Abstract 40: Arsenic exposure in pregnancy increases the risk of adverse birth outcomes of newborns in Taiwan.

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have reported that arsenic (As) exposure in pregnancy induces DNA damage and increased risk of fetal health and development. However, the associations between As-induced DNA damage and adverse birth outcomes in newborns have yet to be established. We aimed to elucidate the association between As exposure and DNA damages in pregnant women, and link it to the increased risks of adverse birth outcomes in newborn.

Methods: A birth cohort study of 309 mother-newborn pairs was recruited during 2001-2002. We collected maternal urine samples in the third trimester of pregnancy for measurements of metabolites of inorganic arsenic (iAs) using high-performance liquid chromatography/ inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and DNA damage biomarkers by liquid chromatography tenden mass spectrometer. Information of birth weight, birth length, head circumference, chest girth and Apgar score of newborns were collected to assess newborn health.

Results: We found a significant correlation between maternal As exposure and increased levels of 8-OHdG (β=0.39, p<0.001) and N7-MeG (β=0.26, p<0.001) in pregnant women. The significant increased risk of low Apgar score at 1st min (<7) in newborns were associated with increased levels of urinary iAs (OR: 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.06) and N7-MeG (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.10-1.25).

Conclusions: These findings suggest that maternal As exposure may contribute to the formation of DNA damages and affect fetal and infant health. DNA methylation altered by arsenic exposure was hypothesized and tested.

Citation Format: W.C. Chou, C.Y. Chuang, P.C. Huang, C.J. Wang, H.Y. Chen, Y.D. Chuang, S.L. Wang. Arsenic exposure in pregnancy increases the risk of adverse birth outcomes of newborns in Taiwan. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Post-GWAS Horizons in Molecular Epidemiology: Digging Deeper into the Environment; 2012 Nov 11-14; Hollywood, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(11 Suppl):Abstract nr 40.