Detection of Relevant Heavy Metal Concentrations in Human Placental Tissue: Relationship between the Concentrations of Hg, As, Pb and Cd and the Diet of the Pregnant Woman

Soledad Molina-Mesa (), Juan Pedro Martínez-Cendán, Daniel Moyano-Rubiales, Inmaculada Cubillas-Rodríguez, Jorge Molina-García and Ernesto González-Mesa
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Soledad Molina-Mesa: Doctoral School of San Antonio Catholic, University of Murcia Guadalupe de Maciascoque, 30107 Murcia, Spain
Juan Pedro Martínez-Cendán: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Antonio Catholic University of Murcia, Guadalupe de Maciascoque, 30107 Murcia, Spain
Daniel Moyano-Rubiales: Obstetrics and Gynecology Service, Regional University Hospital of Malaga, 29011 Malaga, Spain
Inmaculada Cubillas-Rodríguez: Obstetrics and Gynecology Service, Regional University Hospital of Malaga, 29011 Malaga, Spain
Jorge Molina-García: Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga (IBIMA), Research Group in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Epigenetics, Women’s Diseases and Reproductive Health, 29071 Malaga, Spain
Ernesto González-Mesa: Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga (IBIMA), Research Group in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Epigenetics, Women’s Diseases and Reproductive Health, 29071 Malaga, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 22, 1-14

Abstract: Heavy metals can cross the placental barrier and reach the fetal compartment, threatening fetal development. Pregnant women can acquire these through food, drinking water, toxic habits or simply by breathing polluted air. The placenta has been described as a biomarker of maternal and fetal exposure to different toxic elements. Objectives: The main objective of this study was to test the possible existence of heavy metal deposits (Pb, As, Cd and Hg) in the placentas of women who gave birth at term in our setting, analyzing the influence of daily life and dietary habits. Methods: We studied 103 placentas, obtained by consecutive sampling, of women that delivered in the Regional Maternity Hospital of Malaga between March and June, 2021. As, Cd and Pb concentrations were analyzed using mass spectrometry techniques. Hg concentration was studied according to US EPA method 7473. Women also answered a questionnaire with epidemiological variables. Results: Detectable concentrations were found in 14.56% [As], 44.6% [Cd], 81.5% [Pb] and 100% [Hg]. [Pb] and [As] correlated significantly (Spearman’s Rho of 0.91 and <0.001), as did [Hg] and [Cd] (Spearman’s Rho 0.256, p < 0.004). The [Pb] and [AS] concentrations were significantly higher in cases of tap water consumption. [Hg] concentrations predicted the birth weight of female newborns.

Keywords: heavy metals; placenta; cadmium; arsenic; lead; mercury; contaminants; pregnancy; toxicity; dietary habits (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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