O-63 Risk Factors Associated with Trace Element Concentrations in Tobagonian Adults

Methods: Urinary concentrations of 18 trace elements were measured in 935 adults (aged 40–87) from the Tobago Health Study. Trace elements detected in >60% of samples were compared with US adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Risk factors included demographics, anthropometrics, lifestyle and diet. We used sex-stratified partial least squares (PLS) regression to identify risk factors associated with trace element concentrations. PLS was chosen to handle a large number of potentially correlated variables.

Results: Twelve trace elements, arsenic (As), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), cesium (Cs), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), lead (Pb), tin (Sn), thallium (Tl), uranium (U) and zinc (Zn) were detected in >90% of samples. Of the 10 trace elements measured in NHANES, geometric means for eight were higher in Tobagonian samples. In PLS models, older age was associated with higher concentrations of six trace elements in men and eight in women. For men, attending some secondary school was associated with lower Cd and Pb, while smoking was associated with higher Cd and U. Higher BMI was associated with higher Tl, and lower Cd in men. Fish consumption was associated with higher As in both sexes. In women, higher consumption of processed fish was associated with higher U, rice with higher Ba and Pb, and root vegetables with higher Tl. In men, non-root vegetable and root vegetable consumption was associated with higher Tl and Co, respectively.

Conclusion: Urinary trace element concentrations in Tobagonian adults exceeded US levels. Key risk factors reveal complexities in trace element exposure and metabolism, highlighting the need for interventions to reduce exposure in vulnerable groups.