Accumulation of cadmium in human placenta interacts with the transport of micronutrients to the fetus

Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread, highly toxic environmental pollutant known to accumulate in human placenta. The aim of the present study was to elucidate to what extent the accumulation of Cd in human placenta interacts with the transport of micronutrients to the fetus. Cd and micronutrients were measured in placenta and umbilical cord blood from 44 non-smoking, rural Bangladeshi women, using ICPMS. Metallothionein (MT) protein expression was determined in placenta using Western blot. Cd in placenta (median 110 microg/kg dry weight, 20 microg/kg wet weight) was positively associated with maternal urinary Cd. It was also positively associated with Cd in umbilical cord blood (median 0.16 microg/kg), but negatively associated with zinc (Zn; median 3mg/kg) in umbilical cord blood. Umbilical cord…