Relation of blood cadmium, lead, and mercury levels to biomarkers of lipid peroxidation in premenopausal women

Exposures to cadmium, lead, and mercury are associated with adverse health effects, including cardiovascular disease, which may be promoted by lipid peroxidation. The authors examined cadmium, lead, and mercury in relation to plasma levels of F(2)-8α isoprostanes (isoprostane), 9-hydroperoxy-10,12-octadecadienoic acid (9-HODE), 13-hydroxy-9,11-octadecadienoic acid (13-HODE), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in 252 women from western New York State (2005-2007). Healthy premenopausal women were followed for ≤2 menstrual cycles, with biomarkers of lipid peroxidation being assessed ≤8 times per cycle. Metals were measured at baseline in whole blood. Linear mixed models were used to estimate the association between cadmium, lead, and mercury and lipid peroxidation biomarkers. Median cadmium, lead, and mercury levels were 0.30 μg/L, 0.86 μg/dL, and 1.10 μg/L, respectively. Blood cadmium, lead, and mercury were not associated with increases in isoprostane, TBARS, 9-HODE, or 13-HODE levels. Isoprostane levels decreased 6.80% (95% confidence interval: -10.40, -3.20) per 1% increase in mercury. However, after adjustment for a simulated strong confounding factor, such as precisely measured fish consumption, the observed association was attenuated, suggesting that this unexpected association could be attributable to unmeasured confounding. In this population of healthy premenopausal women with low exposure levels, cadmium, lead, and mercury were not associated with elevated lipid peroxidation biomarkers.