07.030
Kucukaydin Z, Kurdoglu M, Kurdoglu Z, Demir H, Yoruk IH (2018) Selected maternal, fetal and placental trace element and heavy metal and maternal vitamin levels in preterm deliveries with or without preterm premature rupture of membranes. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 44(5):880–889. https://doi.org/10.1111/jog.13591
Laine JE, Ray P, Bodnar W, et al (2015) Placental cadmium levels are associated with increased preeclampsia risk. PLoS One 10(9):e0139341. Published 2015 Sep 30. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0139341
Lee ASE, Ji Y, Raghavan R et al (2021) Maternal prenatal selenium levels and child risk of neurodevelopmental disorders: a prospective birth cohort study. Autism Res 14(12):2533–2543. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2617
Lewandowska M, Sajdak S, Lubiński J (2019) The role of early pregnancy maternal selenium levels on the risk for small-for-gestational age newborns. Nutrients 11(10):2298. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11102298
Li M, Cheng W, Luo J et al (2017) Loss of selenocysteine insertion sequence binding protein 2 suppresses the proliferation, migration/invasion and hormone secretion of human trophoblast cells via the PI3K/Akt and ERK signaling pathway. Placenta 55:81–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2017.05.007
Liang C, Wang J, Xia X et al (2018) Serum cobalt status during pregnancy and the risks of pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome: a prospective birth cohort study. J Trace Elem Med Biol 46:39–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2017.11.009
Llanos MN, Ronco AM (2009) Fetal growth restriction is related to placental levels of cadmium, lead and arsenic but not with antioxidant activities. Reprod Toxicol 27(1):88–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2008.11.057
Loiacono NJ, Graziano JH, Kline JK, Popovac D, Ahmedi X, Gashi E, Mehmeti A, Rajovic B (1992) Placental cadmium and birthweight in women living near a lead smelter. Arch Environ Health 47(4):250–255. https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1992.9938357
Lozano M, Murcia M, Soler-Blasco R, et al (2022) Exposure to metals and metalloids among pregnant women from Spain: levels and associated factors. Chemosphere 286(Pt 2):131809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131809
Maret W (2016) The metals in the biological periodic system of the elements: concepts and conjectures. Int J Mol Sci 17(1):66. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms17010066
Matsubara S, Minakami H, Sato I, Saito T (1997) Decrease in cytochrome c oxidase activity detected cytochemically in the placental trophoblast of patients with pre-eclampsia. Placenta 18(4):255–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0143-4004(97)80059-8
Mazurek D, Łoźna K, Bronkowska M (2020) The concentration of selected elements in the placenta according to selected sociodemographic factors and their effect on birth mass and birth length of newborns. J Trace Elem Med Biol 58:126425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2019.126425
McKeating DR, Fisher JJ, MacDonald T, et al (2021) Circulating trace elements for the prediction of preeclampsia and small for gestational age babies. Metabolomics 17(10):90. Published 2021 Sep 23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-021-01840-0
Mendes S, Timóteo-Ferreira F, Almeida H, Silva E (2019) New insights into the process of placentation and the role of oxidative uterine microenvironment. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2019:9174521. Published 2019 Jun 25. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/9174521
Mikelson CK, Troisi J, LaLonde A et al (2019) Placental concentrations of essential, toxic, and understudied metals and relationships with birth outcomes in Chattanooga TN. Environ Res 168:118–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.09.006
Mistry HD, Williams PJ (2011) The importance of antioxidant micronutrients in pregnancy. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2011:841749. https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/841749
Murcia M, Ballester F, Enning AM et al (2016) Prenatal mercury exposure and birth outcomes. Environ Res 151:11–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2016.07.003
Newport DJ, Viguera AC, Beach AJ, Ritchie JC, Cohen LS, Stowe ZN (2005) Lithium placental passage and obstetrical outcome: implications for clinical management during late pregnancy. Am J Psychiatry 162(11):2162–2170. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.162.11.2162
O’Leary F, Samman S (2010) Vitamin B12 in health and disease. Nutrients 2(3):299–316. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu2030299
Omeljaniuk WJ, Socha K, Soroczynska J et al (2018) Cadmium and lead in women who miscarried. Clin Lab 64(1):59–67. https://doi.org/10.7754/Clin.Lab.2017.170611
Osada H, Watanabe Y, Nishimura Y, Yukawa M, Seki K, Sekiya S (2002) Profile of trace element concentrations in the feto-placental unit in relation to fetal growth. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 81(10):931–937. https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0412.2002.811006.x
Osorio-Yáñez C, Gelaye B, Enquobahrie DA, Qiu C, Williams MA (2018) Dietary intake and urinary metals among pregnant women in the Pacific Northwest. Environ Pollut 236:680–688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.01.110
Patorno E, Huybrechts KF, Bateman BT et al (2017) Lithium use in pregnancy and the risk of cardiac malformations. N Engl J Med 376(23):2245–2254. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1612222
Pi X, Qiao Y, Wei Y et al (2018) Concentrations of selected heavy metals in placental tissues and risk for neonatal orofacial clefts. Environ Pollut 242(Pt B):1652–1658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.07.112
Pi X, Wei Y, Li Z et al (2019) Higher concentration of selenium in placental tissues is associated with reduced risk for orofacial clefts. Clin Nutr 38(5):2442–2448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2018.11.002
Punshon T, Li Z, Jackson BP et al (2019) Placental metal concentrations in relation to placental growth, efficiency and birth weight. Environ Int 126:533–542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.01.063
Rayman MP (2000) The importance of selenium to human health. Lancet 356(9225):233–241. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(00)02490-9
Ricketts P, Fletcher H, Voutchkov M (2017) Factors associated with mercury levels in human placenta and the relationship to neonatal anthropometry in Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago. Reprod Toxicol 71:78–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2017.04.008
Ronco AM, Arguello G, Muñoz L, Gras N, Llanos M (2005) Metals content in placentas from moderate cigarette consumers: correlation with newborn birth weight. Biometals 18(3):233–241. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-005-0583-2
Roverso M, Berté C, Di Marco V et al (2015) The metallome of the human placenta in gestational diabetes mellitus. Metallomics 7(7):1146–1154. https://doi.org/10.1039/c5mt00050e
Rudge CV, Röllin HB, Nogueira CM, Thomassen Y, Rudge MC, Odland JØ (2009) The placenta as a barrier for toxic and essential elements in paired maternal and cord blood samples of South African delivering women. J Environ Monit 11(7):1322–1330. https://doi.org/10.1039/b903805a
Sabra S, Malmqvist E, Saborit A, Gratacós E, Gomez Roig MD (2017) Heavy metals exposure levels and their correlation with different clinical forms of fetal growth restriction. PLoS One 6;12(10):e0185645. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0185645
Stasenko S, Bradford EM, Piasek M et al (2010) Metals in human placenta: focus on the effects of cadmium on steroid hormones and leptin. J Appl Toxicol 30(3):242–253. https://doi.org/10.1002/jat.1490
Saxena S, Shukla D, Bansal A (2012) Augmentation of aerobic respiration and mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle by hypoxia preconditioning with cobalt chloride. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 264(3):324–334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2012.08.033
Sun J, Mao B, Wu Z, Jiao X, Wang Y, Lu Y, et al (2022) Relationship between maternal exposure to heavy metal titanium and offspring congenital heart defects in Lanzhou, China: a nested case-control study. Front Public Health 3;10:946439. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.946439
Suprewicz K, Kozikowska I, Chrobaczyńska-Dylag M, Gał A, Piekarz A, Sikora J, Sławska H, Stawarz R (2013) Effects of the cigarette smoking on the newborn clinical parameters and the accumulation of cadmium and lead in the placenta of women from Upper Silesia. Ginekol Pol 84(9):776–780. https://doi.org/10.17772/gp/1639
Taylor CM, Emmett PM, Emond AM, Golding J (2018) A review of guidance on fish consumption in pregnancy: is it fit for purpose? Public Health Nutr 21(11):2149–2159. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980018000599
Tung PW, Burt A, Karagas M, Jackson BP, Punshon T, Lester B, Marsit CJ (2022) Association between placental toxic metal exposure and NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scales (NNNS) profiles in the Rhode Island Child Health Study (RICHS). Environ Res 204(Pt A):111939. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.111939
Vincent JB (2017) New evidence against chromium as an essential trace element. J Nutr 147(12):2212–2219. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.117.255901
Wang Y, He Y, Zhuang L et al (2018) Effect of maternal and neonatal factors on neonatal thyroid screening results. Clin Lab 64(9):1445–1450. https://doi.org/10.7754/Clin.Lab.2018.180310
Wang X, Qi L, Peng Y et al (2019) Urinary concentrations of environmental metals and associating factors in pregnant women. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 26(13):13464–13475. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-04731-z
Wang J, Qian R, Wang Y, et al (2021) The mediation effect of placental weight change in the association between prenatal exposure to selenium and birth weight: evidence from a prospective birth cohort study in China. Environ Epidemiol 5(2):e139. Published 2021 Apr 2. https://doi.org/10.1097/EE9.0000000000000139
Wibberley DG, Khera AK, Edwards JH, Rushton DI (1977) Lead levels in human placentae from normal and malformed births. J Med Genet 14(5):339–345. https://doi.org/10.1136/jmg.14.5.339
Wilson RL, Bianco-Miotto T, Leemaqz SY, Grzeskowiak LE, Dekker GA, Roberts CT (2018) Early pregnancy maternal trace mineral status and the association with adverse pregnancy outcome in a cohort of Australian women. J Trace Elem Med Biol 46:103–109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2017.11.016
Xu X, Chiung YM, Lu F, Qiu S, Ji M, Huo X (2015) Associations of cadmium, bisphenol A and polychlorinated biphenyl co-exposure in utero with placental gene expression and neonatal outcomes. Reprod Toxicol 52:62–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2015.02.004
Yin S, Wang C, Wei J, et al (2020) Essential trace elements in placental tissue and risk for fetal neural tube defects. Environ Int 139:105688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2020.105688
Zhao H, Tang J, Zhu Q, et al (2020) Associations of prenatal heavy metals exposure with placental characteristics and birth weight in Hangzhou Birth Cohort: multi-pollutant models based on elastic net regression. Sci Total Environ 742:140613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140613
Zhang N, Liu Z, Tian X, Chen M, Deng Y, Guo Y et al (2018) Barium exposure increases the risk of congenital heart defects occurrence in offspring. Clin Toxicol (phila) 56(2):132–139. https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2017.1343479
Zhang N, Yang S, Yang J, Deng Y, Li S, Li N et al (2020) Association between metal cobalt exposure and the risk of congenital heart defect occurrence in offspring: a multi-hospital case-control study. Environ Health Prev Med 25(1):38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12199-020-00877-2
Zhang YL, Zhao YC, Wang JX, Zhu HD, Liu QF, Fan YG et al (2004) Effect of environmental exposure to cadmium on pregnancy outcome and fetal growth: a study on healthy pregnant women in China. J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng 39(9):2507–2515. https://doi.org/10.1081/ese-200026331
Zadrozna M, Gawlik M, Nowak B et al (2009) Antioxidants activities and concentration of selenium, zinc and copper in preterm and IUGR human placentas. J Trace Elem Med Biol 23(2):144–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtemb.2009.02.005
Zoroddu MA, Aaseth J, Crisponi G, Medici S, Peana M, Nurchi VM (2019) The essential metals for humans: a brief overview. J Inorg Biochem 195:120–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2019.03.013
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
All authors contributed to the study conception and design.
Esther Álvarez-Silvares, Mónica Bermudez-González, Paula Rubio-Cid: methodology, supervision, investigation, formal analysis, writing—review and editing.
Elena Martínez Carballo: methodology, supervision, formal analysis, writing—review and editing.
Tania Fernández-Cruz: data curation, methodology, formal analysis.
Agostinho Almeida, Edgar Pinto: data curation, methodology, formal analysis.
Teresa Seoane-Pillado: methodology, statistical analysis.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval and consent to participate
The study was approved by Pontevedra-Vigo-Ourense Research Ethics Committee with registry code 2014/410. The Declaration of Helsinki on biomedical research was applied at all times. After being contacted during their antenatal visit, pregnant women received a thorough explanation of the study and, before being included in it, were invited to sign an informed consent.
Consent for publication
All authors read and approved the final manuscript and give their consent for the publication of the study.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Responsible Editor: Ludek Blaha
Publisher's note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Highlights
- Increased concentrations of some metals in the placenta are associated with lower newborn birth weights: lithium, molybdenum, and selenium.
- Increased concentrations of some metals in the placenta are related to higher newborn weights: cobalt and strontium.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Álvarez-Silvares, E., Fernández-Cruz, T., Bermudez-González, M. et al. Placental levels of essential and non-essential trace element in relation to neonatal weight in Northwestern Spain: application of generalized additive models. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 62566–62578 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-26560-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-26560-x