A new study published in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology investigated the association between prenatal exposures to heavy metals and atopic diseases.

In this prospective study, children from the EDEN birth-cohort were followed-up using parental questionnaires with validated questions on asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema and food allergy symptoms. The questionnaires were administered every four months during the childrens first year, and then every year until the age of five, with a final survey at the age of eight years. Serum concentrations of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and manganese (Mn) were assessed in maternal blood samples, collected during mid-pregnancy and in cord blood of 651 mother-children pairs.

The findings showed that levels of Cd in cord blood were associated with greater risk of asthma, eczema and food allergy while Mn levels in maternal serum were associated with eczema. These associations were similar in males and females and were confirmed using log-concentrations of metals as exposures.

These results supported the hypothesis that fetal exposure to heavy metals may affect the development of asthma, eczema and food allergy in childhood. Furthermore, the timing of in utero exposure may have a role in these associations.

Source: Pediatric Allergy and Immunology.2020 Oct 22. doi: 10.1111/pai.13397.