Metals Core: Metals and Other Susceptibility factors

Metals and Other Susceptibility factors (Mixtures/Social Environment):
Center investigators have published some of the earliest studies on the
IQ and Mn/As exposure in the United States (Wright, Amarasiriwardena et
al. 2006). Results are similar to previous findings in Bangladesh
(Wasserman, Liu et al. 2006; Wasserman, Liu et al. 2007) with respect
to the associations, despite the fact that exposure levels in the US
are considerably lower. Metals core investigators also published one of
the earliest human studies of the effects of social environment (in
this case maternal self-esteem) as a modifier of lead toxicity (Surkan,
Schnaas et al. 2008), which confirms animals studies demonstrating that
social environment can alter the toxicity of lead (Schneider, Lee et
al. 2001; Guilarte, Toscano et al. 2003; Cory-Slechta, Virgolini et al.
2004). In addition, Dr. Robert Wright was funded this past year to
study this issue more broadly, taking into account multiple stress
domains and incorporating salivary cortisol rhythms as a biomarker of
stress ("Stress-Lead Iron Deficiency and Neurodevelopment" PI:
Wright, ES013744-A2). Such cutting-edge work is aimed toward research
translation goals to both prevent and potentially treat the toxic
effects of environmental chemicals. Our Metals Core work has stretched
across the lifespan with research conducted during pregnancy involving
the role of metals in spontaneous abortion (Lamadrid-Figueroa,
Tellez-Rojo et al. 2007), very low level lead poisoning and
neurodevelopment (Tellez-Rojo, Bellinger et al. 2006), effects of Hg on
adolescent neurodevelopment (Debes, Budtz-Jorgensen et al. 2006);
effects of arsenic on pre-cancerous skin lesions (McCarty, Chen et al.
2007; McCarty, Smith et al. 2007), and effects of metals on
neurodegeneration in aged populations (Weuve, Kelsey et al. 2006; Wang,
Hu et al. 2007; Weisskopf, Proctor et al. 2007).