Low-level exposure to multiple metals associated with spirometry-defined lung disease in American Indians: Evidence from the Strong Heart Study
Year: 2020
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Background/Aim: American Indians have a higher burden of chronic lung disease compared to the national average. Several metals are known to induce chronic lung disease at high levels of exposure; however, less is known on the role of low- to moderate-level metal exposure in chronic lung disease. We investigated respiratory effects of environmental exposure to metals and metal-mixtures in American Indians who participated in the Strong Heart Study.Methods: We included participants with data on 6 metals measured from baseline urine samples (1989-1991) and who underwent spirometry testing at visit 2 (1993-1995). We used generalized linear regression to asses associations between metals with spirometry-defined measures of airflow limitation and restrictive ventilatory pattern, and continuous spirometry. In sensitivity analyses, we further adjusted for other metals, accounted for multiple comparisons, and stratified by smoking status. We will use Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression to investigate the joint effects of metal mixtures on lung function and disease.Results: Of the 2,077 participants included, 40% were male, median age was 55 years, 21% had spirometry-defined airflow limitation, and 14% had a restrictive ventilatory pattern. After adjustment for smoking and sociodemographic variables, arsenic, molybdenum, selenium, tungsten, and zinc were associated with increased odds of restrictive ventilatory pattern [OR (95% CI) per interquartile increase: arsenic, 1.31 (1.09, 1.58); molybdenum, 1.51 (1.24, 1.83); selenium, 1.34 (1.05, 1.71); tungsten, 1.22 (1.01, 1.47); zinc, 1.59 (1.25, 1.94)]. Arsenic, cadmium, and zinc were associated with increased odds of airflow limitation, OR (95% CI): 1.31 (1.09, 1.58); 1.19 (0.99, 1.42); 1.14 (0.98, 1.33), respectively. Results stratified by smoking status and further adjusted for other metals were consistent.Conclusions: Low-moderate level exposure to several metals is associated with higher odds of spirometry-defined lung disease in an American Indian population. Environmental exposure to metals may have an under-recognized adverse role on the respiratory system.
Source: ISEE Conference Abstracts
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3172689788