Urine metals concentrations and dyslexia among children in China. (June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xue, Qi; Zhou, Yu; Gu, Huaiting; Xie, Xinyan; Hou, Fang; Liu, Qi; Wu, Hao; Zhu, Kaiheng; Wan, Zihao; Song, Ranran
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 139(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-06
• Subjects: Chinese dyslexia -- Urine metal -- Case-control study; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105707
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Highlights: We investigated the association between the concentrations of urine metals and dyslexia among children in China. Urine selenium was negatively associated with the risk of dyslexia. Co-exposure to argentum and selenium was associated to the risk of dyslexia among children in China. Abstract: Background: Exposures to heavy metals has been linked to many developmental disorders. However, few studies have investigated the effects of exposure and co-exposure to metals on dyslexia, especially with regard to dyslexics in China. Objectives: To investigate the association between urine metal concentrations and dyslexia in a case-control study among children in China. Methods: A case-control study was conducted in the Tongji Reading Environment and Dyslexia (READ) research program. A total of 228 dyslexics and 228 controls were matched on gender, age (within one year), and grade. The concentrations of 21 urine metals were measured by an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Multivariable conditional logistic regression models were applied to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of Chinese dyslexia. Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, two metals (selenium and argentum) were significantly associated with dyslexia in single-metal multivariable models. Argentum was positively associated with the risk of dyslexia, while selenium was negatively associated. In the multiple-metal model, compared with extreme quartiles, the ORs (95% CIs) for selenium was 0.36 (95% CI: 0.14–0.93; P trend = 0.029). In the joint association analysis, children with higher levels of urine argentum and lower level of urine selenium had a significantly higher risk of dyslexia than those with low levels of argentum and selenium (OR = 5.06, 95% CI: 1.67–18.84). Conclusions: The findings suggest that exposure to selenium and argentum may relate to dyslexia in China. Longitudinal studies are needed to further evaluate these relationships and investigate potential mechanisms.