Effects of arsenic exposure during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal health: a review / 预防医学

ABSTRACT

@#Arsenic is a toxic metalloid, which may enter the human body through a variety of routes, including drinking water, food, and air. Previous studies have shown that arsenic exposure during pregnancy may cause pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes, and maternal arsenic levels correlate with neonatal neurodevelopment and adult health. However, the negative impact of arsenic exposure during pregnancy on maternal and child health has not been widely accepted because of inconsistent study conclusions and unclear mechanisms. Based on international and national studies pertaining to the effect of arsenic exposure during pregnancy on maternal and child health during the period between 2007 and 2022, this review describes the influencing factors and biomarkers of arsenic exposure during pregnancy, associations of arsenic exposure during pregnancy with pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes and impact of arsenic exposure during pregnancy on neonatal neurodevelopment, and discusses the mechanisms underlying negative health effects caused by arsenic exposure during pregnancy, so as to provide the evidence for assessing the hazards of arsenic exposure during pregnancy and formulating the control strategy.