Evaluation of heavy metals and chemicals in newborn dried blood spots
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development and application of methodologies for the quantification of substances of concern for human health in newborn dried blood spots
IRAS ID
147977
Contact name
Karen S Exley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UKHSA
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
During our lifetime we are exposed to many hazardous substances including metals and arsenic either as a consequence of the natural geology and industrial pollution, tobacco smoke or food (e.g., lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury); plasticisers and other chemicals present in consumer products and food contact materials (e.g. phthalates and bisphenol A).
Understanding population exposure and uptake to these toxicants is fundamental to understanding possible effects on health and enabling us to undertake risk assessments. Exposures to the developing foetus and newborn are of particular concern because of their low body weight and immature drug metabolism and excretion systems.
Heel prick blood spots are collected after birth to test for rare but serious conditions including sickle cell disease and cystic fibrosis. The remaining blood spots are then stored for at least 5 years and may be used to verify the initial screening result, improve the screening programme, or for health research. As the entire sample is rarely required for testing, this, affords an opportunity to obtain information on exposure to toxicants without subjecting new-borns to any additional pain or discomfort.
Few studies of this type have been undertaken and there is little information on the necessary methodology to conduct these studies. The aim of this project is to develop methods for the extraction and measurement of toxicants from newborn blood samples collected on blood spot cards.
These methods will then be evaluated to look at levels of the toxicants in a small anonymous sample of newborn blood spots from Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire and see whether the levels are related to area, age or ethnicity. This data will then be used to design a further stage of the study to further investigate any identified relationships in a larger sample of anonymous blood spots. The study will run until 31st March 2019.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/WM/0114
Date of REC Opinion
24 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion