ArticleEnvironmental research2022
Metal mixtures are associated with increased anxiety during pregnancy.
Article in Environmental research, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 23 citations in OpenAlex.
- Human Health Effects of Oral Exposure to Chromium: A Systematic Review of the Epidemiological Evidence.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024Pooled it
- Association between plasma metal element profiles and cognitive impairment in occupationally aluminum-exposed workers at a large aluminum plant in northern China.The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease · 2026Article
- Perinatal exposure to metal mixtures disrupts neuronal function and behavior.Environmental research · 2026Article
- Endocrine disrupting chemicals and female sexual health: An emerging research priority.Environmental research · 2025Article
- Perinatal Exposure to Metal Mixtures Disrupts Neuronal Function and Behavior.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2025Article
- Proteomic signatures and predictive modeling of cadmium-associated anxiety in middle-aged and elderly populations: an environmental exposure association study.Journal of translational medicine · 2025Article
- A prospective study of a whole blood metal mixture and depressive symptoms among Black women from Detroit, Michigan.Neurotoxicology · 2025Article
- Association of maternal metal exposure and psychological status with adverse pregnancy outcomes: a nested case-control study.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
- Association of blood cadmium, lead, and mercury with anxiety: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2007-2012.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
- Impairments of Spatial Memory and N-methyl-d-aspartate Receptors and Their Postsynaptic Signaling Molecules in the Hippocampus of Developing Rats Induced by As, Pb, and Mn Mixture Exposure.Brain sciences · 2023Article
- Selenium and zinc alleviate quaternary metal mixture -induced neurotoxicity in rats by inhibiting oxidative damage and modulating the expressions of NF-kB and Nrf2/Hmox-1 pathway.IBRO neuroscience reports · 2023Article
- Trace Elements Levels in Major Depressive Disorder-Evaluation of Potential Threats and Possible Therapeutic Approaches.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Review
- Associations between a metal mixture and infant negative affectivity: Effect modification by prenatal cortisol and infant sex.Child developmentArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundExposure to low-dose toxic metals in the environment is ubiquitous. Several murine studies have shown metals induce anxiety-like behaviors, and mechanistic research supports that metals disrupt neurotransmitter signaling systems implicated in the pathophysiology of anxiety. In this study, we extend prior research by examining joint exposure to six metals in relation to maternal anxiety symptoms during pregnancy.
methodsThe sample includes 380 participants enrolled in the PRogramming of Intergenerational Stress Mechanisms (PRISM) pregnancy cohort. Spot urine was collected during pregnancy (mean ± standard deviation: 31.1 ± 6.1 weeks), and concentrations of six metals (barium [Ba], cadmium [Cd], chromium [Cr], cesium [Cs], lead [Pb], antimony [Sb]) were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry. Trait anxiety symptoms were measured during pregnancy using a short version of the Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T) and information on covariates was collected by questionnaire. We used weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression as the primary modeling approach to examine metals, treated as a mixture, in relation to higher (≥20) vs. lower anxiety symptoms while adjusting for urinary creatinine and key sociodemographic variables.
resultsThe sample is socioeconomically and racially/ethnically diverse. Urinary metal concentrations were log-normally distributed and 25% of the sample had an STAI-T score ≥20. Joint exposure to metals was associated with elevated anxiety symptoms (OR
conclusionExposure to metals in the environment may be associated with anxiety symptoms during pregnancy. This is a public health concern, as anxiety disorders are highly prevalent and associated with significant co-morbidities, especially during pregnancy when both the mother and developing fetus are susceptible to adverse health outcomes.
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