Boron exposure through drinking water during pregnancy and birth size.

Background: Boron is a metalloid found at highly varying concentrations in soil and water. Experimental data indicate that boron is a developmental toxicant, but the few human toxicity data available concern mostly male reproduction.

Objectives: To evaluate potential effects of boron exposure through drinking water on pregnancy outcomes.

Results of a round-robin exercise on read-across.

A round-robin exercise was conducted within the CALEIDOS LIFE project. The participants were invited to assess the hazard posed by a substance, applying in silico methods and read-across approaches. The exercise was based on three endpoints: mutagenicity, bioconcentration factor and fish acute toxicity.

Exposure to lithium through drinking water and calcium homeostasis during pregnancy: A longitudinal study.

There is increasing evidence of adverse health effects due to elevated lithium exposure through drinking water but the impact on calcium homeostasis is unknown. This study aimed at elucidating if lithium exposure through drinking water during pregnancy may impair the maternal calcium homeostasis. In a population-based mother-child cohort in the Argentinean Andes (n=178), with elevated lithium concentrations in the drinking water (5-1660μg/L), blood lithium concentrations (correlating significantly with lithium in water, urine and plasma) were measured repeatedly during pregnancy by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and used as exposure biomarker.

Exposure to Lithium and Cesium Through Drinking Water and Thyroid Function During Pregnancy: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Impaired thyroid function is a common side effect of lithium medication. Recent data indicate that lithium exposure through drinking water, although providing much lower doses than the medication, may also affect thyroid hormone levels. However, the effects in susceptible groups like pregnant women are not known.

Environmental exposure to lithium during pregnancy and fetal size: a longitudinal study in the Argentinean Andes.

Background: Lithium, used for treating bipolar disease, crosses freely the placenta and is classified as teratogenic. It is unclear to what extent environmental lithium exposure may affect fetal growth and development.

Objectives: To elucidate potential effects of lithium exposure through drinking water during pregnancy on fetal size.