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Rosa MJ, Gennings C, Curtin P, Alcala CS, Lamadrid-Figueroa H, Tamayo-Ortiz M, Mercado-Garcia A, Torres-Olascoaga L, Téllez-Rojo MM, Wright RO, Arora M, Austin C, Wright RJ. Associations between prenatal metal and metalloid mixtures in teeth and reductions in childhood lung function. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 938:173352. [PMID: 38796021 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metal(oid)s have been cross-sectionally associated with lung function outcomes in childhood but there is limited data on their combined effects starting in utero. Child sex may further modify these effects. OBJECTIVE Examine associations between in utero and early life exposure to metals assessed via novel dentine biomarkers and childhood lung function and explore effect modification by child sex. METHODS Analyses included 291 children enrolled in the Programming Research in Obesity, Growth, Environment and Social Stressors (PROGRESS) study, a longitudinal birth cohort study in Mexico City. Weekly dentine levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) were measured from 15 weeks pre-birth to 15 weeks post birth in deciduous children's teeth. Lung function was tested at ages 8-14 years and then modeled as age, height and sex adjusted z-scores. Associations were modeled using lagged weighted quantile sum (LWQS) regression to evaluate the potential for a time-varying mixture effect adjusting for maternal age and education at enrollment and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in pregnancy. Models were also stratified by sex. RESULTS We identified a window of susceptibility at 12-15 weeks pre-birth in which the metal mixture was associated with lower FVC z-scores in children aged 8-14 years. Cd and Mn were the largest contributors to the mixture effect (70 %). There was also some evidence of effect modification by sex, in which the mean weights and weighted correlations over the identified window was more evident in males when compared to females. In the male stratum, Cd, Mn and additionally Pb also dominated the mixture association. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal metal(oid) exposure was associated with lower lung function in childhood. These findings underscore the need to consider both mixtures and windows of susceptibility to fully elucidate effects of prenatal metal(oid) exposure on childhood lung function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Jose Rosa
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Climate Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.
| | - Chris Gennings
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Climate Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | | | - Cecilia S Alcala
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Climate Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Hector Lamadrid-Figueroa
- Department of Perinatal Health, Center for Population Health Research, National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Marcela Tamayo-Ortiz
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, USA
| | - Adriana Mercado-Garcia
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Libni Torres-Olascoaga
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Martha María Téllez-Rojo
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Climate Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA; Kravis Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Manish Arora
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Climate Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Christine Austin
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Climate Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
| | - Rosalind J Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Climate Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA; Kravis Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
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Gagnon-Chauvin A, Fornasier-Bélanger M, Jacobson SW, Jacobson JL, Courtemanche Y, Ayotte P, Bélanger RE, Muckle G, Saint-Amour D. Brain gray matter volume of reward-related structures in Inuit adolescents pre- and postnatally exposed to lead, mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls. Neurotoxicology 2024; 103:162-174. [PMID: 38880197 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2024.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to assess associations between prenatal and postnatal exposure to lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and gray matter volume of key regions of the brain reward circuit, namely the caudate nucleus, putamen, nucleus accumbens (nAcc), the amygdala, the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was conducted in 77 Inuit adolescents (mean age = 18.39) from Nunavik, Canada, who also completed the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS-4) and Sensation Seeking - 2 (SS-2), two self-report questionnaires evaluating the tendency toward sensation seeking, which is a proxy of reward-related behaviors. Exposures to Pb, Hg and PCBs were measured in cord blood at birth, in blood samples at 11 years old and at time of testing (18 years old). Multivariate linear regressions were corrected for multiple comparisons and adjusted for potential confounders, such as participants' sociodemographic characteristics and nutrient fish intake. Results showed that higher cord blood Pb levels predicted smaller gray matter volume in the bilateral nAcc, caudate nucleus, amygdala and OFC as well as in left ACC. A moderating effect of sex was identified, indicating that the Pb-related reduction in volume in the nAcc and caudate nucleus was more pronounced in female. Higher blood Hg levels at age 11 predicted smaller right amygdala independently of sex. No significant associations were found between blood PCBs levels at all three times of exposure. This study provides scientific support for the detrimental effects of prenatal Pb and childhood Hg blood concentrations on gray matter volume in key reward-related brain structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avril Gagnon-Chauvin
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, 100 Sherbrooke Ouest, Montréal, Québec H2X 3P2, Canada; Centre de Recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175, Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, Québec H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Mathieu Fornasier-Bélanger
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, 100 Sherbrooke Ouest, Montréal, Québec H2X 3P2, Canada; Centre de Recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175, Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, Québec H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Sandra W Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Drive, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
| | - Joseph L Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Drive, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
| | - Yohann Courtemanche
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Hôpital Saint-Sacrement, 1050 Ch Ste-Foy, Québec, Québec G1S 4L8, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Hôpital Saint-Sacrement, 1050 Ch Ste-Foy, Québec, Québec G1S 4L8, Canada; Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, 1050, Avenue de la Médecine, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, Québec, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Richard E Bélanger
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Hôpital Saint-Sacrement, 1050 Ch Ste-Foy, Québec, Québec G1S 4L8, Canada; Département de Pédiatrie, Université Laval, Centre mère-enfant Soleil du CHU de Québec, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, Québec, Québec G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Hôpital Saint-Sacrement, 1050 Ch Ste-Foy, Québec, Québec G1S 4L8, Canada; École de Psychologie, Université Laval, 2325, rue des Bibliothèques, Québec, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Dave Saint-Amour
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, 100 Sherbrooke Ouest, Montréal, Québec H2X 3P2, Canada; Centre de Recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175, Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, Québec H3T 1C5, Canada.
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Oh J, Schweitzer JB, Buckley JP, Upadhyaya S, Kannan K, Herbstman JB, Ghassabian A, Schmidt RJ, Hertz-Picciotto I, Bennett DH. Early childhood exposures to phthalates in association with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder behaviors in middle childhood and adolescence in the ReCHARGE study. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 259:114377. [PMID: 38692176 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114377] [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: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early-life exposure to phthalates alters behaviors in animals. However, epidemiological evidence on childhood phthalate exposure and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) behaviors is limited. METHODS This study included 243 children from the ReCHARGE (Revisiting Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and Environment) study, who were previously classified as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD), developmental delay, other early concerns, and typical development in the CHARGE case-control study. Twenty phthalate metabolites were measured in spot urine samples collected from children aged 2-5 years. Parents reported on children's ADHD symptoms at ages 8-18 years using Conners-3 Parent Rating Scale. Covariate-adjusted negative binomial generalized linear models were used to investigate associations between individual phthalate metabolite concentrations and raw scores. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression with repeated holdout validation was used to examine mixture effects of phthalate metabolites on behavioral scores. Effect modification by child sex was evaluated. RESULTS Among 12 phthalate metabolites detected in >75% of the samples, higher mono-2-heptyl phthalate (MHPP) was associated with higher scores on Inattentive (β per doubling = 0.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02, 0.08) and Hyperactive/Impulsive scales (β = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.07), especially among children with ASD. Higher mono-carboxy isooctyl phthalate (MCiOP) was associated with higher Hyperactivity/Impulsivity scores (β = 0.07, 95% CI: -0.01, 0.15), especially among typically developing children. The associations of the molar sum of high molecular weight (HMW) phthalate metabolites and a phthalate metabolite mixture with Hyperactivity/Impulsivity scores were modified by sex, showing more pronounced adverse associations among females. CONCLUSION Exposure to phthalates during early childhood may impact ADHD behaviors in middle childhood and adolescence, particularly among females. Although our findings may not be broadly generalizable due to the diverse diagnostic profiles within our study population, our robust findings on sex-specific associations warrant further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiwon Oh
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Julie B Schweitzer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA; UC Davis MIND (Medical Investigations of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Jessie P Buckley
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sudhi Upadhyaya
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Julie B Herbstman
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Akhgar Ghassabian
- Department of Pediatrics and Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca J Schmidt
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA; UC Davis MIND (Medical Investigations of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Irva Hertz-Picciotto
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA; UC Davis MIND (Medical Investigations of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Deborah H Bennett
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
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McGuinn LA, Klein DN, Gutiérrez-Avila I, Keil AP, Ortiz MT, Just A, Coull B, Torres-Calapiz M, Kloog I, Téllez-Rojo MM, Wright RJ, Wright RO. Individual and joint effects of prenatal PM 2.5 and maternal stress on child temperament. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 249:118432. [PMID: 38354885 PMCID: PMC11065570 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and maternal psychological functioning have been associated with child cognitive outcomes, though their independent and joint impacts on earlier behavioral outcomes remains less studied. We used data from 382 mother-child pairs from a prospective birth cohort in Mexico City. Temperament was measured at 24 months using the Carey Toddler Temperament Scale (TTS). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to update the factor structure of the TTS. During pregnancy, mothers completed the Crisis in Family Systems-Revised, Edinburgh Depression Scale, pregnancy-specific anxiety scale, and the Perceived Stress Scale. Pregnancy PM2.5 was assessed using estimates from a satellite-based exposure model. We assessed the association between prenatal maternal stress and PM2.5 on temperament, in both independent and joint models. Quantile g-computation was used to estimate the joint associations. Models were adjusted for maternal age, SES, education, child sex, and child age. In EFA, we identified three temperament factors related to effortful control, extraversion, and negative affect. Our main results showed that higher levels of PM2.5 and several of the maternal psychological functioning measures were related to both effortful control and negative affect in the child, both individually and as a mixture. For instance, a one quartile increase in the prenatal mixture was associated with higher negative affect scores in the child (0.34, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.53). We observed modification of these associations by maternal SES, with associations seen only among lower SES participants for both effortful control (-0.45, 95% CI: -0.70, -0.20) and negative affect outcomes (0.60, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.85). Prenatal PM2.5 and maternal psychological functioning measures were associated with toddler temperament outcomes, providing evidence for impacts of chemical and non-chemical stressors on early child health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A. McGuinn
- Institute for Population and Precision Health, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Daniel N. Klein
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Iván Gutiérrez-Avila
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexander P. Keil
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Marcela Tamayo Ortiz
- Occupational Health Research Unit, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Allan Just
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brent Coull
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Itai Kloog
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva, Israel
| | - Martha Maria Téllez-Rojo
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Rosalind J. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert O. Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Azeredo DBC, de Sousa Anselmo D, Soares P, Graceli JB, Magliano DC, Miranda-Alves L. Environmental Endocrinology: Parabens Hazardous Effects on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15246. [PMID: 37894927 PMCID: PMC10607526 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Parabens are classified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) capable of interfering with the normal functioning of the thyroid, affecting the proper regulation of the biosynthesis of thyroid hormones (THs), which is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis (HPT). Given the crucial role of these hormones in health and the growing evidence of diseases related to thyroid dysfunction, this review looks at the effects of paraben exposure on the thyroid. In this study, we considered research carried out in vitro and in vivo and epidemiological studies published between 1951 and 2023, which demonstrated an association between exposure to parabens and dysfunctions of the HPT axis. In humans, exposure to parabens increases thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, while exposure decreases TSH levels in rodents. The effects on THs levels are also poorly described, as well as peripheral metabolism. Regardless, recent studies have shown different actions between different subtypes of parabens on the HPT axis, which allows us to speculate that the mechanism of action of these parabens is different. Furthermore, studies of exposure to parabens are more evident in women than in men. Therefore, future studies are needed to clarify the effects of exposure to parabens and their mechanisms of action on this axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damáris Barcelos Cunha Azeredo
- Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology-LEEx, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (D.B.C.A.); (D.d.S.A.); (D.C.M.)
- Postgraduate Program in Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Denilson de Sousa Anselmo
- Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology-LEEx, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (D.B.C.A.); (D.d.S.A.); (D.C.M.)
- Postgraduate Program in Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Paula Soares
- Cellular Signaling and Metabolism Group, i3S—Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, 420-135 Porto, Portugal;
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-139 Porto, Portugal
| | - Jones Bernardes Graceli
- Laboratory of Cellular Toxicology and Endocrinology, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória 29047-105, Brazil;
| | - D’Angelo Carlo Magliano
- Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology-LEEx, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (D.B.C.A.); (D.d.S.A.); (D.C.M.)
- Postgraduate Program in Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
- Morphology and Metabolism Group, Federal University of Fluminense, Niteroi 24020-150, Brazil
| | - Leandro Miranda-Alves
- Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology-LEEx, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (D.B.C.A.); (D.d.S.A.); (D.C.M.)
- Postgraduate Program in Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
- Cellular Signaling and Metabolism Group, i3S—Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, 420-135 Porto, Portugal;
- Postgraduate Program in Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Morphological Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
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Freedman AN, Roell K, Engwall E, Bulka C, Kuban KCK, Herring L, Mills CA, Parsons PJ, Galusha A, O’Shea TM, Fry RC. Prenatal Metal Exposure Alters the Placental Proteome in a Sex-Dependent Manner in Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborns: Links to Gestational Age. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14977. [PMID: 37834424 PMCID: PMC10573797 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to toxic metals is associated with altered placental function and adverse infant and child health outcomes. Adverse outcomes include those that are observed at the time of birth, such as low birthweight, as well as those that arise later in life, such as neurological impairment. It is often the case that these adverse outcomes show sex-specific responses in relation to toxicant exposures. While the precise molecular mechanisms linking in utero toxic metal exposures with later-in-life health are unknown, placental inflammation is posited to play a critical role. Here, we sought to understand whether in utero metal exposure is associated with alterations in the expression of the placental proteome by identifying metal associated proteins (MAPs). Within the Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborns (ELGAN) cohort (n = 230), placental and umbilical cord tissue samples were collected at birth. Arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), selenium (Se), and manganese (Mn) concentrations were measured in umbilical cord tissue samples via ICP-MS/MS. Protein expression was examined in placental samples using an LC-MS/MS-based, global, untargeted proteomics analysis measuring more than 3400 proteins. MAPs were then evaluated for associations with pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, including placental weight and gestational age. We hypothesized that metal levels would be positively associated with the altered expression of inflammation/immune-associated pathways and that sex-specific patterns of metal-associated placental protein expression would be observed. Sex-specific analyses identified 89 unique MAPs expressed in female placentas and 41 unique MAPs expressed in male placentas. Notably, many of the female-associated MAPs are known to be involved in immune-related processes, while the male-associated MAPs are associated with intracellular transport and cell localization. Further, several MAPs were significantly associated with gestational age in males and females and placental weight in males. These data highlight the linkage between prenatal metal exposure and an altered placental proteome, with implications for altering the trajectory of fetal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia N. Freedman
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (A.N.F.); (E.E.)
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
| | - Kyle Roell
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
| | - Eiona Engwall
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (A.N.F.); (E.E.)
| | - Catherine Bulka
- College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
| | - Karl C. K. Kuban
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Neurology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA;
| | - Laura Herring
- UNC Proteomics Core Facility, Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (L.H.); (C.A.M.)
| | - Christina A. Mills
- UNC Proteomics Core Facility, Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (L.H.); (C.A.M.)
| | - Patrick J. Parsons
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12201, USA; (P.J.P.); (A.G.)
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Albany, Rensselaer, NY 12222, USA
| | - Aubrey Galusha
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12201, USA; (P.J.P.); (A.G.)
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Albany, Rensselaer, NY 12222, USA
| | - Thomas Michael O’Shea
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
| | - Rebecca C. Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (A.N.F.); (E.E.)
- Institute for Environmental Health Solutions, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
- Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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7
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Shoaff JR, Hahn J, Calafat AM, Korrick SA. Adolescent endocrine disrupting chemical exposure and academic achievement. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 234:116493. [PMID: 37390949 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epidemiologic studies support associations of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), such as some phthalates, phenols, and parabens with a wide range of cognitive and behavioral traits. While many of these traits are associated with academic achievement, the relationship of EDC exposure specifically with academic achievement in adolescence has not yet been studied. OBJECTIVE We assessed the association of urinary biomarker concentrations of EDCs with academic achievement in adolescents as well as the potential for psychosocial factors to modify associations. METHODS We quantified urinary concentrations of select EDCs in 205 adolescent participants from the New Bedford Cohort (NBC), a prospective birth cohort of children born to mothers residing near the New Bedford Harbor Superfund site in Massachusetts, and estimated associations between EDCs and adolescent academic achievement assessed with the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT). Measures of socioeconomic status and the home environment were used to estimate psychosocial stress. RESULTS Urinary concentrations of antiandrogenic phthalates were inversely associated with Math Computation scores. For example, each doubling of the concentration of antiandrogenic phthalate metabolites in urine was associated with a 1.94 point decrease (95% CI: 3.84, -0.05) in Math Computation scores, indicating poorer performance. For the most part, associations were stronger in adolescents with more, as compared to less, social disadvantage, but most of these differences did not achieve statistical significance. CONCLUSION Our findings support the potential for adolescents' exposure to antiandrogenic phthalates to correlate with poorer academic achievement in math, particularly among participants with greater psychosocial stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica R Shoaff
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Jill Hahn
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Susan A Korrick
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Gao H, Chen LW, Gong C, Shen SC, Zhao JY, Xu DD, Wang Y, Tao FB, Fan XC. The associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and childhood glycolipid metabolism and blood pressure: An updated systematic review and a pilot meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 262:115157. [PMID: 37348219 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
This is the first pilot meta-analysis on the association of prenatal phthalate exposure with childhood cardiometabolic risks. A systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE, Web of Science and CNKI (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure) until June 5, 2023. A total of seven studies with 5746 children (2646 girls and 3100 boys) were finally included. Four, three and two studies investigated the effects of maternal phthalate exposure on childhood blood pressure (BP), blood lipids and blood glucose profiles, respectively. The pilot meta-analysis suggested that di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) metabolite exposure was associated with a decrease in childhood z-systolic BP (SBP, β = -0.169, 95% CI = -0.338-0.001). Furthermore, the pooled results showed negative relationships of prenatal ∑DEHP exposure with z-SBP (β = -0.109, 95% CI = -0.163 to -0.055) and z-diastolic BP (DBP, β = -0.126, 95% CI = -0.182 to -0.069) in girls. In addition, MEP exposure was associated with z-SBP in girls (β = -0.227, 95% CI = -0.387 to -0.066). The pooled result showed a positive relationship between prenatal ∑DEHP exposure and triglycerides (β = 0.103, 95% CI = 0.028-0.178). The overall results revealed that exposure to ∑DEHP throughout gestation was associated with a decrease in insulin (β = -0.074, 95% CI = -0.144 to -0.004) and glucose (β = -0.129, 95% CI = -0.199 to -0.058) in boys. Interestingly, there was an inverse relationship of prenatal mono- 3 -carboxypropyl phthalate (MCPP) exposure with glucose in pubertal boys (β = -3.749, 95% CIs = -6.758 to -0.741) but not found in postpubertal children. In conclusion, prenatal phthalate exposure interfered with cardiovascular risk in children with gender-specific differences and was influenced by puberty. Overall, prenatal ∑DEHP was negatively associated with systolic blood pressure in girls and with insulin and glucose in boys but increased the level of triglycerides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Gao
- Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei 230022, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Li-Wen Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei 230022, Anhui, China
| | - Chen Gong
- Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei 230022, Anhui, China
| | - Shi-Chun Shen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (University of Science and Technology of China), Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Jia-Ying Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei 230022, Anhui, China
| | - Dou-Dou Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei 230022, Anhui, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei 230022, Anhui, China
| | - Fang-Biao Tao
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China.
| | - Xiao-Chen Fan
- Department of Pediatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei 230022, Anhui, China.
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Rokoff LB, Coull BA, Bosquet Enlow M, Korrick SA. Associations of Prenatal Chemical and Nonchemical Stressors with Early-Adulthood Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:27004. [PMID: 36749608 PMCID: PMC9904409 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to environmental chemicals may increase risk of childhood internalizing problems, but few studies have explored the potential for longer-term consequences of such exposures. OBJECTIVE We evaluated associations between prenatal organochlorine and metal levels and early adulthood internalizing symptoms, considering whether sociodemographic/nonchemical stressors modified these associations. METHODS Participants were 209 young adults, born (1993-1998) to mothers residing in or near New Bedford, Massachusetts. As part of the early-adult assessment, self-reported anxiety (7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale) and depressive (8-item Patient Health Questionnaire) symptoms (≥10: elevated symptoms) were ascertained. We previously analyzed levels of cord serum organochlorines [hexachlorobenzene, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE), polychlorinated biphenyls (ΣPCB4: sum of congeners 118, 138, 153, 180)] and whole blood lead shortly after participants' birth, and levels of cord whole blood manganese from archived samples at the time of the adolescent study visit. We used modified Poisson regression models and quantile g-computation, adjusting for sociodemographics, and explored whether biological sex, race/ethnicity (proxy for unmeasured consequences of racism), prenatal social disadvantage (assessed when participants were neonates), and quality of the home environment (assessed during adolescence) modified these associations. RESULTS Participants were (mean±standard deviation) 22.1±1.5 y old, 76% Non-Hispanic White, and 67% female. Prenatal hexachlorobenzene, p,p'-DDE, and lead exposures were moderately associated with increased risk of elevated anxiety symptoms. There were strata-specific associations for prenatal social disadvantage and quality of home environment such that adverse associations of p,p'-DDE and lead and the overall mixture with anxiety and depressive symptoms were largely only evident in those with lower nonchemical stress [e.g., risk ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) per doubling p,p'-DDE for anxiety: 1.54 (95% CI: 1.20, 1.99) in high-quality home environments and 0.77 (95% CI: 0.51, 1.16) in low-quality home environments]. Associations between prenatal hexachlorobenzene and p,p'-DDE and anxiety symptoms were stronger for underrepresented racial/ethnic group participants vs. Non-Hispanic Whites. We found minimal evidence for sex-specific effects, and no consistent associations with manganese or ΣPCB4. DISCUSSION Prenatal organochlorine pesticides and lead exposure possibly increases risk of internalizing problems, particular anxiety symptoms, in young adults. Varying risk was observed by sociodemographic/nonchemical stressor strata, demonstrating the importance of considering interactions between chemical and other stressors. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11171.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa B. Rokoff
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Population Health Sciences Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Brent A. Coull
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michelle Bosquet Enlow
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Susan A. Korrick
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Pacyga DC, Talge NM, Gardiner JC, Calafat AM, Schantz SL, Strakovsky RS. Maternal diet quality moderates associations between parabens and birth outcomes. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 214:114078. [PMID: 35964672 PMCID: PMC10052883 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE Maternal paraben exposure and diet quality are both independently associated with birth outcomes, but whether these interact is unknown. We assessed sex-specific associations of parabens with birth outcomes and differences by maternal diet quality. METHODS Illinois pregnant women (n = 458) provided five first-morning urines collected at 8-40 weeks gestation, which we pooled for quantification of ethylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben concentrations. We collected/measured gestational age at delivery, birth weight, body length, and head circumference within 24 h of birth, and calculated sex-specific birth weight-for-gestational-age z-scores and weight/length ratio. Women completed three-month food frequency questionnaires in early and mid-to-late pregnancy, which we used to calculate the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI)-2010. Linear regression models evaluated sex-specific associations of parabens with birth outcomes, and differences in associations by average pregnancy AHEI-2010. RESULTS In this predominately non-Hispanic white, college-educated sample, maternal urinary paraben concentrations were only modestly inversely associated with head circumference and gestational length. However, methylparaben and propylparaben were inversely associated with birth weight, birth weight z-scores, body length, and weight/length ratio in female, but not male newborns. For example, each 2-fold increase in methylparaben concentrations was associated with -46.61 g (95% CI: -74.70, -18.51) lower birth weight, -0.09 (95% CI: -0.15, -0.03) lower birth weight z-scores, -0.21 cm (95% CI: -0.34, -0.07) shorter body length, and -0.64 g/cm (95% CI: -1.10, -0.19) smaller weight/length ratio in females. These inverse associations were more prominent in females of mothers with poorer diets (AHEI-2010 < median), but attenuated in those with healthier diets (AHEI-2010 ≥ median). In newborn males of mothers with healthier diets, moderate inverse associations emerged for propylparaben with gestational length and head circumference. CONCLUSIONS Maternal diet may moderate associations of parabens with birth size in a sex-specific manner. Additional studies may consider understanding the inflammatory and metabolic mechanisms underlying these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana C Pacyga
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA; Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Nicole M Talge
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Joseph C Gardiner
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA
| | - Susan L Schantz
- The Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, 61802, USA; The Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Rita S Strakovsky
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA; Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
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11
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Colicino E, Cowell W, Foppa Pedretti N, Joshi A, Youssef O, Just AC, Kloog I, Petrick L, Niedzwiecki M, Wright RO, Wright RJ. Maternal steroids during pregnancy and their associations with ambient air pollution and temperature during preconception and early gestational periods. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 165:107320. [PMID: 35700570 PMCID: PMC10140184 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Hormones play critical roles in facilitating pregnancy progression and the onset of parturition. Several classes of environmental contaminants, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ambient temperature, have been shown to alter hormone biosynthesis or activity. However, epidemiologic research has not considered PM2.5 in relation to a broader range of steroid hormones, particularly in pregnant women. Using metabolomics data collected within 20-40 weeks of gestation in an ethnically diverse pregnancy cohort study, we identified 42 steroid hormones that we grouped into five classes (pregnenolone, androgens, estrogens, progestin, and corticosteroids) based on their biosynthesis type. We found that exposure to PM2.5 during the pre-conception and early prenatal periods was associated with higher maternal androgen concentrations in late pregnancy. We also detected a positive association between early pregnancy PM2.5 exposure and maternal pregnenolone levels and a marginal positive association between early pregnancy PM2.5 exposure and progestin levels. When considering each hormone metabolite individually, we found positive associations between early pregnancy PM2.5 exposure and five steroids, two of which survived multiple comparison testing: 11beta-hydroxyandrosterone glucuronide (a pregnenolone steroid) and adrosteroneglucuronide (a progestin steroid). None of the steroid classes were statistically significant associated with ambient temperature. In sex-stratified analyses, we did not detect any sex differences in our associations. This is the first study showing that exposure to fine particulate matter during the pre-conception and early prenatal periods can lead to altered steroid adaptation during the state of pregnancy, which has been shown to have potential consequences on maternal and child health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Colicino
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Whitney Cowell
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicolo Foppa Pedretti
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anu Joshi
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Oulhote Youssef
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Allan C Just
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Itai Kloog
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. Beer Sheva, Israel; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lauren Petrick
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Megan Niedzwiecki
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rosalind J Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Kravis Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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12
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Rokoff LB, Shoaff JR, Coull BA, Enlow MB, Bellinger DC, Korrick SA. Prenatal exposure to a mixture of organochlorines and metals and internalizing symptoms in childhood and adolescence. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 208:112701. [PMID: 35016863 PMCID: PMC8917058 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although prenatal chemical exposures influence neurobehavior, joint exposures are not well explored as risk factors for internalizing disorders through adolescence. OBJECTIVE To evaluate associations of prenatal organochlorine and metal exposures, considered individually and as a mixture, with mid-childhood and adolescent internalizing symptoms. METHODS Participants were 468 children from a prospective cohort recruited at birth (1993-1998) in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Organochlorines (hexachlorobenzene, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene, polychlorinated biphenyls) and metals (lead, manganese) were analyzed in cord blood. Internalizing symptoms (anxiety, depressive, somatic) were assessed via multiple informants on the Conners' Rating Scale (CRS) at 8-years and Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC-2) at 15-years; higher T-scores indicate greater symptoms. Overall and sex-specific covariate-adjusted associations were evaluated using Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) and five-chemical linear regression models. RESULTS The cohort was socioeconomically diverse (35% household income <$20,000; 55% maternal ≤ high school education at birth). Most chemical concentrations were consistent with background levels [e.g., median (range) cord blood lead: 1.1 (0-9.4) μg/dL]. BKMR suggested linear associations and no interactions between chemicals. The overall mixture was positively associated with Conners' Parent Rating Scale (CPRS) and BASC-2 Self Report of Personality (SRP) anxiety and depressive symptoms, and negatively with somatic symptoms. Prenatal lead was positively associated with adolescent anxiety symptoms [1.56 (95% CI: 0.50, 2.61) BASC-2 SRP Anxiety score increase per doubling lead]. For CRPS and BASC-2 SRP, a doubling of cord blood manganese was positively associated with internalizing symptoms for girls [e.g., 3.26 (95% CI: 0.27, 6.25) BASC-2 SRP Depression score increase], but not boys. Organochlorine exposures were not adversely associated with internalizing symptoms. DISCUSSION Low-level prenatal lead exposure was positively associated with adolescent anxiety symptoms, and prenatal manganese exposure was positively associated with internalizing symptoms for girls from mid-childhood through adolescence. In utero neurotoxicant metal exposures may contribute to the emergence of anxiety and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa B Rokoff
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Population Health Sciences Program, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Jessica R Shoaff
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brent A Coull
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michelle Bosquet Enlow
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David C Bellinger
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Susan A Korrick
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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13
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Rosa MJ, Tamayo-Ortiz M, Mercado Garcia A, Rivera Rivera NY, Bush D, Lee AG, Solano-González M, Amarasiriwardena C, Téllez-Rojo MM, Wright RO, Wright RJ. Prenatal lead exposure and childhood lung function: Influence of maternal cortisol and child sex. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 205:112447. [PMID: 34875261 PMCID: PMC8760170 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis disruption in pregnancy may contribute to the programming of childhood respiratory disease and may modify the effect of chemical toxins, like lead (Pb), on lung development. Child sex may further modify these effects. We sought to prospectively examine associations between maternal HPA axis disruption, prenatal Pb and childhood lung function and explore potential effect modification by maternal cortisol and child sex on the association between prenatal Pb and lung function outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Analyses included 222 mothers and children enrolled in a longitudinal birth cohort study in Mexico City. Maternal diurnal salivary cortisol was assessed in pregnancy; cortisol awakening response (CAR) and diurnal slope were calculated. Blood Pb was measured during the second trimester of pregnancy. Post-bronchodilator lung function was tested at ages 8-11 years. Associations were modeled using generalized linear models with interaction terms, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS A higher (flatter) diurnal slope was associated with lower FEV1/FVC ratio (β: 0.433, 95%CI [-0.766, -0.101]). We did not find any main effect associations between prenatal Pb and lung function outcomes. We report an interaction between Pb and cortisol in relation to FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75% (pinteraction<0.05 for all). Higher prenatal Pb was associated with reduced FEV1/FVC only in children whose mothers had a high CAR. Higher prenatal Pb was also associated with reduced FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75% in mothers with a flatter diurnal slope. A 3-way interaction between prenatal Pb, CAR and sex on FEV1/FVC, indicated that boys born to women with high CAR and higher prenatal Pb levels had lower FEV1/FVC ratios (pinteraction = 0.067). CONCLUSIONS Associations between prenatal Pb and childhood lung function were modified by disrupted maternal cortisol in pregnancy and child sex. These findings underscore the need to consider complex interactions to fully elucidate effects of prenatal Pb exposure on childhood lung function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria José Rosa
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, 10029, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Marcela Tamayo-Ortiz
- Occupational Health Research Unit, Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), Av. Cuahtemoc 330, Col. Doctores, 06720, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Adriana Mercado Garcia
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad #655 Col, Santa Maria Ahuacatitlan C.P, 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
| | - Nadya Y Rivera Rivera
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, 10029, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Douglas Bush
- Kravis Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1184 Fifth Avenue, 10029, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Alison G Lee
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1468 Madison Avenue, 10029, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Maritsa Solano-González
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad #655 Col, Santa Maria Ahuacatitlan C.P, 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
| | - Chitra Amarasiriwardena
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, 10029, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Martha Maria Téllez-Rojo
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad #655 Col, Santa Maria Ahuacatitlan C.P, 62100, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
| | - Robert O Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, 10029, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Rosalind J Wright
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, 10029, New York, NY, USA; Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1468 Madison Avenue, 10029, New York, NY, USA; Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1057, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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14
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Wieckowski M, Ranga S, Moison D, Messiaen S, Abdallah S, Granon S, Habert R, Rouiller-Fabre V, Livera G, Guerquin MJ. Unexpected Interacting Effects of Physical (Radiation) and Chemical (Bisphenol A) Treatments on Male Reproductive Functions in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111808. [PMID: 34769238 PMCID: PMC8584123 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
For decades, numerous chemical pollutants have been described to interfere with endogenous hormone metabolism/signaling altering reproductive functions. Among these endocrine disrupting substances, Bisphenol A (BPA), a widely used compound, is known to negatively impact germ and somatic cells in the testis. Physical agents, such as ionizing radiation, were also described to perturb spermatogenesis. Despite the fact that we are constantly exposed to numerous environmental chemical and physical compounds, very few studies explore the impact of combined exposure to chemical and physical pollutants on reproductive health. The aim of this study was to describe the impact of fetal co-exposure to BPA and IR on testicular function in mice. We exposed pregnant mice to 10 µM BPA (corresponding to 0.5 mg/kg/day) in drinking water from 10.5 dpc until birth, and we irradiated mice with 0.2 Gy (γ-ray, RAD) at 12.5 days post-conception. Co-exposure to BPA and γ-ray induces DNA damage in fetal germ cells in an additive manner, leading to a long-lasting decrease in germ cell abundance. We also observed significant alteration of adult steroidogenesis by RAD exposure independently of the BPA exposure. This is illustrated by the downregulation of steroidogenic genes and the decrease of the number of adult Leydig cells. As a consequence, courtship behavior is modified, and male ultrasonic vocalizations associated with courtship decreased. In conclusion, this study provides evidence for the importance of broadening the concept of endocrine disruptors to include physical agents, leading to a reevaluation of risk management and regulatory decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaux Wieckowski
- Laboratory of Development of the Gonads, UMR-008 Genetic Stability Stem Cells and Radiations, Université de Paris, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; (M.W.); (S.R.); (D.M.); (S.M.); (S.A.); (R.H.); (V.R.-F.)
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA/DRF/IBFJ/IRCM, 98 Route du Panorama, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Stéphanie Ranga
- Laboratory of Development of the Gonads, UMR-008 Genetic Stability Stem Cells and Radiations, Université de Paris, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; (M.W.); (S.R.); (D.M.); (S.M.); (S.A.); (R.H.); (V.R.-F.)
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA/DRF/IBFJ/IRCM, 98 Route du Panorama, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Delphine Moison
- Laboratory of Development of the Gonads, UMR-008 Genetic Stability Stem Cells and Radiations, Université de Paris, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; (M.W.); (S.R.); (D.M.); (S.M.); (S.A.); (R.H.); (V.R.-F.)
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA/DRF/IBFJ/IRCM, 98 Route du Panorama, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Sébastien Messiaen
- Laboratory of Development of the Gonads, UMR-008 Genetic Stability Stem Cells and Radiations, Université de Paris, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; (M.W.); (S.R.); (D.M.); (S.M.); (S.A.); (R.H.); (V.R.-F.)
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA/DRF/IBFJ/IRCM, 98 Route du Panorama, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Sonia Abdallah
- Laboratory of Development of the Gonads, UMR-008 Genetic Stability Stem Cells and Radiations, Université de Paris, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; (M.W.); (S.R.); (D.M.); (S.M.); (S.A.); (R.H.); (V.R.-F.)
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA/DRF/IBFJ/IRCM, 98 Route du Panorama, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Sylvie Granon
- Neuroscience Paris-Saclay Institute (Neuro-PSI), CNRS UMR 9197, Paris-Sud University, 91400 Saclay, France;
- Paris-Saclay University, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - René Habert
- Laboratory of Development of the Gonads, UMR-008 Genetic Stability Stem Cells and Radiations, Université de Paris, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; (M.W.); (S.R.); (D.M.); (S.M.); (S.A.); (R.H.); (V.R.-F.)
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA/DRF/IBFJ/IRCM, 98 Route du Panorama, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Virginie Rouiller-Fabre
- Laboratory of Development of the Gonads, UMR-008 Genetic Stability Stem Cells and Radiations, Université de Paris, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; (M.W.); (S.R.); (D.M.); (S.M.); (S.A.); (R.H.); (V.R.-F.)
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA/DRF/IBFJ/IRCM, 98 Route du Panorama, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Gabriel Livera
- Laboratory of Development of the Gonads, UMR-008 Genetic Stability Stem Cells and Radiations, Université de Paris, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; (M.W.); (S.R.); (D.M.); (S.M.); (S.A.); (R.H.); (V.R.-F.)
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA/DRF/IBFJ/IRCM, 98 Route du Panorama, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- Correspondence: (G.L.); (M.-J.G.)
| | - Marie-Justine Guerquin
- Laboratory of Development of the Gonads, UMR-008 Genetic Stability Stem Cells and Radiations, Université de Paris, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; (M.W.); (S.R.); (D.M.); (S.M.); (S.A.); (R.H.); (V.R.-F.)
- Université Paris Saclay, CEA/DRF/IBFJ/IRCM, 98 Route du Panorama, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- Correspondence: (G.L.); (M.-J.G.)
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15
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Pinos H, Carrillo B, Merchán A, Biosca-Brull J, Pérez-Fernández C, Colomina MT, Sánchez-Santed F, Martín-Sánchez F, Collado P, Arias JL, Conejo NM. Relationship between Prenatal or Postnatal Exposure to Pesticides and Obesity: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18137170. [PMID: 34281107 PMCID: PMC8295932 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18137170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, the worldwide prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults and children has dramatically increased. The conventional model regarding the onset of obesity is based on an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. However, other possible environmental factors involved, such as the exposure to chemicals like pesticides, cannot be discarded. These compounds could act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) that may interfere with hormone activity related to several mechanisms involved in body weight control. The main objective of this study was to systematically review the data provided in the scientific literature for a possible association between prenatal and postnatal exposure to pesticides and obesity in offspring. A total of 25 human and 9 animal studies were analyzed. The prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal exposure to organophosphate, organochlorine, pyrethroid, neonicotinoid, and carbamate, as well as a combined pesticide exposure was reviewed. This systematic review reveals that the effects of pesticide exposure on body weight are mostly inconclusive, finding conflicting results in both humans and experimental animals. The outcomes reviewed are dependent on many factors, including dosage and route of administration, species, sex, and treatment duration. More research is needed to effectively evaluate the impact of the combined effects of different pesticides on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Pinos
- Department of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, National Distance Education University (UNED), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (B.C.); (P.C.)
- Joint Research Institute-UNED-Instituto de Salud Carlos III (IMIENS), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- Correspondence: (H.P.); (N.M.C.)
| | - Beatriz Carrillo
- Department of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, National Distance Education University (UNED), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (B.C.); (P.C.)
- Joint Research Institute-UNED-Instituto de Salud Carlos III (IMIENS), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Ana Merchán
- Department of Psychology and Health Research Center (CEINSA), Almeria University, 04120 Almeria, Spain; (A.M.); (C.P.-F.); (F.S.-S.)
| | - Judit Biosca-Brull
- Research in Neurobehavior and Health (NEUROLAB), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain; (J.B.-B.); (M.T.C.)
- Department of Psychology and Research Center for Behavior Assessment (CRAMC), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Cristian Pérez-Fernández
- Department of Psychology and Health Research Center (CEINSA), Almeria University, 04120 Almeria, Spain; (A.M.); (C.P.-F.); (F.S.-S.)
| | - María Teresa Colomina
- Research in Neurobehavior and Health (NEUROLAB), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain; (J.B.-B.); (M.T.C.)
- Department of Psychology and Research Center for Behavior Assessment (CRAMC), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
| | - Fernando Sánchez-Santed
- Department of Psychology and Health Research Center (CEINSA), Almeria University, 04120 Almeria, Spain; (A.M.); (C.P.-F.); (F.S.-S.)
| | - Fernando Martín-Sánchez
- Joint Research Institute-UNED-Instituto de Salud Carlos III (IMIENS), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
- National School of Public Health, Institute of Health Carlos III, University Institute of Research-UNED-Institute of Health Carlos III (IMIENS), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Collado
- Department of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, National Distance Education University (UNED), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (B.C.); (P.C.)
- Joint Research Institute-UNED-Instituto de Salud Carlos III (IMIENS), 28029 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Jorge L. Arias
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33006 Oviedo, Spain
| | - Nélida M. Conejo
- Laboratory of Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33006 Oviedo, Spain
- Correspondence: (H.P.); (N.M.C.)
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16
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Appleton AA, Lin B, Holdsworth EA, Feingold BJ, Schell LM. Prenatal Exposure to Favorable Social and Environmental Neighborhood Conditions Is Associated with Healthy Pregnancy and Infant Outcomes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:6161. [PMID: 34200387 PMCID: PMC8200992 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18116161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Neighborhood and individual level risks commonly co-occur for pregnant women and may cumulatively contribute to birth outcomes. Moreover, the relationship between favorable social and environmental neighborhood conditions and perinatal outcomes has been understudied. This study considered the accumulated impact of prenatal exposure to positive neighborhood social, environmental, and educational conditions in relation to maternal health during pregnancy and birth size outcomes. In a prospective study of a multi-ethnic and socioeconomically diverse cohort (n = 239) of pregnant women and their infants, neighborhoods were characterized by the Child Opportunity Index (COI), a census-tract composite indicator representing favorable social, environmental, and educational community conditions. Adjusted generalized estimating equations showed that favorable neighborhood conditions promoted the growth of longer and heavier infant bodies, and reduced the risk of intrauterine growth restriction. The associations were stronger for female versus male infants, though not significantly different. Moreover, COI was associated with better maternal mental health and diet during pregnancy; diet significantly mediated the association between COI and birth size outcomes. This study underscores the importance of considering the accumulated benefit of neighborhood assets for maternal and infant health. Interventions that capitalizes on the full range of contextual assets in which mothers live may promote pregnancy health and fetal growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison A. Appleton
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA;
| | - Betty Lin
- Department of Psychology, University at Albany College of Arts and Sciences, 1400 Washington Street, Albany, NY 12222, USA;
| | - Elizabeth A. Holdsworth
- Department of Anthropology, University at Albany College of Arts and Sciences, 1400 Washington Street, Albany, NY 12222, USA;
| | - Beth J. Feingold
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA;
| | - Lawrence M. Schell
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA;
- Department of Anthropology, University at Albany College of Arts and Sciences, 1400 Washington Street, Albany, NY 12222, USA;
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17
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Hahn J, Gold DR, Coull BA, McCormick MC, Finn PW, Perkins DL, Rifas Shiman SL, Oken E, Kubzansky LD. Air Pollution, Neonatal Immune Responses, and Potential Joint Effects of Maternal Depression. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:5062. [PMID: 34064967 PMCID: PMC8150899 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal maternal exposure to air pollution may cause adverse health effects in offspring, potentially through altered immune responses. Maternal psychosocial distress can also alter immune function and may increase gestational vulnerability to air pollution exposure. We investigated whether prenatal exposure to air pollution is associated with altered immune responses in cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMCs) and potential modification by maternal depression in 463 women recruited in early pregnancy (1999-2001) into the Project Viva longitudinal cohort. We estimated black carbon (BC), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), residential proximity to major roadways, and near-residence traffic density, averaged over pregnancy. Women reported depressive symptoms in mid-pregnancy (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and depression history by questionnaire. Immune responses were assayed by concentrations of three cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α), in unstimulated or stimulated (phytohemagglutinin (PHA), cockroach extract (Bla g 2), house dust mite extract (Der f 1)) CBMCs. Using multivariable linear or Tobit regression analyses, we found that CBMCs production of IL-6, TNF-a, and IL-10 were all lower in mothers exposed to higher levels of PM2.5 during pregnancy. A suggestive but not statistically significant pattern of lower cord blood cytokine concentrations from ever (versus never) depressed women exposed to PM2.5, BC, or traffic was also observed and warrants further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill Hahn
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.C.M.); (L.D.K.)
| | - Diane R. Gold
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Brent A. Coull
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Marie C. McCormick
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.C.M.); (L.D.K.)
| | - Patricia W. Finn
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep, and Allergy, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - David L. Perkins
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
- Department of Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Sheryl L. Rifas Shiman
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (S.L.R.S.); (E.O.)
| | - Emily Oken
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; (S.L.R.S.); (E.O.)
| | - Laura D. Kubzansky
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.C.M.); (L.D.K.)
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18
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Ashrap P, Aker A, Watkins DJ, Mukherjee B, Rosario-Pabón Z, Vélez-Vega CM, Alshawabkeh A, Cordero JF, Meeker JD. Psychosocial status modifies the effect of maternal blood metal and metalloid concentrations on birth outcomes. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 149:106418. [PMID: 33548848 PMCID: PMC7897320 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metal exposure and psychosocial stress in pregnancy have each been associated with adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight, but no study has examined the potential interaction between them. OBJECTIVES We examined the modifying effect of psychosocial stress on the association between metals and birth outcomes among pregnant women in Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT) birth cohort study. METHODS In our analysis of 682 women from the PROTECT study, we measured 16 essential and non-essential metals in blood samples at two time points. We administered questionnaires to collect information on depression, perceived stress, social support, and life experience during pregnancy. Using K-means clustering, we categorized pregnant women into one of two groups: "good" and "poor" psychosocial status. We then evaluated whether the effect of blood metals (geometric average) on adverse birth outcomes (gestational age, preterm birth [overall and spontaneous], birth weight z-score, small for gestation [SGA], large for gestation [LGA]) vary between two clusters of women, adjusting for maternal age, maternal education, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), and second-hand smoke exposure. RESULTS Blood manganese (Mn) was associated with an increased odds ratio (OR) of overall preterm birth (OR/interquartile range [IQR] = 2.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.25, 6.12) and spontaneous preterm birth (OR/IQR: 3.68, 95% CI: 1.20, 6.57) only among women with "poor" psychosocial status. The association between copper (Cu) and SGA was also statistically significant only among women having "poor" psychosocial status (OR/IQR: 2.81, 95% CI: 1.20, 6.57). We also observed associations between nickel (Ni) and preterm birth and SGA that were modified by psychosocial status during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS Presence of "poor" psychosocial status intensified the adverse associations between Mn and preterm birth, Cu and SGA, and protective effects of Ni on preterm. This provides evidence that prenatal psychosocial stress may modify vulnerability to metal exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pahriya Ashrap
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Amira Aker
- Department of Health and Society, University of Toronto Scarborough, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Deborah J Watkins
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Bhramar Mukherjee
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Zaira Rosario-Pabón
- University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR, United States
| | - Carmen M Vélez-Vega
- University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR, United States
| | - Akram Alshawabkeh
- College of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - José F Cordero
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - John D Meeker
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
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19
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Associations of Prenatal Exposure to Phthalates with Measures of Cognition in 4.5-Month-Old Infants. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18041838. [PMID: 33668677 PMCID: PMC7917638 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18041838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The association of prenatal phthalate exposure with physical reasoning was assessed in 159 (78 female; 81 male) 4.5-month-old infants from a prospective cohort. Phthalate metabolites were quantified in urine from 16–18 gestational weeks and a pool of five urines from across pregnancy. Infants’ looking times to physically impossible and possible events were recorded via infrared eye-tracking. Infants that recognize that one of the events is impossible will look at that event longer. Associations of phthalate biomarkers with looking time differences (impossible–possible) were adjusted for maternal age, infant sex, and order of event presentation, and effect modification by infant sex was assessed. Each interquartile range (IQR) increase of monoethyl phthalate in the pooled sample was associated with females’ increased looking time (β = 1.0; 95%CI = 0.3, 1.7 s) to the impossible event. However, for males, an IQR increase in monoethyl phthalate at 16–18 weeks (β = −2.5; 95%CI = −4.4,−0.6 s), the sum of di(isononyl) phthalate metabolites in the pooled sample (β = −1.0; 95%CI = −1.8, −0.1 s), and the sum of all phthalate metabolites in both samples (β = −2.3; 95%CI = −4.4, −0.2 s) were associated with increased looking to the possible event, suggesting that higher prenatal phthalate exposure is associated with poorer physical reasoning in male infants.
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20
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Levin R, Zilli Vieira CL, Rosenbaum MH, Bischoff K, Mordarski DC, Brown MJ. The urban lead (Pb) burden in humans, animals and the natural environment. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 193:110377. [PMID: 33129862 PMCID: PMC8812512 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Centuries of human activities, particularly housing and transportation practices from the late 19th century through the 1980's, dispersed hundreds of millions of tons of lead into our urban areas. The urban lead burden is evident among humans, wild and domesticated animals, and plants. Animal lead exposures closely mirror and often exceed the lead exposure patterns of their human partners. Some examples: Pigeons in New York City neighborhoods mimicked the lead exposures of neighborhood children, with more contaminated areas associated with higher exposures in both species. Also, immediately following the lead in drinking water crisis in Flint MI in 2015, blood lead levels in pet dogs in Flint were 4 times higher than in surrounding towns. And combining lead's neurotoxicity with urban stress results in well-characterized aggressive behaviors across multiple species. Lead pollution is not distributed evenly across urban areas. Although average US pediatric lead exposures have declined by 90% since the 1970s, there remain well defined neighborhoods where children continue to have toxic lead exposures; animals are poisoned there, too. Those neighborhoods tend to have disproportionate commercial and industrial lead activity; a history of dense traffic; older and deteriorating housing; past and operating landfills, dumps and hazardous waste sites; and often lead contaminated drinking water. The population there tends to be low income and minority. Urban wild and domesticated animals bear that same lead burden. Soil, buildings, dust and even trees constitute huge lead repositories throughout urban areas. Until and unless we begin to address the lead repositories in our cities, the urban lead burden will continue to impose enormous costs distributed disproportionately across the domains of the natural environment. Evidence-based research has shown the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of some US public policies to prevent or reduce these exposures. We end with a series of recommendations to manage lead-safe urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronnie Levin
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Carolina L Zilli Vieira
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Marieke H Rosenbaum
- Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, 01536, USA.
| | - Karyn Bischoff
- New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
| | | | - Mary Jean Brown
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
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21
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Ashrap P, Watkins DJ, Milne GL, Ferguson KK, Loch-Caruso R, Fernandez J, Rosario Z, Vélez-Vega CM, Alshawabkeh A, Cordero JF, Meeker JD. Maternal Urinary Metal and Metalloid Concentrations in Association with Oxidative Stress Biomarkers. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10010114. [PMID: 33467519 PMCID: PMC7830802 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10010114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Metal exposure has been associated with a wide range of adverse birth outcomes and oxidative stress is a leading hypothesis of the mechanism of action of metal toxicity. We assessed the relationship between maternal exposure to essential and non-essential metals and metalloids in pregnancy and oxidative stress markers, and sought to identify windows of vulnerability and effect modification by fetal sex. In our analysis of 215 women from the PROTECT birth cohort study, we measured 14 essential and non-essential metals in urine samples at three time points during pregnancy. The oxidative stress marker 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) and its metabolite 2,3-dinor-5,6-dihydro-15-15-F2t-IsoP, as well as prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), were also measured in the same urine samples. Using linear mixed models, we examined the main effects of metals on markers of oxidative stress as well as the visit-specific and fetal sex-specific effects. After adjustment for covariates, we found that a few urinary metal concentrations, most notably cesium (Cs) and copper (Cu), were associated with higher 8-iso-PGF2α with effect estimates ranging from 7.3 to 14.9% for each interquartile range, increase in the metal concentration. The effect estimates were generally in the same direction at the three visits and a few were significant only among women carrying a male fetus. Our data show that higher urinary metal concentrations were associated with elevated biomarkers of oxidative stress. Our results also indicate a potential vulnerability of women carrying a male fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pahriya Ashrap
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (P.A.); (D.J.W.); (R.L.-C.); (J.F.)
| | - Deborah J. Watkins
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (P.A.); (D.J.W.); (R.L.-C.); (J.F.)
| | - Ginger L. Milne
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Nashville, TN 37232, USA;
| | - Kelly K. Ferguson
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, NC 27709, USA;
| | - Rita Loch-Caruso
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (P.A.); (D.J.W.); (R.L.-C.); (J.F.)
| | - Jennifer Fernandez
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (P.A.); (D.J.W.); (R.L.-C.); (J.F.)
| | - Zaira Rosario
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (Z.R.); (J.F.C.)
| | - Carmen M. Vélez-Vega
- UPR Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, San Juan, PR 00921, USA;
| | - Akram Alshawabkeh
- College of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - José F. Cordero
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (Z.R.); (J.F.C.)
| | - John D. Meeker
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (P.A.); (D.J.W.); (R.L.-C.); (J.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-734-764-7184
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22
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Graceli JB, Dettogni RS, Merlo E, Niño O, da Costa CS, Zanol JF, Ríos Morris EA, Miranda-Alves L, Denicol AC. The impact of endocrine-disrupting chemical exposure in the mammalian hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 518:110997. [PMID: 32841708 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HP axis) plays a critical and integrative role in the endocrine system control to maintain homeostasis. The HP axis is responsible for the hormonal events necessary to regulate the thyroid, adrenal glands, gonads, somatic growth, among other functions. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are a worldwide public health concern. There is growing evidence that exposure to EDCs such as bisphenol A (BPA), some phthalates, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and biphenyls (PBBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), tributyltin (TBT), and atrazine (ATR), is associated with HP axis abnormalities. EDCs act on hormone receptors and their downstream signaling pathways and can interfere with hormone synthesis, metabolism, and actions. Because the HP axis function is particularly sensitive to endogenous hormonal changes, disruptions by EDCs can alter HP axis proper function, leading to important endocrine irregularities. Here, we review the evidence that EDCs could directly affect the mammalian HP axis function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jones B Graceli
- Department of Morphology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo. Av. Marechal Campos, 1468, CEP: 290440-090 Vitória, ES, Brazil.
| | - Raquel S Dettogni
- Department of Morphology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo. Av. Marechal Campos, 1468, CEP: 290440-090 Vitória, ES, Brazil.
| | - Eduardo Merlo
- Department of Morphology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo. Av. Marechal Campos, 1468, CEP: 290440-090 Vitória, ES, Brazil.
| | - Oscar Niño
- Department of Morphology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo. Av. Marechal Campos, 1468, CEP: 290440-090 Vitória, ES, Brazil.
| | - Charles S da Costa
- Department of Morphology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo. Av. Marechal Campos, 1468, CEP: 290440-090 Vitória, ES, Brazil.
| | - Jordana F Zanol
- Department of Morphology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo. Av. Marechal Campos, 1468, CEP: 290440-090 Vitória, ES, Brazil.
| | - Eduardo A Ríos Morris
- Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology-LEEx, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Graduate Program in Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Leandro Miranda-Alves
- Laboratory of Experimental Endocrinology-LEEx, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Graduate Program in Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Graduate Program in Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Anna C Denicol
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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Thomson EM. Air Pollution, Stress, and Allostatic Load: Linking Systemic and Central Nervous System Impacts. J Alzheimers Dis 2020; 69:597-614. [PMID: 31127781 PMCID: PMC6598002 DOI: 10.3233/jad-190015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Air pollution is a risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity and mortality. A growing literature also links exposure to diverse air pollutants (e.g., nanoparticles, particulate matter, ozone, traffic-related air pollution) with brain health, including increased incidence of neurological and psychiatric disorders such as cognitive decline, dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease), anxiety, depression, and suicide. A critical gap in our understanding of adverse impacts of pollutants on the central nervous system (CNS) is the early initiating events triggered by pollutant inhalation that contribute to disease progression. Recent experimental evidence has shown that particulate matter and ozone, two common pollutants with differing characteristics and reactivity, can activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and release glucocorticoid stress hormones (cortisol in humans, corticosterone in rodents) as part of a neuroendocrine stress response. The brain is highly sensitive to stress: stress hormones affect cognition and mental health, and chronic stress can produce profound biochemical and structural changes in the brain. Chronic activation and/or dysfunction of the HPA axis also increases the burden on physiological stress response systems, conceptualized as allostatic load, and is a common pathway implicated in many diseases. The present paper provides an overview of how systemic stress-dependent biological responses common to particulate matter and ozone may provide insight into early CNS effects of pollutants, including links with oxidative, inflammatory, and metabolic processes. Evidence of pollutant effect modification by non-chemical stressors (e.g., socioeconomic position, psychosocial, noise), age (prenatal to elderly), and sex will also be reviewed in the context of susceptibility across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Errol M Thomson
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Guo J, Wu C, Zhang J, Qi X, Lv S, Jiang S, Zhou T, Lu D, Feng C, Chang X, Zhang Y, Cao Y, Wang G, Zhou Z. Prenatal exposure to mixture of heavy metals, pesticides and phenols and IQ in children at 7 years of age: The SMBCS study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 139:105692. [PMID: 32251899 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Prenatal exposure to heavy metals, pesticides and phenols has been suggested to interfere with neurodevelopment, but the neurotoxicity of their mixtures is still unclear. We aimed to elucidate the associations of maternal urinary concentrations of selected chemical mixtures with intelligence quotient (IQ) in children. METHODS Maternal urinary concentrations of selected heavy metals, pesticide metabolites, and phenols were quantified in pregnant women who participated in the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study (SMBCS) from June 2009 to January 2010. At age 7 years, child's IQ score was assessed using the Chinese version of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (C-WISC) by trained pediatricians. Generalized linear regression models (GLM), Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models and elastic net regression (ENR) models were used to assess the associations of urinary concentrations individual chemicals and their mixtures with IQ scores of the 7-year-old children. RESULTS Of 326 mother-child pairs, single-chemical models indicated that prenatal urinary concentrations of lead (Pb) and bisphenol A (BPA) were significantly negatively associated with full intelligence quotient (FIQ) among children aged 7 years [β = -2.31, 95% confidence interval (CI): -4.13, -0.48; p = 0.013, sex interaction p-value = 0.076; β = -1.18, 95% CI: -2.21, -0.15; p = 0.025; sex interaction p-value = 0.296, for Pb and BPA, respectively]. Stratified analysis by sex indicated that the associations were only statistically significant in boys. In multi-chemical BKMR and ENR models, statistically significant inverse association was found between prenatal urinary Pb level and boy's FIQ scores at 7 years. Furthermore, BKMR analysis indicated that the overall mixture was associated with decreases in boy's IQ when all the chemicals' concentrations were at their 75th percentiles or higher, compared to at their 50th percentiles. ENR models revealed that maternal urinary Pb levels were statistically significantly associated with lower FIQ scores (β = -2.20, 95% CI: -4.20, -0.20; p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS Prenatal exposure to selected chemical mixtures may affect intellectual performance at 7 years of age, particularly in boys. Pb and BPA were suspected as primary chemicals associated with child neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianqiu Guo
- School of Public Health/Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education/Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Fudan University, No. 130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Chunhua Wu
- School of Public Health/Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education/Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Fudan University, No. 130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Jiming Zhang
- School of Public Health/Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education/Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Fudan University, No. 130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiaojuan Qi
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No. 3399 Binsheng Road, Hangzhou 310051, China
| | - Shenliang Lv
- School of Public Health/Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education/Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Fudan University, No. 130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Shuai Jiang
- School of Public Health/Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education/Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Fudan University, No. 130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Tong Zhou
- School of Public Health/Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education/Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Fudan University, No. 130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Dasheng Lu
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No. 1380 Zhongshan West Road, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Chao Feng
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No. 1380 Zhongshan West Road, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Xiuli Chang
- School of Public Health/Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education/Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Fudan University, No. 130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yubin Zhang
- School of Public Health/Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education/Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Fudan University, No. 130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yang Cao
- Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro 70182, Sweden
| | - Guoquan Wang
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No. 1380 Zhongshan West Road, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Zhijun Zhou
- School of Public Health/Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education/Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Fudan University, No. 130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai 200032, China.
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Sex-Dependent Effects of Developmental Lead Exposure in Wistar Rats: Evidence from Behavioral and Molecular Correlates. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082664. [PMID: 32290408 PMCID: PMC7216048 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Lead (Pb) exposure in early life affects brain development resulting in cognitive and behavioral deficits. Epidemiologic and experimental evidence of sex as an effect modifier of developmental Pb exposure is emerging. In the present study, we investigated Pb effects on behavior and mechanisms of neuroplasticity in the hippocampus and potential sex differences. To this aim, dams were exposed, from one month pre-mating to offspring weaning, to Pb via drinking water at 5 mg/kg body weight per day. In the offspring of both sexes, the longitudinal assessment of motor, emotional, and cognitive end points was performed. We also evaluated the expression and synaptic distribution of N-methyl-D-Aspartate receptor (NMDA) and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor subunits at post-natal day (pnd) 23 and 70 in the hippocampus. Neonatal motor patterns and explorative behavior in offspring were affected in both sexes. Pb effects in emotional response and memory retention were observed in adult females only, preceded by increased levels of GluN2A and GluA1 subunits at the post-synapse at pnd 23. These data suggest that Pb exposure during development affects glutamatergic receptors distribution at the post-synaptic spine in females. These effects may contribute to alterations in selected behavioral domains.
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Ferguson KK, Rosen EM, Barrett ES, Nguyen RHN, Bush N, McElrath TF, Swan SH, Sathyanarayana S. Joint impact of phthalate exposure and stressful life events in pregnancy on preterm birth. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 133:105254. [PMID: 31675562 PMCID: PMC6924167 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Urinary phthalate metabolites and psychosocial stress in pregnancy have each been associated with preterm birth (PTB), but no study has examined the joint impact of these two environmental exposures. We hypothesized that there would be stronger associations between phthalate exposure and PTB in mothers with higher stress in pregnancy compared to mothers with lower stress. METHODS We addressed this question using data from The Infant Development and the Environment Study (TIDES), a prospective birth cohort conducted at four US sites (N = 783). We examined urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations measured in samples collected from up to three trimesters of pregnancy. Mothers reported their exposure to stressful life events (SLE) in each trimester in a questionnaire administered in the third trimester. PTB was defined as delivery before 37 weeks completed gestation (n = 71, 9.1%). We examined associations between urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations (individual time points and on average) and PTB using logistic regression models adjusted for maternal race, age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, education, specific gravity, and gestational age at sample collection. In addition, we created models stratified by whether or not mothers were exposed to any or no SLE in pregnancy. RESULTS Summed di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (ΣDEHP) metabolites measured in urine samples from the third trimester, but not the first trimester, were associated with an increased odds ratio (OR) of PTB (OR = 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06, 1.95). In models stratified by SLE, associations between third trimester ΣDEHP concentrations and PTB were significant only for women experiencing one or more SLE during pregnancy (OR for ΣDEHP: 2.09, 95% CI: 1.29, 3.37) but not for women with no SLE during pregnancy (OR for ΣDEHP: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.66, 1.63) (p for interaction = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS We observed an association between urinary ΣDEHP levels and PTB that was modified by whether a mother was exposed to one or more psychosocial stressors during pregnancy. Additional research to understand the joint impacts of chemical and non-chemical exposures, with an emphasis on timing of exposure, is needed in order to advance the state of the science on how the environment influences pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly K Ferguson
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Emma M Rosen
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Emily S Barrett
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Ruby H N Nguyen
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Nicole Bush
- Department of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Thomas F McElrath
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shanna H Swan
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children's Research Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Thomson EM, Filiatreault A, Guénette J. Stress hormones as potential mediators of air pollutant effects on the brain: Rapid induction of glucocorticoid-responsive genes. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 178:108717. [PMID: 31520820 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution is associated with adverse effects on brain health including cognitive decline, dementia, anxiety, depression, and suicide. While toxicological studies have demonstrated the potential for repeated or chronic pollutant exposure to lead to disease states, characterisation of initial biological responses to exposure is needed to better understand underlying mechanisms. The brain is highly sensitive to glucocorticoids (primarily cortisol in humans, corticosterone in rodents), stress hormones that play important roles in cognition and mental health. We tested whether glucocorticoids could be implicated in central nervous system (CNS) effects of pollutant exposure by examining glucocorticoid-dependent signaling across brain regions after exposure to the common pollutant ozone. Male Fischer-344 rats were exposed for 4 h to air or 0.8 ppm ozone ± metyrapone (50 mg/kg), a drug that blocks corticosterone synthesis (n = 5/group). Key glucocorticoid-responsive genes (serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase, SGK; glucocorticoid-inducible leucine zipper, GILZ), and a gene responsive to both glucocorticoids and oxidative stress (metallothionein (MT)-1), were increased by ozone in all brain regions (olfactory bulb, frontal lobe, cortex, midbrain, hippocampus, cerebellum, brainstem), correlating with plasma corticosterone levels. Metyrapone prevented the increase in SGK and GILZ, and reduced but did not eliminate the effect on MT-1, suggesting glucocorticoid-dependent and -independent regulation. Administering exogenous corticosterone (10 mg/kg) to air-exposed rats reproduced the ozone effects, confirming specificity. The results demonstrate that early pollutant effects include stress hormone-dependent signaling. As both ozone and particulate matter activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and elevated glucocorticoids are implicated in brain pathologies, stress hormones could contribute to CNS impacts of air pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Errol M Thomson
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, K1A 0K9, Canada.
| | - Alain Filiatreault
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, K1A 0K9, Canada.
| | - Josée Guénette
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, K1A 0K9, Canada.
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Barrett ES, Padula AM. Joint Impact of Synthetic Chemical and Non-chemical Stressors on Children's Health. Curr Environ Health Rep 2019; 6:225-235. [PMID: 31637664 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-019-00252-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Pregnant women are exposed to numerous synthetic chemicals (e.g., pesticides, phthalates, polychlorinated biphenyls) in their daily lives as well as a range of non-chemical stressors, including poverty, depression, discrimination, and stressful life events. Although many studies have examined individual exposures to chemical and non-chemical stressors in relation to child health outcomes, very few studies have considered these exposures together. Here, we review the recent epidemiologic literature on the joint impact of chemical and non-chemical stressors on child outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS Considerable co-exposure to chemical and non-chemical stressors occurs in vulnerable populations. Non-chemical stressors may modify the impact of chemical exposures on children's health, typically exacerbating their negative impact, but associations differ considerably by the chemicals and populations of interest. Additional research is urgently needed to better understand the cumulative risks of multiple stressors on children's health and the underlying physiological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily S Barrett
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers School of Public Health, 170 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
| | - Amy M Padula
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Guo J, Zhang J, Wu C, Lv S, Lu D, Qi X, Jiang S, Feng C, Yu H, Liang W, Chang X, Zhang Y, Xu H, Cao Y, Wang G, Zhou Z. Associations of prenatal and childhood chlorpyrifos exposure with Neurodevelopment of 3-year-old children. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 251:538-546. [PMID: 31108286 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.05.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Chlorpyrifos (CPF), an organophosphate insecticide, has been linked to adverse neurodevelopmental effects in animal studies. However, little is known about long-term neurotoxicity of early-life CPF exposure in humans. We aimed to evaluate the associations of both prenatal and early childhood CPF exposure with neurodevelopment of children. In this observational study based on Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort, pregnant women were recruited from an agricultural region between June 2009 and January 2010, and their children were followed up from birth to age three. Urinary 3,5,6-Trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), a specific metabolite of CPF, was quantified using large-volume-injection gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Developmental quotients (DQs) of children in motor, adaptive, language, and social areas were assessed by trained pediatricians. Data from 377 mother-child pairs were used in the current study. Associations between CPF exposure and neurodevelopmental indicators were estimated using generalized linear models with adjustment for potential confounders. The median concentrations of TCPy in maternal and children's urine were 5.39 μg/L and 5.34 μg/L, respectively. No statistically significant association was found between maternal urinary TCPy concentrations and children neurodevelopment. While for postnatal exposure, we found lower motor area DQ score 0.61 [95% confidence interval (CI): -1.13, -0.09; p = 0.02] and social area DQ score 0.55 (95% CI: -1.07, -0.03; p = 0.04) per one-unit increase in the ln-transformed childhood urinary TCPy concentrations. Further stratification by sex indicated that the inverse associations were only observed in boys, but not in girls. Our findings suggest that adverse neurodevelopmental effects were associated with early childhood CPF exposure, but not prenatal exposure. Additional longitudinal studies are needed to replicate these results and to further understand the toxicological mechanisms of CPF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianqiu Guo
- School of Public Health/ Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education/ Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jiming Zhang
- School of Public Health/ Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education/ Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Chunhua Wu
- School of Public Health/ Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education/ Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shenliang Lv
- School of Public Health/ Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education/ Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Dasheng Lu
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No. 1380 Zhongshan West Road, Shanghai, 200336, China
| | - Xiaojuan Qi
- School of Public Health/ Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education/ Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China; Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No. 3399, Binsheng Road, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Shuai Jiang
- School of Public Health/ Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education/ Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Chao Feng
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No. 1380 Zhongshan West Road, Shanghai, 200336, China
| | - Haixing Yu
- School of Public Health/ Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education/ Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Weijiu Liang
- Changning District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No.39 Yunwushan Road, Shanghai, 200051, China
| | - Xiuli Chang
- School of Public Health/ Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education/ Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yubin Zhang
- School of Public Health/ Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education/ Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hao Xu
- Changning District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No.39 Yunwushan Road, Shanghai, 200051, China
| | - Yang Cao
- Unit of Biostatistics, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 17177, Sweden; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, 70182, Sweden
| | - Guoquan Wang
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No. 1380 Zhongshan West Road, Shanghai, 200336, China
| | - Zhijun Zhou
- School of Public Health/ Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of Ministry of Education/ Key Lab of Health Technology Assessment of National Health Commission, Fudan University, No.130 Dong'an Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Luoto S, Krams I, Rantala MJ. A Life History Approach to the Female Sexual Orientation Spectrum: Evolution, Development, Causal Mechanisms, and Health. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2019; 48:1273-1308. [PMID: 30229521 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-018-1261-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Women's capacity for sexual fluidity is at least as interesting a phenomenon from the point of view of evolutionary biology and behavioral endocrinology as exclusively homosexual orientation. Evolutionary hypotheses for female nonheterosexuality have failed to fully account for the existence of these different categories of nonheterosexual women, while also overlooking broader data on the causal mechanisms, physiology, ontogeny, and phylogeny of female nonheterosexuality. We review the evolutionary-developmental origins of various phenotypes in the female sexual orientation spectrum using the synergistic approach of Tinbergen's four questions. We also present femme-specific and butch-specific hypotheses at proximate and ultimate levels of analysis. This review article indicates that various nonheterosexual female phenotypes emerge from and contribute to hormonally mediated fast life history strategies. Life history theory provides a biobehavioral explanatory framework for nonheterosexual women's masculinized body morphology, psychological dispositions, and their elevated likelihood of experiencing violence, substance use, obesity, teenage pregnancy, and lower general health. This pattern of life outcomes can create a feedback loop of environmental unpredictability and harshness which destabilizes intrauterine hormonal conditions in mothers, leading to a greater likelihood of fast life history strategies, global health problems, and nonheterosexual preferences in female offspring. We further explore the potential of female nonheterosexuality to function as an alloparental buffer that enables masculinizing alleles to execute their characteristic fast life history strategies as they appear in the female and the male phenotype. Synthesizing life history theory with the female sexual orientation spectrum enriches existing scientific knowledge on the evolutionary-developmental mechanisms of human sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Severi Luoto
- English, Drama and Writing Studies, University of Auckland, Arts 1, Building 206, Room 616, 14A Symonds St., Auckland, 1010, New Zealand.
- School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Indrikis Krams
- Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Markus J Rantala
- Department of Biology & Turku Brain and Mind Center, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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31
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Snow SJ, Henriquez AR, Costa DL, Kodavanti UP. Neuroendocrine Regulation of Air Pollution Health Effects: Emerging Insights. Toxicol Sci 2019; 164:9-20. [PMID: 29846720 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Air pollutant exposures are linked to cardiopulmonary diseases, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, neurobehavioral conditions, and reproductive abnormalities. Significant effort is invested in understanding how pollutants encountered by the lung might induce effects in distant organs. The role of circulating mediators has been predicted; however, their origin and identity have not been confirmed. New evidence has emerged which implicates the role of neuroendocrine sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) stress axes in mediating a wide array of systemic and pulmonary effects. Our recent studies using ozone exposure as a prototypical air pollutant demonstrate that increases in circulating adrenal-derived stress hormones (epinephrine and cortisol/corticosterone) contribute to lung injury/inflammation and metabolic effects in the liver, pancreas, adipose, and muscle tissues. When stress hormones are depleted by adrenalectomy in rats, most ozone effects including lung injury/inflammation are diminished. Animals treated with antagonists for adrenergic and glucocorticoid receptors show inhibition of the pulmonary and systemic effects of ozone, whereas treatment with agonists restore and exacerbate the ozone-induced injury/inflammation phenotype, implying the role of neuroendocrine activation. The neuroendocrine system is critical for normal homeostasis and allostatic activation; however, chronic exposure to stressors may lead to increases in allostatic load. The emerging mechanisms by which circulating mediators are released and are responsible for producing multiorgan effects of air pollutants insists upon a paradigm shift in the field of air pollution and health. Moreover, since these neuroendocrine responses are linked to both chemical and nonchemical stressors, the interactive influence of air pollutants, lifestyle, and environmental factors requires further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J Snow
- Environmental Public Health Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711
| | - Andres R Henriquez
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711
| | - Daniel L Costa
- Emeritus, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711
| | - Urmila P Kodavanti
- Environmental Public Health Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711
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Kamai EM, McElrath TF, Ferguson KK. Fetal growth in environmental epidemiology: mechanisms, limitations, and a review of associations with biomarkers of non-persistent chemical exposures during pregnancy. Environ Health 2019; 18:43. [PMID: 31068204 PMCID: PMC6505101 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-019-0480-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-persistent chemicals, such as phthalates, environmental phenols, organophosphate pesticides, and others, are challenging to study because of their ubiquity in the environment, diverse exposure routes, and high temporal variability of biomarkers. Nonetheless, there is interest in understanding how gestational exposure to these chemicals may affect fetal growth, as perturbations to normal fetal growth are related to a plethora of adverse health outcomes in childhood and adulthood. METHODS The purpose of this review is to describe the state of the science on this topic. We searched PubMed for studies that included both 1) biomarkers of non-persistent chemicals collected during pregnancy and 2) fetal growth outcomes measured at birth (e.g., birth weight) or by ultrasound in utero (e.g., estimated fetal weight). RESULTS The bulk of the literature we found uses biomarkers measured at a single time point in pregnancy and birth weight as the primary measure of fetal growth. There is a small, but growing, body of research that uses ultrasound measures to assess fetal growth during pregnancy. In addition to summarizing the findings of the publications we identified, we describe inconsistencies in methodology, areas for improvement, and gaps in existing knowledge that can be targeted for improvement in future work. This literature is characterized by variability in methodology, likely contributing to the inconsistency of results reported. We further discuss maternal, placental, and fetal pathways by which these classes of chemicals may affect fetal growth. CONCLUSIONS To improve understanding of how everyday chemical exposures affect fetal growth, and ultimately lifelong health outcomes, mechanisms of toxicant action should be considered alongside improved study designs for future hypothesis-driven research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M. Kamai
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, 2101 McGavran-Greenberg Hall, CB #7435, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Thomas F. McElrath
- Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Kelly K. Ferguson
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 USA
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Association between maternal exposure to phthalates and lower language ability in offspring derived from hair metabolome analysis. Sci Rep 2018; 8:6745. [PMID: 29712949 PMCID: PMC5928220 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24936-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The fetus undergoes a crucial period of neurodevelopment in utero. The maternal hair metabolome provides an integrated record of the metabolic state of the mother prior to, and during pregnancy. We investigated whether variation in the maternal hair metabolome was associated with neurodevelopmental differences across infants. Maternal hair samples and infant neurocognitive assessments (using the Bayley III Scales of Infant Development at 24 months) were obtained for 373 infant-mother dyads between 26–28 weeks’ gestation from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes cohort. The hair metabolome was analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Intensity measurements were obtained for 276 compounds. After controlling for maternal education, ethnicity, and infant sex, associations between metabolites and expressive language skills were detected, but not for receptive language, cognitive or motor skills. The results confirm previous research associating higher levels of phthalates with lower language ability. In addition, scores were positively associated with a cluster of compounds, including adipic acid and medium-chain fatty acids. The data support associations between the maternal hair metabolome and neurodevelopmental processes of the fetus. The association between phthalates and lower language ability highlights a modifiable risk factor that warrants further investigation.
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Singh G, Singh V, Sobolewski M, Cory-Slechta DA, Schneider JS. Sex-Dependent Effects of Developmental Lead Exposure on the Brain. Front Genet 2018; 9:89. [PMID: 29662502 PMCID: PMC5890196 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of sex as an effect modifier of developmental lead (Pb) exposure has until recently received little attention. Lead exposure in early life can affect brain development with persisting influences on cognitive and behavioral functioning, as well as, elevated risks for developing a variety of diseases and disorders in later life. Although both sexes are affected by Pb exposure, the incidence, manifestation, and severity of outcomes appears to differ in males and females. Results from epidemiologic and animal studies indicate significant effect modification by sex, however, the results are not consistent across studies. Unfortunately, only a limited number of human epidemiological studies have included both sexes in independent outcome analyses limiting our ability to draw definitive conclusions regarding sex-differentiated outcomes. Additionally, due to various methodological differences across studies, there is still not a good mechanistic understanding of the molecular effects of lead on the brain and the factors that influence differential responses to Pb based on sex. In this review, focused on prenatal and postnatal Pb exposures in humans and animal models, we discuss current literature supporting sex differences in outcomes in response to Pb exposure and explore some of the ideas regarding potential molecular mechanisms that may contribute to sex-related differences in outcomes from developmental Pb exposure. The sex-dependent variability in outcomes from developmental Pb exposure may arise from a combination of complex factors, including, but not limited to, intrinsic sex-specific molecular/genetic mechanisms and external risk factors including sex-specific responses to environmental stressors which may act through shared epigenetic pathways to influence the genome and behavioral output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garima Singh
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Vikrant Singh
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Marissa Sobolewski
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Deborah A Cory-Slechta
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Jay S Schneider
- Department of Pathology, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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