Groundwater Manganese and Infant Mortality Rate by County in North Carolina: An Ecological Analysis
Groundwater Manganese and Infant Mortality Rate by County in North Carolina: An Ecological Analysis
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DOI：
10.1007/s10393-010-0291-4
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发表时间：
2009-12
期刊：
影响因子：
2.5
通讯作者：
Andrew H. Spangler;J. Spangler
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Andrew H. Spangler;J. Spangler
锰是微量的必需元素，但高浓度时有毒。作为地下水中的一种自然存在的元素，以及由于其日益取代汽油中的铅的趋势而日益具有全球重要性的化学品，对其有害影响进行警惕的评估至关重要。针对先前的研究表明锰和井水之间存在潜在联系，我们使用从北卡罗来纳州卫生统计中心、北卡罗来纳州地质调查局和美国人口普查局获得的数据进行了一项试点生态研究。我们的试点研究采用逐步多元回归法，调查了北卡罗来纳州（n= 100个县;北卡罗来纳州2000年人口= 8，049，313）范围内，经化学转化的县级地下水锰浓度与县级婴儿死亡率（报告为死亡/1，000）之间的关系。我们的模型考虑了低出生体重、经济状况、教育和种族等混杂因素。在北卡罗来纳州各县，地下水锰浓度每增加一个对数，每1,000名活产婴儿的县级婴儿死亡人数就增加2.074人。这项研究首次在全州范围内显示环境锰对婴儿死亡率的不利影响。这些试点数据表明，需要进一步研究广泛的发展影响，也可能对有兴趣保护社区健康的监管机构有用。
Manganese is an element essential in trace quantities but toxic in high concentrations. As a naturally occurring element in groundwater and a chemical of increasing global significance due to its growing trend of replacing lead in gasoline, vigilant assessment of its detrimental effects is essential. In response to previous research that showed a potential link between manganese and well water, we performed a pilot ecological study using data obtained from the North Carolina Center for Health Statistics, the North Carolina Geological Survey, and the U.S. Census. Our pilot study investigated the relationship between logarithmically transformed county level groundwater manganese concentrations with county level infant mortality rates (reported as deaths/1,000) within the state of North Carolina (n= 100 counties; North Carolina 2000 population = 8,049,313) using stepwise, multiple regression. Our model accounted for such confounders as low birth weight, economic status, education, and ethnicity. Across North Carolina counties, for every log increase in groundwater manganese concentration, there was a 2.074 increase in county level infant deaths per 1,000 live births. This study is the first to show on a statewide basis adverse infant mortality effects of environmental manganese. These pilot data argue for further research into a broad range of developmental effects and also may be useful to regulatory agencies interested in protecting communities’ health.