BACKGROUND Growing evidence indicates that in utero arsenic exposures in humans may increase the risk of adverse health effects and development of diseases later in life. This study aimed to evaluate potential health risks of in utero arsenic exposure on genetic damage in newborns in relation to maternal arsenic exposure. METHODS A total of 205 pregnant women residing in arsenic-contaminated areas in Hanam province, Vietnam, were recruited. Prenatal arsenic exposure was determined by arsenic concentration in mother's toenails and urine during pregnancy and in umbilical cord blood collected at delivery. Genetic damage in newborns was assessed by various biomarkers of early genetic effects including oxidative/nitrative DNA damage (8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, 8-OHdG, and 8-nitroguanine), DNA strand breaks and micronuclei (MN) in cord blood. RESULTS Maternal arsenic exposure, measured by arsenic levels in toenails and urine, was significantly increased (p <  0.05) in subjects residing in areas with high levels of arsenic contamination in drinking water. Cord blood arsenic level was significantly increased in accordance with maternal arsenic exposure (p <  0.001). Arsenic exposure in utero is associated with genotoxic effects in newborns indicated as increased levels of 8-OHdG, 8-nitroguanine, DNA strand breaks and MN frequency in cord blood with increasing levels of maternal arsenic exposure. Maternal toenail arsenic level was significantly associated with all biomarkers of early genetic effects, while cord blood arsenic levels associated with DNA strand breaks and MN frequency. CONCLUSIONS In utero arsenic exposure is associated with various types of genetic damage in newborns potentially contributing to the development of diseases, including cancer, later in life.

中文翻译：

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子宫中砷的暴露与新生儿中各种类型的DNA损伤和微核有关：一项出生队列研究。

背景技术越来越多的证据表明，在人类子宫内砷暴露可能增加不良健康影响和晚年疾病发展的风险。这项研究旨在评估宫内砷暴露与母亲砷暴露相关的新生儿遗传损伤的潜在健康风险。方法招募了205名在越南哈纳姆省受砷污染地区居住的孕妇。产前砷的暴露是通过妊娠期间母亲脚趾甲和尿液中的砷浓度以及分娩时收集的脐带血中的砷浓度确定的。新生儿的遗传损伤通过早期遗传效应的各种生物标志物进行评估，包括氧化/硝化DNA损伤（8-羟基脱氧鸟苷，8-OHdG和8-硝基鸟嘌呤），DNA链断裂和脐带血中的微核（MN）。结果通过趾甲和尿液中砷的含量来衡量，孕妇的砷暴露在饮用水中砷含量高的地区显着增加（p <0.05）。脐带血砷水平随着母体砷暴露而显着增加（p <0.001）。子宫中砷的暴露与新生儿的遗传毒性有关，表现为脐带血中8-OHdG，8-硝基鸟嘌呤，DNA链断裂和MN频率的水平随着母体砷暴露水平的增加而增加。母体趾甲砷水平与早期遗传效应的所有生物标志物均显着相关，而脐带血砷水平与DNA链断裂和MN频率相关。