Exposure profiles in pregnant women from a birth cohort in a highly contaminated area of southern Italy

Protecting the health of pregnant women from environmental stressors is crucial for reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases. In industrially contaminated sites, this action is particularly challenging due to the heterogeneous pollutant mixtures in environmental matrices. Aim of this study was to evaluate distribution patterns of mercury, hexacholobenzene and polychlorobyfenils in the serum of 161 pregnant women recruited in the framework of the NEHO cohort and living both inside and outside the National Priority Contaminated Site (NPCS) of Priolo. Food macro-categories were determined, and serum levels of contaminants were used to perform k-means cluster analysis and identify the role of food in pollutant transfer from the environment. Two groups of mothers with high and low measured pollutant levels were distinguished. Concentrations in mothers in the high-exposure cluster were at least twofold for all the evaluated pollutants (p<0.0001) and includes mothers living inside and outside NPCS, with predominance of individuals from the NPCS (p=0.045). Fish and vegetable consumption was higher in the high-exposure cluster (p=0.02). These findings suggest a direct link between marine sediments and soil contaminations, which in turn drives maternal exposure through the food chain. Such consideration appears poorly investigated in the context of contaminated sites. Highlights - HCB, PCBs and Hg were measured in pregnant women from a highly contaminated area - Pregnant women’s exposure profiles were obtained through k-means cluster analysis - Distance of residence from emission sources only partially explains exposure levels - Maternal age and food consumption appear to primarily drive contaminant levels Abstract Figure