Prenatal exposure to barium and arsenic and the odds of congenital heart defects in offspring: a nested case–control study within a birth cohort in Lanzhou, China

BackgroundPrevious studies have identified that exposure to heavy metals increases the prevalence of congenital heart defects (CHDs); however, limited information exists regarding the association between combined exposure to barium (Ba) and arsenic (As), and CHDs. This study aims to investigate the...

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Main Authors: Yun Dang, Jianhao Sun, Zhenzhen Wu, Baohong Mao, Qinglei Hang, Jie Huang, Xiaoli Zhao, Ji Xia, Cheng Chen, Wenxiang Yao, Dan Lu, Qing Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1597178/full
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author Yun Dang
Yun Dang
Jianhao Sun
Jianhao Sun
Jianhao Sun
Zhenzhen Wu
Zhenzhen Wu
Zhenzhen Wu
Baohong Mao
Qinglei Hang
Jie Huang
Xiaoli Zhao
Ji Xia
Ji Xia
Cheng Chen
Cheng Chen
Wenxiang Yao
Dan Lu
Dan Lu
Qing Liu
author_facet Yun Dang
Yun Dang
Jianhao Sun
Jianhao Sun
Jianhao Sun
Zhenzhen Wu
Zhenzhen Wu
Zhenzhen Wu
Baohong Mao
Qinglei Hang
Jie Huang
Xiaoli Zhao
Ji Xia
Ji Xia
Cheng Chen
Cheng Chen
Wenxiang Yao
Dan Lu
Dan Lu
Qing Liu
author_sort Yun Dang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundPrevious studies have identified that exposure to heavy metals increases the prevalence of congenital heart defects (CHDs); however, limited information exists regarding the association between combined exposure to barium (Ba) and arsenic (As), and CHDs. This study aims to investigate the association between prenatal exposure to Ba and As (both independently and in combination) and the risk of CHDs in offspring.MethodsIn a birth cohort study conducted in Lanzhou, China, a total of 97 mother-newborn pairs were designated as the case group, with an additional 194 pairs constituting the control group. The concentrations of Ba and As in maternal blood were quantified utilizing an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. A multivariate logistic regression model was employed to examine the association between Ba and As exposure levels and the risk of neonatal CHDs and their subtypes. Interaction effects were further evaluated through the application of both additive and multiplicative models.ResultsThe concentration of As in the blood of pregnant women is positively correlated with Ba levels. Higher concentrations of maternal blood Ba level was associated with greater odds of CHDs (p = 0.008), including the isolated CHDs (p = 0.013), the multiple CHDs (p = 0.032), PDA (p = 0.014), and ASDs (p = 0.031); Similarly, higher concentrations of maternal blood As level was associated with greater odds of CHDs (p = 0.013), including the isolated CHDs (p = 0.016), the multiple CHDs (p = 0.003), PDA (p = 0.005), ASDs (p = 0.017), and AVSDs (p = 0.034). Elevated levels of barium and arsenic in maternal blood were significantly associated with increased odds of CHDs and their subtypes in offspring (All p < 0.05). Furthermore, a significant multiplicative interaction between Ba and As levels in maternal blood was identified in relation to total CHDs (p = 0.04).ConclusionExposure to Ba or As individually, as well as combined exposure to both, is significantly associated with an increased risk of CHDs in offspring.
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spelling doaj-art-0ece50a2b2da4af78fd9ab07a302df0e2025-08-20T03:51:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-05-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15971781597178Prenatal exposure to barium and arsenic and the odds of congenital heart defects in offspring: a nested case–control study within a birth cohort in Lanzhou, ChinaYun Dang0Yun Dang1Jianhao Sun2Jianhao Sun3Jianhao Sun4Zhenzhen Wu5Zhenzhen Wu6Zhenzhen Wu7Baohong Mao8Qinglei Hang9Jie Huang10Xiaoli Zhao11Ji Xia12Ji Xia13Cheng Chen14Cheng Chen15Wenxiang Yao16Dan Lu17Dan Lu18Qing Liu19Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child-Care Hospital/Gansu Provincial Central Hospital, Lanzhou, ChinaInstitute of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaGansu Provincial Maternity and Child-Care Hospital/Gansu Provincial Central Hospital, Lanzhou, ChinaNorthern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaInstitute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaGansu Provincial Maternity and Child-Care Hospital/Gansu Provincial Central Hospital, Lanzhou, ChinaNorthern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaInstitute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaGansu Provincial Maternity and Child-Care Hospital/Gansu Provincial Central Hospital, Lanzhou, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Medical College, Key Laboratory of Jiangsu Province University for Nucleic Acid & Cell Fate Manipulation, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaGansu Provincial Maternity and Child-Care Hospital/Gansu Provincial Central Hospital, Lanzhou, ChinaGansu Provincial Maternity and Child-Care Hospital/Gansu Provincial Central Hospital, Lanzhou, ChinaNorthern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaInstitute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaNorthern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaInstitute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaBaiyin Second People's Hospital, Baiyin, ChinaNorthern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaInstitute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, ChinaGansu Provincial Maternity and Child-Care Hospital/Gansu Provincial Central Hospital, Lanzhou, ChinaBackgroundPrevious studies have identified that exposure to heavy metals increases the prevalence of congenital heart defects (CHDs); however, limited information exists regarding the association between combined exposure to barium (Ba) and arsenic (As), and CHDs. This study aims to investigate the association between prenatal exposure to Ba and As (both independently and in combination) and the risk of CHDs in offspring.MethodsIn a birth cohort study conducted in Lanzhou, China, a total of 97 mother-newborn pairs were designated as the case group, with an additional 194 pairs constituting the control group. The concentrations of Ba and As in maternal blood were quantified utilizing an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. A multivariate logistic regression model was employed to examine the association between Ba and As exposure levels and the risk of neonatal CHDs and their subtypes. Interaction effects were further evaluated through the application of both additive and multiplicative models.ResultsThe concentration of As in the blood of pregnant women is positively correlated with Ba levels. Higher concentrations of maternal blood Ba level was associated with greater odds of CHDs (p = 0.008), including the isolated CHDs (p = 0.013), the multiple CHDs (p = 0.032), PDA (p = 0.014), and ASDs (p = 0.031); Similarly, higher concentrations of maternal blood As level was associated with greater odds of CHDs (p = 0.013), including the isolated CHDs (p = 0.016), the multiple CHDs (p = 0.003), PDA (p = 0.005), ASDs (p = 0.017), and AVSDs (p = 0.034). Elevated levels of barium and arsenic in maternal blood were significantly associated with increased odds of CHDs and their subtypes in offspring (All p < 0.05). Furthermore, a significant multiplicative interaction between Ba and As levels in maternal blood was identified in relation to total CHDs (p = 0.04).ConclusionExposure to Ba or As individually, as well as combined exposure to both, is significantly associated with an increased risk of CHDs in offspring.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1597178/fullcongenital heart defectsbariumarsenicpregnancymaternal bloodinteraction
spellingShingle Yun Dang
Yun Dang
Jianhao Sun
Jianhao Sun
Jianhao Sun
Zhenzhen Wu
Zhenzhen Wu
Zhenzhen Wu
Baohong Mao
Qinglei Hang
Jie Huang
Xiaoli Zhao
Ji Xia
Ji Xia
Cheng Chen
Cheng Chen
Wenxiang Yao
Dan Lu
Dan Lu
Qing Liu
Prenatal exposure to barium and arsenic and the odds of congenital heart defects in offspring: a nested case–control study within a birth cohort in Lanzhou, China
Frontiers in Public Health
congenital heart defects
barium
arsenic
pregnancy
maternal blood
interaction
title Prenatal exposure to barium and arsenic and the odds of congenital heart defects in offspring: a nested case–control study within a birth cohort in Lanzhou, China
title_full Prenatal exposure to barium and arsenic and the odds of congenital heart defects in offspring: a nested case–control study within a birth cohort in Lanzhou, China
title_fullStr Prenatal exposure to barium and arsenic and the odds of congenital heart defects in offspring: a nested case–control study within a birth cohort in Lanzhou, China
title_full_unstemmed Prenatal exposure to barium and arsenic and the odds of congenital heart defects in offspring: a nested case–control study within a birth cohort in Lanzhou, China
title_short Prenatal exposure to barium and arsenic and the odds of congenital heart defects in offspring: a nested case–control study within a birth cohort in Lanzhou, China
title_sort prenatal exposure to barium and arsenic and the odds of congenital heart defects in offspring a nested case control study within a birth cohort in lanzhou china
topic congenital heart defects
barium
arsenic
pregnancy
maternal blood
interaction
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1597178/full
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