Urinary Metals Concentrations and Biomarkers of Autoimmunity among Navajo and Nicaraguan Men

Madeleine K. Scammell, Caryn Sennett, Rebecca L. Laws, Robert L. Rubin, Daniel R. Brooks, Juan José Amador, Damaris López-Pilarte, Oriana Ramirez-Rubio, David J. Friedman, Michael D. McClean, Navajo Birth Cohort Study Team, Johnnye Lewis and Esther Erdei
Additional contact information
Madeleine K. Scammell: Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
Caryn Sennett: Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
Rebecca L. Laws: Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
Robert L. Rubin: Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Daniel R. Brooks: Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
Juan José Amador: Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
Damaris López-Pilarte: Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
Oriana Ramirez-Rubio: Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
David J. Friedman: Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
Michael D. McClean: Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
Navajo Birth Cohort Study Team: Navajo Birth Cohort Study Team members are listed in Appendix A .
Johnnye Lewis: College of Pharmacy, Community Environmental Health Program, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
Esther Erdei: College of Pharmacy, Community Environmental Health Program, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-17

Abstract: Metals are suspected contributors of autoimmune disease among indigenous Americans. However, the association between metals exposure and biomarkers of autoimmunity is under-studied. In Nicaragua, environmental exposure to metals is also largely unexamined with regard to autoimmunity. We analyzed pooled and stratified exposure and outcome data from Navajo ( n = 68) and Nicaraguan ( n = 47) men of similar age and health status in order to characterize urinary concentrations of metals, compare concentrations with the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) male population, and examine the associations with biomarkers of autoimmunity. Urine samples were analyzed for metals via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Serum samples were examined for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) at 1:160 and 1:40 dilutions, using an indirect immunofluorescence assay and for specific autoantibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Logistic regression analyses evaluated associations of urinary metals with autoimmune biomarkers, adjusted for group (Navajo or Nicaraguan), age, and seafood consumption. The Nicaraguan men had higher urinary metal concentrations compared with both NHANES and the Navajo for most metals; however, tin was highest among the Navajo, and uranium was much higher in both populations compared with NHANES. Upper tertile associations with ANA positivity at the 1:160 dilution were observed for barium, cesium, lead, strontium and tungsten.

Keywords: autoimmunity; antinuclear antibodies; specific autoantibodies; metals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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