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Stephens J, Moorhouse AJ, Craenen K, Schroeder E, Drenos F, Anderson R. A systematic review of human evidence for the intergenerational effects of exposure to ionizing radiation. Int J Radiat Biol 2024; 100:1330-1363. [PMID: 38335529 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2024.2306328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To provide a synthesis of the published evidence pertaining to the intergenerational health effects of parental preconceptional exposure to ionizing radiation in humans. METHODS The study populations are the descendants of those who were exposed to ionizing radiation prior to conception. A Boolean search identified publications for review in accordance with Office of Health Assessment and Translation guidelines. Initially, a risk of bias assessment was conducted for each published study and relevant data extracted. Information was organized into adverse health outcome groups and exposure situations. To make an assessment from the body of evidence within each group, an initial confidence rating was assigned, before factors including inconsistencies between studies, magnitude of effect, dose response and confounders were considered. From this, 'an effect', 'no effect' or whether the evidence remained 'inadequate' to determine either effect or no effect, was ascertained. This assessment was based primarily upon the author's conclusions within that evidence-base and, by binomial probability testing of the direction of effect reported. RESULTS 2441 publications were identified for review which after screening was reduced to 127. For the majority of the adverse health groups, we find there to be inadequate evidence from which to determine whether the health effect was, or was not, associated with parental preconceptional radiation exposure. This was largely due to heterogeneity between individual study's findings and conclusions within each group and, the limited number of studies within each group. We did observe one health grouping (congenital abnormalities) in occupationally exposed populations, where an increase in effect relative to their controls or large magnitude of effects, were reported, although it is noted that the authors of these studies interpreted their findings as most likely not to be associated with parental radiation exposure. CONCLUSIONS We find there to be a lack of evidence to enable the formal assessment of radiation-related adverse effects in offspring of exposed humans. This is not the same as there being no clear evidence that effects may occur but does infer that if adverse health effects do arise in children of exposed parents, then these effects are small and difficult to reproducibly measure. Inconsistencies in designing studies are unavoidable, however we highlight the need for an element of standardization and, more sharing of primary datasets as part of open access initiatives, in order for future reviews to make reasonable conclusions. Overall, there is a need for future work to ensure comparable measures between studies where possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jade Stephens
- Centre for Health Effects of Radiological and Chemical Agents, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Alexander J Moorhouse
- Centre for Health Effects of Radiological and Chemical Agents, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, UK
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Kai Craenen
- Centre for Health Effects of Radiological and Chemical Agents, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Ewald Schroeder
- Centre for Health Effects of Radiological and Chemical Agents, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Fotios Drenos
- Centre for Health Effects of Radiological and Chemical Agents, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Rhona Anderson
- Centre for Health Effects of Radiological and Chemical Agents, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
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Zhang H, Li Y, Zhang X, Chen W, Liang Q, Li C, Knibbs LD, Huang C, Wang Q. Potential occupational exposure of parents to endocrine disrupting chemicals, adverse birth outcomes, and the modification effects of multi-vitamins supplement and infant sex. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 233:113314. [PMID: 35189520 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal occupational exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may have adverse effect on birth outcomes. However, little is known about paternal EDCs exposure and the combined effect of parental exposure on birth outcomes. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of both maternal and paternal occupational EDCs exposure on adverse birth outcomes, and further explore if multi-vitamins supplement and infant sex modify the association. METHODS We conducted a prospective cohort study of 5421 mother-father-newborn groups in Guangzhou, China. A questionnaire informed by a job exposure matrix (JEM) was applied to collect parental occupational EDCs exposure based on the type of work performed. We used logistic regression to estimate association between parental EDCs exposure and birth outcomes (including preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), birth defects and congenital heart defects (CHD)). Stratified analyses and Cochran Q tests were performed to assess the modifying effect of maternal multi-vitamins supplement use and infant sex. RESULTS Compared with mothers unexposed, we found that mothers those exposed to EDCs were associated with increased odds of birth defects (aOR=1.70, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10-2.62), especially for those exposed for > 1.5 years (aOR= 3.00, 95% CIs: 1.78-5.03), or those with directly occupational exposed to EDCs (aOR= 2.94, 95% CIs: 1.72-5.04). Maternal exposure for > 1.5 years and direct exposure increased the risk of CHD, with aORs of 2.47 (1.21-5.02) and 2.79 (1.37-5.69), respectively. Stronger adverse effects were also observed when mothers and fathers were both exposed to EDCs. Paternal occupational EDCs exposure and exposure ≤ 1.5 years was associated with increased odds of LBW, with aORs of 2.14 (1.63-2.79) and 1.54 (1.10-2.15), respectively. When stratified by multi-vitamins supplement and infant sex, we observed slightly stronger effects for maternal exposure on birth defects/CHD as well as paternal EDCs exposure on PTB and LBW, among those without multi-vitamins supplement and among male babies, although the modification effects were not significant. CONCLUSION Maternal exposure to EDCs was associated with greater odds of birth defects and CHD, while paternal exposure was mainly associated with greater odds of LBW. These effects tend to be stronger among mothers without multi-vitamins supplement and among male babies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanhuan Zhang
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yanqiu Li
- Guangzhou Panyu Maternal Child Health Hospital (Guangzhou Panyu District He Xian Memorial Hospital), Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoxin Zhang
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weiyi Chen
- Guangzhou Panyu Maternal Child Health Hospital (Guangzhou Panyu District He Xian Memorial Hospital), Guangzhou, China
| | - Qianhong Liang
- Guangzhou Panyu Maternal Child Health Hospital (Guangzhou Panyu District He Xian Memorial Hospital), Guangzhou, China
| | - Changchang Li
- Department of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention and Control, Dermatology Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Institute for Global Health and Sexually Transmitted Infections, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Luke D Knibbs
- School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Cunrui Huang
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiong Wang
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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Eberle C, Kirchner MF, Herden R, Stichling S. Paternal metabolic and cardiovascular programming of their offspring: A systematic scoping review. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0244826. [PMID: 33382823 PMCID: PMC7775047 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is lots of evidence that maternal peri-gestational metabolic, genomic and environmental conditions are closely linked to metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes in their offspring later in life. Moreover, there is also lotsof evidence that underlining mechanisms, such as molecular as well as epigenetic changes may alter the intrauterine environment leading to cardio-metabolic diseases in their offspring postnatal. But, there is also increasing evidence that cardio-metabolic diseases may be closely linked to their paternal metabolic risk factors, such as obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and other risk factors. OBJECTIVE To analyse the evidence as well as specific risk factors of paternal trans-generational programming of cardio-metabolic diseases in their offspring. METHODS Within a systematic scoping review, we performed a literature search in MEDLINE (PubMed) and EMBASE databases in August 2020 considering original research articles (2000-2020) that examined the impact of paternal programming on metabolic and cardiovascular offspring health. Epidemiological, clinical and experimental studies as well as human and animal model studies were included. RESULTS From n = 3.199 citations, n = 66 eligible studies were included. We selected n = 45 epidemiological as well as clinical studies and n = 21 experimental studies. In brief, pre-conceptional paternal risk factors, such as obesity, own birth weight, high-fat and low-protein diet, undernutrition, diabetes mellitus, hyperglycaemia, advanced age, smoking as well as environmental chemical exposure affect clearly metabolic and cardiovascular health of their offspring later in life. CONCLUSIONS There is emerging evidence that paternal risk factors, such as paternal obesity, diabetes mellitus, nutritional habits, advanced age and exposure to environmental chemicals or cigarette smoke, are clearly associated with adverse effects in metabolic and cardiovascular health in their offspring. Compared to maternal programming, pre-conceptional paternal factors might also have also a substantial effect in the sense of trans-generational programming of their offspring and need further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Eberle
- Medicine with Specialization in Internal Medicine and General Medicine, Hochschule Fulda–University of Applied Sciences, Fulda, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Michaela F. Kirchner
- Medicine with Specialization in Internal Medicine and General Medicine, Hochschule Fulda–University of Applied Sciences, Fulda, Germany
| | - Raphaela Herden
- Medicine with Specialization in Internal Medicine and General Medicine, Hochschule Fulda–University of Applied Sciences, Fulda, Germany
| | - Stefanie Stichling
- Medicine with Specialization in Internal Medicine and General Medicine, Hochschule Fulda–University of Applied Sciences, Fulda, Germany
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Terrell ML, Hartnett KP, Marcus M. Can environmental or occupational hazards alter the sex ratio at birth? A systematic review. EMERGING HEALTH THREATS JOURNAL 2011; 4:7109. [PMID: 24149027 PMCID: PMC3168220 DOI: 10.3402/ehtj.v4i0.7109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2010] [Revised: 11/08/2010] [Accepted: 01/24/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
More than 100 studies have examined whether environmental or occupational exposures of parents affect the sex ratio of their offspring at birth. For this review, we searched Medline and Web of Science using the terms ‘sex ratio at birth’ and ‘sex ratio and exposure’ for all dates, and reviewed bibliographies of relevant studies to find additional articles. This review focuses on exposures that have been the subject of at least four studies including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, pesticides, lead and other metals, radiation, boron, and g-forces. For paternal exposures, only dioxins and PCBs were consistently associated with sex ratios higher or lower than the expected 1.06. Dioxins were associated with a decreased proportion of male births, whereas PCBs were associated with an increased proportion of male births. There was limited evidence for a decrease in the proportion of male births after paternal exposure to DBCP, lead, methylmercury, non-ionizing radiation, ionizing radiation treatment for childhood cancer, boron, or g-forces. Few studies have found higher or lower sex ratios associated with maternal exposures. Studies in humans and animals have found a reduction in the number of male births associated with lower male fertility, but the mechanism by which environmental hazards might change the sex ratio has not yet been established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Metrecia L Terrell
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Arbour L, Melnikov V, McIntosh S, Olsen B, Osborne G, Vaktskjold A. The current state of birth outcome and birth defect surveillance in northern regions of the world. Int J Circumpolar Health 2010; 68:443-58. [PMID: 20044963 DOI: 10.3402/ijch.v68i5.17376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Little is known about the rates of congenital anomalies in the northernmost regions of the world. As in other parts of the world, it is crucial to assess the relative rates and trends of adverse birth outcomes and birth defects, as indicators of population health and to develop public health strategies for prevention. The aim of this review is to catalogue existing and developing birth outcome and birth defect surveillance within and around the geographic jurisdiction of the International Union of Circumpolar Health (IUCH). STUDY DESIGN Descriptive study. METHODS The representatives of the IUCH Birth Defects Working Group catalogued existing and developing birth and birth defect surveillance systems and the extent of information they contain to determine inter-regional comparability. RESULTS Systematic population-based registration of birth outcomes including birth defects occurs to some degree in all circumpolar countries, but the quality of collection and the coverage in northernmost regions vary. There are limited circumpolar jurisdictions with surveillance systems collecting birth defect information beyond the perinatal period. Efforts are underway in Canada and Russia to improve the quality and comprehensiveness of the information collected in the northern regions. CONCLUSIONS Although there is variability in the comprehensiveness of information collected in northern jurisdictions limiting sophisticated comparative analyses between regions, there is untapped potential for baseline analyses of specific risks and outcomes that could provide insight into geographic differences and gaps in surveillance that could be improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Arbour
- University of British Columbia, Department of Medical Genetics, Island Medical Program, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, CANADA.
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Mudie NY, Gusev BI, Pivina LM, Schoemaker MJ, Rijinkova ON, Apsalikov KN, Swerdlow AJ. Sex Ratio in the Offspring of Parents with Chronic Radiation Exposure from Nuclear Testing in Kazakhstan. Radiat Res 2007; 168:600-7. [DOI: 10.1667/rr0980.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2007] [Accepted: 07/03/2007] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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