- Study of 242 pregnant participants linked neighbourhood stress and CDC social vulnerability to placental metals using ICP-MS and adjusted regression models.
- Higher neighbourhood disorder was associated with increased placental cadmium concentrations (quartile 2 %∆=25.5, 95% CI: 0.3, 57.1).
- CDC SVI subthemes showed minority status and language vulnerability linked to higher cadmium, and housing and transportation vulnerability linked to higher chromium.
BMC Public Health. 2026 Jul 22;26(1):2991. doi: 10.1186/s12889-026-28577-6.
ABSTRACT
Recognizing that social and environmental exposures may co-occur and impact perinatal outcomes, we examined associations between neighborhood stress and social vulnerability, and placental metals concentrations. Pregnant participants (n = 242) in the UPSIDE study (Rochester, NY) completed the City Stress Inventory which has two subscales: neighborhood disorder (e.g., vacant buildings) and violence (personal experiences of violence). Neighborhood disorder was considered as quartiles (Q) and violence was considered binary (any/none). Participant addresses were linked to the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and its four sub-themes (socioeconomic status, household composition and disability, minority status and language, housing type and transportation). SVI assigns each census tract a U.S.-wide percentile ranking (0-1) with higher values indicating greater vulnerability). We categorized SVI measures as low, medium [M], and high. At delivery, placenta were collected and lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and manganese were analyzed by ICP-MS. We fitted adjusted linear regression models associating neighborhood stress and SVI measures with each log-transformed metal. Results are reported as percentage difference (%∆) in metal concentrations. Most participants (73%) reported exposure to neighborhood disorder, 24% reported exposure to neighborhood violence, and overall SVI had a median of 0.4 and IQR of 0.5. Compared to the lowest disorder quartile, higher neighborhood disorder was associated with higher cadmium (Q2:%∆=25.5, 95%CI:0.3,57.1). Positive associations were observed for minority status and language vulnerability with cadmium (M:%∆=26.4, 95%CI:2.9,55.1) and housing type and transportation with chromium (M:%∆=27.1, 95%CI:1.3,59.6) compared to the lowest tertile. Some aspects of neighborhood stress and social vulnerability were associated with placental metals concentrations, which may have implications for perinatal health.
PMID:42888412 | DOI:10.1186/s12889-026-28577-6
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