P4.042: The Concentrations of Multiple Heavy Metals in Meconium of Term Infants in Two Different Communities

Background: Nutritionally important minerals are essential for optimal growth and well-being of the fetus, and exposure to toxic minerals during pregnancy is determinantal to the fetus and newborn. Characterizing metal exposure in these vulnerable populations is particularly important for early targeted public health interventions. There is an urgent need to explore the associations between maternal sociodemographic characteristics and mineral levels in our communities.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, with data collected on the postpartum units of two public hospitals, one in Brooklyn, NY, and the other in Orange County, New York. Participants included mother-newborn dyads who consented to participate in the study. Exclusion criteria included preterm births ( < 37 weeks), Birth weight < 2250g, and infants requiring NICU stay. Maternal demographic information included age, address, nationality, income, ethnicity, education, race, occupation, and prenatal care. Neonatal information included delivery method, gender, birth weight, and gestational age. Meconium samples were collected and analyzed with an atomic absorption spectrometer for aluminum (Al), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn).

Results: 157 infants were included in the study, including 113 from Kings County and 44 from Orange County. There was no difference between the two communities concerning maternal age, income, prenatal vitamin supplementation, infant weight, or gender. Brooklyn had more foreign-born, educated African Americans and less smoking than Newburgh. (Table 1). Al, Ni, Mn, and Zn concentrations are the same in both communities, but concentrations of Cd and Pb are lower, and those of Cr, Cu, Fe, and Mo are higher in rural areas. (Table 2)

Conclusion: This is the largest study to evaluate the concentrations of multiple metals in the meconium in newborn infants, and the first study to compare two communities. Essential metal concentrations are higher, and toxic metal concentrations are lower in the Newburgh community. The exact reasons for these differences in the two communities are unknown. The higher proportion of mothers who recently immigrated to the US in the urban area might have contributed to the observed differences