Low-Level Toxic Metal Exposure in Healthy Weaning-Age Infants: Association with Growth, Dietary Intake, and Iron Deficiency

Jungil Choi, Ju Young Chang, Jeana Hong, Sue Shin, Jeong Su Park and Sohee Oh
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Jungil Choi: Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
Ju Young Chang: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Jeana Hong: Department of Pediatrics, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon 24289, Korea
Sue Shin: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Jeong Su Park: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea
Sohee Oh: Department of Medical Statistics, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul 07061, Korea

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: Even low levels of toxic metal exposure (As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) in infancy might be harmful to children’s development. This study investigated toxic metal exposure on healthy weaning-age infants and its relationship with growth, diet, and iron/anemia status. The weight, height, head circumference, whole blood levels of four toxic metals, hemoglobin, and serum ferritin of healthy infants was measured. Among 210 infants with a median age of 11.4 months (interquartile range: 10.5–12.0), the median levels of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb were 1.2 ?g/L, 0.05 ?g/L, 0.8 ?g/L, and 0.83 ?g/dL, respectively. In adjusted linear regression models, post-birth weight gain (Pb) and current head circumference (As, Pb) were negatively associated with toxic metal levels. In multiple linear regression or logistic regression analysis, the duration of breastfeeding (all four metals), perceived adequacy of rice-based food intake (As), regular fish intake (As, Hg), and iron deficiency with/without anemia (Cd, Pb) were associated with increased toxic metal levels. Although levels of toxic metals may not usually be high in this population, individual exposure risk may need to be assessed after considering the type of feeding or intake of complementary foods and the iron/anemia status while evaluating growth status during late infancy.

Keywords: arsenic; cadmium; mercury; lead; infant; breast-feeding; diet; iron deficiency; growth; head circumference (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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