# Metal Exposure and Early Cardiovascular Risk in Adult E-Cigarette Users

> **NIH NIH R01** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2022 · $68,981

## Abstract

SUMMARY
Non-alcohol fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by an accumulation of fat (steatosis) in the liver in the
absence of significant alcohol consumption. It represents a leading cause of chronic liver disease in the U.S. and
is believed to play a key role in metabolic disorders. Recent evidence suggests that exposure to environmental
pollutants including metals and metalloids may play a role in the development of NAFLD and other metabolic
outcomes. However, studies examining the association between metal exposures and liver injury in a general
population are scant and most evidence is cross-sectional. In this diversity supplement, we will leverage data
from two existing cohorts: the VapeScan cohort (parent R01) and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and
Arsenic study (R01ES028758) to examine associations of metal exposure with metabolic profiles and hepatic
steatosis in young adults (VapeScan) and adult (MESA) populations. We hypothesize that metal exposures (e.g.,
arsenic, cadmium, manganese), including mixtures, are associated with 1) higher levels of metabolic markers
and 2) higher hepatic fat. Our specific aims are: (1) Determine the association of metals (alone and as a
mixture) with metabolic factors in diverse young adults from New York City. We will use data from the
Vape Scan cohort to examine the associations of metals with measures of metabolic outcomes that are risk
factors of NAFLD measured in fasting serum samples (lipids, glucose) and during the examination (systolic and
diastolic blood pressure and body mass index) at the baseline visit and two follow-visits over a 1.5 year period.
(2) Determine the association of metal mixtures with subclinical measures of liver disease. We will use
data from 6,618 participants in the MESA, a cohort study of White, Black, Hispanic, and Chinese American adults
recruited from 6 U.S. cities to examine the association of metal exposure with hepatic steatosis measured by
computed tomography (CT) as part of the MESA examination. This project will provide novel evidence on the
role of toxic metals and the mixtures on metabolic outcomes, including liver disease, which can contribute to target
modifiable disease factors of these conditions. Moreover, by providing advanced skills, training and research
opportunities to an MPH student (4+1 program) with focus in Environmental and Molecular Epidemiology, this
project will enhance diversity in our research team at Columbia University and down the road in the field of
environmental health sciences.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10616935
- **Project number:** 3R01ES029967-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Ana Navas-Acien
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $68,981
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2022-08-10 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10616935

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10616935, Metal Exposure and Early Cardiovascular Risk in Adult E-Cigarette Users (3R01ES029967-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10616935. Licensed CC0.

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