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Chronic Community Exposure to Environmental Metal Mixtures Is Associated with Selected Cytokines in the Navajo Birth Cohort Study (NBCS)

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  • Nicole Thompson González

    (Integrative Anthropological Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
    Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
    Academic Science Education and Research Training Program, Health Sciences Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA)

  • Jennifer Ong

    (Health Sciences Center, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA)

  • Li Luo

    (Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA)

  • Debra MacKenzie

    (Health Sciences Center, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA)

Abstract

Many tribal populations are characterized by health disparities, including higher rates of infection, metabolic syndrome, and cancer—all of which are mediated by the immune system. Members of the Navajo Nation have suffered chronic low-level exposure to metal mixtures from uranium mine wastes for decades. We suspect that such metal and metalloid exposures lead to adverse health effects via their modulation of immune system function. We examined the relationships between nine key metal and metalloid exposures (in blood and urine) with 11 circulating biomarkers (cytokines and CRP in serum) in 231 pregnant Navajo women participating in the Navajo Birth Cohort Study. Biomonitored levels of uranium and arsenic species were considerably higher in participants than NHANES averages. Each biomarker was associated with a unique set of exposures, and arsenic species were generally immunosuppressive (decreased cellular and humoral stimulating cytokines). Overall, our results suggest that environmental metal and metalloid exposures modulate immune status in pregnant Navajo women, which may impact long-term health outcomes in mothers and their children.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicole Thompson González & Jennifer Ong & Li Luo & Debra MacKenzie, 2022. "Chronic Community Exposure to Environmental Metal Mixtures Is Associated with Selected Cytokines in the Navajo Birth Cohort Study (NBCS)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-14, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:22:p:14939-:d:971440
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lauren Hund & Edward J. Bedrick & Curtis Miller & Gabriel Huerta & Teddy Nez & Sandy Ramone & Chris Shuey & Miranda Cajero & Johnnye Lewis, 2015. "A Bayesian framework for estimating disease risk due to exposure to uranium mine and mill waste on the Navajo Nation," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 178(4), pages 1069-1091, October.
    2. Rebecca Newlin Hutchinson & Sonya Shin, 2014. "Systematic Review of Health Disparities for Cardiovascular Diseases and Associated Factors among American Indian and Alaska Native Populations," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, January.
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