Factor analysis of essential and toxic elementsin human placentas from deliveries in artic and subarctic areas of Russiaand Norway
2001
Concentrations in human placenta of 11 essential elements (P,
Ca, Mg, Cu, S, Na, Fe, Zn, K, Se, Mn) and 5 toxic elements (Ba,
Sr, Pb, Ni, Cd) are compared for each of two arctic communities in eastern
Norway and western Russia, and for another in each country located at more
southerly latitudes. All but Mg, Fe, P and K were present in higher concentrations
in the Russian study group. The observed inter-element correlations are reflected
by the four major factors identified in a principal component analysis. The
total variation explained was 67.3%, of which more than half (35.3%)
was contributed by Factor 1. P, Ca, Mg, Ba, Sr, Pb, and Ni were major contributors
to this factor. The placental concentrations of these elements depended strongly
on gestational age, increasing from about week 35 and peaking near weeks 39
and 40, and exhibited skewed frequency distributions and a dependence on maternal
smoking. The gestational-dependent mineralization of the placenta is interpreted
to reflect the deposition of metal phosphates coinciding with smoking-induced
tissue damage. The loadings of the remaining three factors are reviewed in
the context of common uptake mechanisms, similar biochemistries and unique
transport pathways. The inter-element relationships and grouping of the elements
observed should constitute a scientific base for the use of placenta composition
in environmental monitoring and epidemiological studies.
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