Research progress on impacts and mechanisms of heavy metal exposure on offspring birth outcomes
- VernacularTitle:重金属元素暴露对子代出生结局影响及机制的研究进展
- Author:
Yan YUAN
1
;
Wei WU
1
Author Information
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords: heavy metal; birth outcome; paternal exposure; maternal exposure; epigenetic modification
- From: Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(12):1531-1535
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
- Abstract: Heavy metal elements, as common chemicals in the environment, exert profound impacts on ecosystems and human health. With the implementation of the Healthy China Initiative, environmental factors influencing early childhood growth and development have gained increasing attention in the field of public health. Numerous studies have demonstrated significant associations between environmental heavy metal exposure and adverse birth outcomes in offspring, such as preterm birth and low birth weight, with potential mechanisms involving oxidative stress, epigenetic modifications, endocrine disruption, and inflammatory responses, among others. Previous studies have primarily focused on the effects of maternal exposure on offspring birth outcomes, while research on paternal exposure effects and their underlying mechanisms remains limited. This paper systematically reviewed the latest research progress on the effects of environmental heavy metal exposure on offspring birth outcomes, analyzing four key aspects: environmental exposure sources, maternal exposure effects, paternal exposure effects, and molecular mechanisms. The aim is to provide theoretical foundations and insights for further studies in this field.
