BACKGROUND Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury are ubiquitous toxicants that may be especially harmful to unborn children. We therefore sought to identify temporal trends and predictors of toxic metal biomarkers among US women of reproductive age, including those who were pregnant and/or breastfeeding. METHODS Interviews and examinations were performed among a representative sample of women, aged 20-44 years, as part of the 2003-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. A range of sociodemographic, lifestyle, and dietary factors were evaluated as predictors of urinary inorganic arsenic, urinary cadmium, blood mercury, and blood lead concentrations. RESULTS Levels of all four toxic metal biomarkers declined during the study period. Older age, racial/ethnic minorities, and a birthplace outside of the US were independently associated with higher toxic metal concentrations. Associations were similar for women who were pregnant or breastfeeding and those who were not. CONCLUSION US women of reproductive age were exposed to lower levels of toxic metals in 2013-2014 compared to 2003-2004. However, because the long-term health effects of early life exposures are unclear, public health efforts to address toxic metals should pay particular attention to older, nonwhite, and foreign-born women if they are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

中文翻译：

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美国育龄妇女中有毒金属暴露的预测指标。

背景技术砷，镉，铅和汞是普遍存在的有毒物质，可能对未出生的儿童特别有害。因此，我们寻求在美国育龄妇女（包括怀孕和/或母乳喂养的妇女）中确定有毒金属生物标志物的时间趋势和预测因子。方法作为2003-2014年全国健康与营养检查调查的一部分，对代表性的20-44岁女性样本进行了访谈和检查。评估了一系列社会人口统计学，生活方式和饮食因素，作为尿无机砷，尿镉，血汞和血铅浓度的预测指标。结果在研究期间，所有四种有毒金属生物标志物的水平均下降。年纪较大，种族/民族，在美国以外的出生地和较高的有毒金属浓度独立相关。孕妇或母乳喂养的妇女和未怀孕的妇女的相关性相似。结论与2003-2004年相比，2013-2014年美国育龄妇女接触的有毒金属水平较低。但是，由于尚不清楚早期生命暴露对健康的长期影响，因此，应对有毒金属的公共卫生工作应特别注意年长，非白人和外国出生的妇女，如果他们已怀孕或计划怀孕。