Neighborhood stress and social vulnerability in relation to placental metals concentrations

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 the mean overall SVI was 0.4 ± 0.3. 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.