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Table 5 Seropositivity associated with blood lead and cadmium levels, for each two-fold increase and across percentiles, among non-smoking NHANES participants, 1999–2012. Children under 13 years of agea

From: Elevated blood lead and cadmium levels associated with chronic infections among non-smokers in a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES data

Heavy metal

H. pylori

T. gondii

Positive (Weighted %)

AOR (95 % CI)b,c

Positive (Weighted %)

AOR (95 % CI)b,d

Per doubling of blood lead

7.3

2.61 (1.85–3.67) e

3.5

1.12 (0.84–1.49)

Blood lead concentration (μg/dL)

 Quartile 1

0.8

Ref

1.8

Ref

 Quartile 2

4.5

5.26 (1.92–14.4)

3.0

1.46 (0.57–3.73)

 Quartile 3

5.8

4.75 (1.61–14.0)

3.0

1.17 (0.46–2.95)

 Quartile 4

15.5

21.2 (8.32–53.8)

5.7

1.82 (0.75–4.43)

  p for trend

<0.0001

0.1825

Per doubling of blood cadmium

7.3

2.02 (1.29–3.15)

3.5

1.10 (0.74–1.63)

Blood cadmium concentration (μg/L)

 Tertile 1

5.5

Ref

2.1

Ref

 Tertile 2

9.9

2.75 (1.30–5.83)

4.1

1.46 (0.63–3.36)

 Tertile 3

10.5

2.39 (1.35–4.20)

4.2

1.11 (0.48–2.56)

  p for trend

0.0005

0.8214

  1. aOnly two children under 13 were positive for Hepatitis B so it was not considered
  2. bMultivariable logistic regression used with survey procedures
  3. cAdjusted for age, gender, race/ethnicity, country of birth origin, family income, self-reported general health condition, tap water source, and household crowding
  4. dAdjusted for NHANES cycle, age, gender, race/ethnicity, country of birth origin, family income, self-reported general health condition, and household crowding
  5. eBolded font denotes statistically significant (α < 0.05)