GH018-03
Geogenic metals in drinking water in California and risk of spontaneous preterm birth

Tuesday, 15 December 2020: 20:40
Virtual
Allison Sherris1, Mike Baiocchi2, Scott E Fendorf3, Steve Luby4, Wei Yang5 and Gary M Shaw5, (1)Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States, (2)Stanford University, Stanford, United States, (3)Stanford University, Department of Earth System Science, Stanford, CA, United States, (4)Stanford University, Medicine, Stanford, United States, (5)Stanford University, Pediatrics, Stanford, United States
Recorded Presentation
Abstract:
Naturally-occurring (geogenic) metals are widespread groundwater contaminants. In California, geogenic elements including arsenic, iron, manganese, and vanadium commonly co-occur in drinking water. Exposure to elevated levels of arsenic during pregnancy has been associated with increased risk of preterm birth (defined as births <37 weeks completed gestation), but few studies have explored potential health effects of arsenic at low concentrations or in combination with other geogenic contaminants.

We leveraged data from over six million births in California from 2000-2011 to conduct a within-mother evaluation of the association between four geogenic contaminants in drinking water during pregnancy and risk of spontaneous preterm birth. Metal concentrations in drinking water were estimated by linking public water system monitoring records with maternal residential addresses. We used ordinary least squares regression with mother fixed effects to evaluate the associations between metals, metal interactions, and spontaneous preterm birth within women whose water quality changed between sibling births.

We did not find an association between risk of late preterm birth (32-36 weeks of gestation) and tap water metal concentrations in the top decile during pregnancy. We found a modest approximately 20% increase in risk of early preterm birth (20-31 weeks of gestation) associated with arsenic exposure in the top decile (>4.8 µg/L). Interactions and association between preterm birth and other metals were not statistically significant after adjustment for multiple hypothesis testing.

This study does not suggest strong associations between spontaneous preterm birth and elevated concentrations of four geogenic metals (arsenic, iron, manganese, and vanadium) in drinking water during pregnancy. However, the common co-occurrence of these metals in drinking water among pregnant women merits continued research on potential cumulative or interactive effects.

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