{"title":"Spatial variability of heavy metals in pregnant women: linking urinary biomarkers, indoor dust contamination, and air quality in Isfahan, Iran.","authors":"Maryam Moradnia, Hossein Movahedian Attar, Yaghoub Hajizadeh, Mohammad Darvishmotevalli, Afsane Chavoshani","doi":"10.1007/s10653-026-03508-x","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to environmental stressors, including heavy metals from indoor dust and ambient air. This study evaluated chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni) in paired urine and indoor vacuum dust samples from 80 pregnant women in Isfahan, Iran. Metal concentrations were quantified using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Significant spatial variability across urban zones was observed for urinary metal concentrations and the Air Quality Index (both p < 0.001), whereas dust metal concentrations showed no significant spatial differences, including dust Pb (p = 0.514). In indoor dust, metal concentrations followed the order Pb > Cr > Ni > Cd, with Pb showing the highest mean concentration (111.10 μg/g). Urinary concentrations followed the order Pb > Cr > Ni, with mean concentrations of 10.52, 8.30, and 4.14 μg/L, respectively. Building age was strongly correlated with dust Pb levels (ρ = 0.788, p < 0.001). However, dust and urinary metal profiles were not significantly correlated, indicating that environmental contamination does not translate linearly into maternal internal exposure. These findings highlight diverse environmental, dietary, and behavioral pathways influencing maternal metal burden. Integrated multi-matrix assessments are therefore essential to accurately characterize pregnant women's environmental risks.</p>","PeriodicalId":11759,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","volume":"48 16","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3000,"publicationDate":"2026-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Environmental Geochemistry and Health","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-026-03508-x","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to environmental stressors, including heavy metals from indoor dust and ambient air. This study evaluated chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni) in paired urine and indoor vacuum dust samples from 80 pregnant women in Isfahan, Iran. Metal concentrations were quantified using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Significant spatial variability across urban zones was observed for urinary metal concentrations and the Air Quality Index (both p < 0.001), whereas dust metal concentrations showed no significant spatial differences, including dust Pb (p = 0.514). In indoor dust, metal concentrations followed the order Pb > Cr > Ni > Cd, with Pb showing the highest mean concentration (111.10 μg/g). Urinary concentrations followed the order Pb > Cr > Ni, with mean concentrations of 10.52, 8.30, and 4.14 μg/L, respectively. Building age was strongly correlated with dust Pb levels (ρ = 0.788, p < 0.001). However, dust and urinary metal profiles were not significantly correlated, indicating that environmental contamination does not translate linearly into maternal internal exposure. These findings highlight diverse environmental, dietary, and behavioral pathways influencing maternal metal burden. Integrated multi-matrix assessments are therefore essential to accurately characterize pregnant women's environmental risks.
期刊介绍：
Environmental Geochemistry and Health publishes original research papers and review papers across the broad field of environmental geochemistry. Environmental geochemistry and health establishes and explains links between the natural or disturbed chemical composition of the earth’s surface and the health of plants, animals and people.
Beneficial elements regulate or promote enzymatic and hormonal activity whereas other elements may be toxic. Bedrock geochemistry controls the composition of soil and hence that of water and vegetation. Environmental issues, such as pollution, arising from the extraction and use of mineral resources, are discussed. The effects of contaminants introduced into the earth’s geochemical systems are examined. Geochemical surveys of soil, water and plants show how major and trace elements are distributed geographically. Associated epidemiological studies reveal the possibility of causal links between the natural or disturbed geochemical environment and disease. Experimental research illuminates the nature or consequences of natural or disturbed geochemical processes.
The journal particularly welcomes novel research linking environmental geochemistry and health issues on such topics as: heavy metals (including mercury), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and mixed chemicals emitted through human activities, such as uncontrolled recycling of electronic-waste; waste recycling; surface-atmospheric interaction processes (natural and anthropogenic emissions, vertical transport, deposition, and physical-chemical interaction) of gases and aerosols; phytoremediation/restoration of contaminated sites; food contamination and safety; environmental effects of medicines; effects and toxicity of mixed pollutants; speciation of heavy metals/metalloids; effects of mining; disturbed geochemistry from human behavior, natural or man-made hazards; particle and nanoparticle toxicology; risk and the vulnerability of populations, etc.
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