cadmium

January 25, 2024

Heavy metal exposure linked to problems for middle-aged women

By Shannon Kelleher

Women with higher exposure to heavy metals may have fewer eggs in their ovaries as they near menopause compared to others the same age, a condition linked to hot flashes, weak bones, heart disease, and other health problems, according to a new study in more than 500 middle-aged women.

Exposures to cadmium, arsenic, and mercury, in particular, were linked to lower levels of a hormone that strongly correlates with the number of eggs left in a woman’s ovaries, according to the study, which was published Jan. 25 in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

“Our findings suggest that even low exposure to these ubiquitous metals may influence women’s reproductive health,” said Sung Kyun Park, a professor of epidemiology and environmental health science at the University of Michigan and an author of the study.

“Although individual women may reduce exposure by avoiding foods contaminated with toxic metals and limiting the use of the known sources of metals, a more important approach is to reduce exposure at the population-level through legislation and regulations,” he added.

While heavy metals are known to have toxic effects on the reproductive system, little research has investigated whether exposure to low levels of these metals can influence how many eggs women have in their ovaries as they approach menopause, which begins for most women between the ages of 45 and 55.

“Epidemiological evidence is scanty,” said Park, noting that studies relying on animal models have shown a potential link between toxic metals and altered ovarian function.

August 23, 2023

EPA risking endangered species by allowing increased cadmium pollution, judge rules

By Shannon Kelleher

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is failing to protect endangered species such as sea turtles and sturgeon by allowing sharp increases in levels of toxic cadmium in US waters, a federal judge has ruled.

The court decision, handed down Aug. 18 in the US District Court for the District of Arizona, sided with the environmental group the Center for Biological Diversity, which argued in a 2022 lawsuit that the EPA violated the Endangered Species Act (ESA) when it failed to determine whether allowing a 188% increase in chronic freshwater exposure to the heavy metal would harm already endangered aquatic animals and organisms.

Acute cadmium exposure has been found to cause increased mortality in certain organisms, while chronic exposure has been shown to impact growth, reproduction, immune and endocrine systems, development, and behavior of wildlife.

Federal law requires the EPA to consult with expert wildlife agencies, such as the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Fish and Wildlife Services, when taking actions that can put endangered species at risk. The lawsuit alleged the agency failed to do the necessary consultations in the cadmium case.

“The EPA can no longer refuse to consult with wildlife agencies when it develops nationwide water-quality criteria. It has to follow the Endangered Species Act,” said Hannah Connor, environmental health deputy director and senior attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity. “That’s a game-changer for the health of the country’s rivers and streams and the freshwater plants and animals that depend on them.”

The EPA will likely appeal the decision, Connor said. But if the agency accepts the ruling, it will begin an additional rulemaking process to update its cadmium criteria while consulting with other agencies to make its criteria more protective of endangered species, she said.

August 2, 2023

Worrisome levels of potentially cancer-causing metal found in children’s diets

By Grace van Deelen

Young children are being exposed to a potentially cancer-causing heavy metal known as cadmium through many of the foods they eat, often at levels that exceed safety standards, according to a new study.

Cadmium has been shown to contaminate water, air and crops, including a range of foods considered healthy that are used in baby food. The study, which was published last week in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicity, found that the cumulative average daily levels of cadmium ingested by children were higher than daily cadmium intake levels considered safe by the US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

For instance, children between 6 months and 24 months who consumed spinach and rice at least once a week ingested cadmium that exceeded the ATSDR guidelines by up to 200%, the study determined. The authors of the study warned that the findings are particularly concerning because the bodies of young children are still developing, and may be more susceptible to the effects of heavy metal exposure.

The study comes after a 2021 US Congressional report showed dangerous levels of metals in infant food, prompting the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to launch a research and action plan to assess the risks of heavy metals in foods.