What does this research mean for the field?

Multi-metal biomarker patterns differ significantly across diverse U.S. populations, and paired serum-urine analyses can distinguish recent environmental exposure from physiological regulation, highlighting the need for population-specific biomonitoring. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

Characterize urinary multi-metal biomarker profiles in Asian Indian adults, compare patterns against diverse U.S. cohorts, and examine serum–urine relationships to distinguish clearance from physiological regulation.

September 8, 2026Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental EpidemiologyOpen Access

Metal and metal mixture biomarkers across three U.S. cohorts: MASALA, MESA-LA, and Strong Heart Family Study

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Authors

KSKathrin Schilling IMIrene Martínez-Morata WAWilliam A. Anderson

Discussion

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Overview

Cross-cohort study reveals distinct urinary and serum metal biomarker profiles in diverse multi-ethnic populations, highlighting the need for population-specific environmental monitoring.

Key Points

Characterize urinary multi-metal biomarker profiles in Asian Indian adults, compare patterns against diverse U.S. cohorts, and examine serum–urine relationships to distinguish clearance from physiological regulation.
Measured 19 urinary metals using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in harmonized subsamples from MASALA (Asian Indians, n=111), MESA-LA (White, Black, Hispanic/Latino, Chinese, n=444), and SHFS (American Indians, n=111).
Corrected urinary concentrations for creatinine (µg/g creatinine) and analyzed paired serum concentrations for the identical 19-metal panel within the MASALA cohort.
MASALA participants had the lowest urinary Zn (354 µg/g) and Mn (0.11 µg/g), and the highest Mo (66.5 µg/g), Tl (0.26 µg/g), and Ba (2.57 µg/g) compared with MESA-LA and SHFS cohorts.
Urinary As, Pb, and Cd were higher in MASALA than in SHFS (As: 7.60 vs 5.08 µg/g; Pb: 0.88 vs 0.59 µg/g; Cd: 0.51 vs 0.47 µg/g), but lower than levels observed in MESA-LA Chinese participants (As: 43.9 µg/g; Pb: 1.12 µg/g; Cd: 0.81 µg/g).
Within MASALA, serum–urine correlations were highest for Mo (r = 0.83), As (r = 0.79), Co (r = 0.76), and Cs (r = 0.67), whereas Zn, Cu, and Mn exhibited weak correlations.

Cite This Study

Schilling et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd7e758e84d0ff5b46f53 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-026-00954-8

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September 8, 2026Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental EpidemiologyOpen Access

Metal and metal mixture biomarkers across three U.S. cohorts: MASALA, MESA-LA, and Strong Heart Family Study

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

KSKathrin Schilling IMIrene Martínez-Morata WAWilliam A. Anderson

Discussion

Member takes

Overview

Cross-cohort study reveals distinct urinary and serum metal biomarker profiles in diverse multi-ethnic populations, highlighting the need for population-specific environmental monitoring.

Key Points

Characterize urinary multi-metal biomarker profiles in Asian Indian adults, compare patterns against diverse U.S. cohorts, and examine serum–urine relationships to distinguish clearance from physiological regulation.
Measured 19 urinary metals using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in harmonized subsamples from MASALA (Asian Indians, n=111), MESA-LA (White, Black, Hispanic/Latino, Chinese, n=444), and SHFS (American Indians, n=111).
Corrected urinary concentrations for creatinine (µg/g creatinine) and analyzed paired serum concentrations for the identical 19-metal panel within the MASALA cohort.
MASALA participants had the lowest urinary Zn (354 µg/g) and Mn (0.11 µg/g), and the highest Mo (66.5 µg/g), Tl (0.26 µg/g), and Ba (2.57 µg/g) compared with MESA-LA and SHFS cohorts.
Urinary As, Pb, and Cd were higher in MASALA than in SHFS (As: 7.60 vs 5.08 µg/g; Pb: 0.88 vs 0.59 µg/g; Cd: 0.51 vs 0.47 µg/g), but lower than levels observed in MESA-LA Chinese participants (As: 43.9 µg/g; Pb: 1.12 µg/g; Cd: 0.81 µg/g).
Within MASALA, serum–urine correlations were highest for Mo (r = 0.83), As (r = 0.79), Co (r = 0.76), and Cs (r = 0.67), whereas Zn, Cu, and Mn exhibited weak correlations.

Cite This Study

Schilling et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd7e758e84d0ff5b46f53 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-026-00954-8

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