A new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health has found that higher levels of certain metals in urine are linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality.
This research, published in the journal Circulation, analyzed a diverse group of people in the U.S. and sheds light on the role of metals like cadmium, tungsten, uranium, cobalt, copper, and zinc in heart health.
While some metals have long been associated with health risks, this study is the first to explore a wider range of metals in such a diverse population.
In this study, a combination of the six metals—cadmium, tungsten, uranium, copper, cobalt, and zinc—was found to increase the risk of heart disease by 29% and the risk of death by 66% over an 18-year period.
Each metal was also individually linked to a higher likelihood of developing CVD and dying. This adds important new evidence to our understanding of how metal exposure affects human health, especially in populations that have been less studied.
The study used data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), which includes people from six urban and suburban communities across the U.S. Researchers analyzed urine samples from the participants and followed their health outcomes over nearly two decades.
The study’s participants were diverse, with 39% identifying as non-Hispanic white, 27% as non-Hispanic Black, 22% as Hispanic/Latino, and 12% as Chinese.
Over the course of the study, more than 1,100 participants developed heart disease, and nearly 1,900 died. Even after accounting for other risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes, the researchers found that people with higher levels of metals in their urine were at greater risk of heart disease and death.
Cadmium, in particular, was associated with up to a 25% increase in the risk of heart disease and a 68% higher risk of death.
“These findings highlight the role of metals in heart disease and mortality, and how reducing exposure could improve cardiovascular health, especially in communities already facing health disparities,” said Dr. Irene Martinez-Morata, the study’s lead author and a researcher in environmental health at Columbia.
Metal exposure is widespread, and people come into contact with these metals in many ways. Sources can include air pollution, contaminated water, food, and even household dust.
The burden of exposure is not evenly distributed, with minority and low-income communities often facing higher levels of exposure.
This study found that groups such as non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic/Latino, Chinese, and American Indian populations, as well as those with lower incomes, had higher levels of these metals in their systems, adding to the health challenges they already face.
“Interventions to reduce metal exposure, particularly in vulnerable populations, could help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality,” added Martinez-Morata.
The American Heart Association has already recognized the risks posed by metals like arsenic, cadmium, and lead, but this study brings attention to other, less studied metals such as tungsten and cobalt.
The researchers used advanced machine learning techniques to analyze the mixture of metals in urine, offering a more realistic view of how people are exposed to multiple metals at the same time.
By studying this “metal cocktail,” the researchers were able to better understand the combined effects of these metals on health, which is more reflective of real-life exposure.
“Exposure to metals like tungsten and uranium is surprisingly common in the U.S.,” Martinez-Morata noted. These metals can come from sources like drinking water, food, and air pollution.
While some metals, such as copper and zinc, are necessary for human health in small amounts, high levels can become toxic and indicate excessive exposure or problems in the body’s metabolism.
Although federal regulations have helped reduce exposure to certain toxic metals, such as banning leaded gasoline and lowering acceptable levels of arsenic in drinking water, more work is needed to address the risks posed by other metals like tungsten and cobalt.
Implementing policies to reduce metal contamination in air, water, and food is crucial, as well as addressing the socio-economic factors that lead to higher exposure in certain communities.
Dr. Ana Navas-Acien, a co-author of the study and professor at Columbia’s Department of Environmental Health Sciences, highlighted the strengths of this research.
“We not only sampled a large, diverse population, but we also used state-of-the-art laboratory methods and analyzed outcomes over a long period,” she said.
Future studies could provide even more insights by measuring metal levels in urine multiple times over the course of a person’s life, rather than just once.
The findings of this study are especially important for reducing health disparities in cardiovascular disease.
According to Dr. Cashell Jaquish, a genetic epidemiologist at the National Institutes of Health, these results could lead to community-level efforts to lower metal exposure, helping to reduce heart disease in the populations most affected.
This research marks an important step forward in understanding the role of metals in heart disease and could shape future public health policies aimed at reducing exposure to these harmful substances.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how vitamin D influences cholesterol levels, and what we know about egg intake and heart disease.
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The research findings can be found in Circulation.
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