Overall and class-specific scores of pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables as a tool to rank intake of pesticide residues in United States: A validation study

Flavonoid intake and risk of Parkinson's disease

BACKGROUND

Flavonoids have been proposed to reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, results from epidemiological studies have been inconclusive.

OBJECTIVE

To prospectively examine the association between the intake of flavonoids and their subclasses and the risk of PD and how pesticides may confound or modify that association.

METHODS

The study population comprised 80 701 women (1984-2016) and 48 782 men (1986-2016) from two large US cohorts. Flavonoid intake was ascertained at baseline and every 4 years thereafter using a semiquantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire. We conducted multivariable-adjusted Cox regression models to estimate HRs and 95% CIs of PD according to quintiles of baseline and cumulative average intakes of flavonoids and subclasses. We repeated the analyses, adjusting for intakes of high-pesticide-residue fruits and vegetables (FVs) and stratifying by servings/day of high-pesticide-residue FV intake.

RESULTS

We identified 676 incident PD cases in women and 714 in men after 30-32 years of follow-up. Higher total flavonoid intake at baseline was not associated with a lower PD risk, neither in men (HR comparing highest to lowest quintile: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.69 to 1.14) nor in women (HR comparing highest to lowest quintile: 1.27, 95% CI: 0.98 to 1.64). Similar results were observed for cumulative average intakes and flavonoid subclasses. Results remained similar after adjustment for and stratification by high-pesticide-residue FV and when analyses were restricted to younger PD cases.

CONCLUSION

These results do not support a protective effect of flavonoid intake on PD risk. Pesticide residues do not confound or modify the association.

Nutritional epigenetics education improves diet and attitude of parents of children with autism or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

BACKGROUND

Unhealthy maternal diet leads to heavy metal exposures from the consumption of ultra-processed foods that may impact gene behavior across generations, creating conditions for the neurodevelopmental disorders known as autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children with these disorders have difficulty metabolizing and excreting heavy metals from their bloodstream, and the severity of their symptoms correlates with the heavy metal levels measured in their blood. Psychiatrists may play a key role in helping parents reduce their ultra-processed food and dietary heavy metal intake by providing access to effective nutritional epigenetics education.

AIM

To test the efficacy of nutritional epigenetics instruction in reducing parental ultra-processed food intake.

METHODS

The study utilized a semi-randomized test and control group pretest-posttest pilot study design with participants recruited from parents having a learning-disabled child with autism or ADHD. Twenty-two parents who met the inclusion criteria were randomly selected to serve in the test (n = 11) or control (n = 11) group. The test group participated in the six-week online nutritional epigenetics tutorial, while the control group did not. The efficacy of the nutritional epigenetics instruction was determined by measuring changes in parent diet and attitude using data derived from an online diet survey administered to the participants during the pre and post intervention periods. Diet intake scores were derived for both ultra-processed and whole/organic foods. Paired sample t-tests were conducted to determine any differences in mean diet scores within each group.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in the diet scores of the test group between the pre- and post-intervention periods. The parents in the test group significantly reduced their intake of ultra-processed foods with a pre-intervention diet score of 70 (mean = 5.385, SD = 2.534) and a post-intervention diet score of 113 (mean = 8.692, SD = 1.750) and the paired t-test analysis showing a significance of P < 0.001. The test group also significantly increased their consumption of whole and/or organic foods with a pre-intervention diet score of 100 (mean = 5.882, SD = 2.472) and post-intervention diet score of 121 (mean = 7.118, SD = 2.390) and the paired t-test analysis showing a significance of P < 0.05.

CONCLUSION

Here we show nutritional epigenetics education can be used to reduce ultra-processed food intake and improve attitude among parents having learning-disabled children with autism or ADHD.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals and male reproductive health

Modifiable factors, such as environmental exposures, can impact human fertility. The objective of this review is to summarize the potential effects of exposure to important endocrine-disrupting chemicals on male reproductive health. Most experimental and animal data demonstrate strong evidence for the negative effects of exposure to phenols, phthalates, pesticides, and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances on male reproductive health. Although evidence of negative associations in humans was overall strong for phthalates and pesticides, limited and inconclusive relationships were found for the other examined chemical biomarkers. Reasons for the discrepancies in results include but are not limited to, differences in study populations, exposure concentrations, number of samples collected, sample sizes, study design, and residual confounding. Additional studies are needed, particularly for newer phenols and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, given the scarce literature on the topic and increasing exposures over time.

Associations between dietary pesticide residue mixture exposure and mortality in a population-based prospective cohort of men and women

BACKGROUND

There is a concern that pesticide residues, regularly detected in foods, might pose a health risk to the consumer, but epidemiological evidence is limited. We assessed the associations between dietary exposure to a mixture of pesticide residues and mortality.

METHODS

Food consumption was assessed in 68,844 participants from the Swedish Mammography Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men, 45-83 years at baseline (1997). Concentrations of pesticide residues detected in foods on the Swedish market (1996-1998), mainly fruits and vegetables, were obtained via monitoring programs. To assess mixture effects, we summed per food item the ratios of each single pesticide mean residue concentration divided by its acceptable daily intake to create for each participant a Dietary Pesticide Hazard Index (adjusted for energy intake and expressed per kilogram of body weight). Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 %CI).

RESULTS

During 15 years of follow-up (1998-2014), a total of 16,527 deaths occurred, of which 6,238 were caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 5,364 by cancer. Comparing extreme quintiles of Dietary Pesticide Hazard Index, the highest category was inversely associated with CVD mortality HR, 0.82 (95 % CI, 0.75-0.90) and with cancer mortality HR 0.82 (95 % CI 0.75-0.91). In analyses stratified by high/low Dietary Pesticide Hazard Index, similar inverse associations were observed by increasing fruit and vegetable consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed no indications that dietary exposure to pesticide residue mixtures was associated with increased mortality, nor any clear indications that the benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption on mortality was compromised. Yet, our results need to be interpreted with caution.

Dietary pesticide exposure and non-communicable diseases and mortality: a systematic review of prospective studies among adults

BACKGROUND

Research on the effect of pesticide exposure on health has been largely focused on occupational settings. Few reviews have synthesized the associations between dietary pesticide exposure and health outcomes in non-occupationally exposed adults.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to summarize the evidence regarding dietary pesticide exposure and non-communicable diseases (NCD) in adults, using a systematic review of prospective studies.

METHODS

Electronic and manual searches were performed until July 2023. The inclusion criteria were the following: 1) adults aged ≥ 18years, 2) (non)-randomized trials, prospective cohort studies, 3) dietary exposure to pesticides. A bias analysis was carried out using the Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review guidelines based on the Cochrane ROBINS-I.

RESULTS

A total of 52 studies were retrieved and 6 studies that met the above criteria were included. Studies were conducted either in France or in the United States. The studies investigated the risk of cancer (n = 3), diabetes (n = 1), cardiovascular diseases (n = 1), and mortality (n = 1). The quality of the studies varied with overall grades derived from the bias analysis ranging from low to moderate bias. The level of evidence was estimated as low for the risk of cancer while the grading was not assignable for other outcomes, as only one study per outcome was available.

CONCLUSIONS

Although further research is warranted to examine more in depth the relationships between low-dose chronic exposure to pesticides through diet and NCD outcomes in non-occupationally-exposed adults, studies suggest a possible role of exposure to dietary pesticide on health. Standardized methodological guidelines should also be proposed to allow for comparison across studies.

Examining Prenatal Dietary Factors in Association with Child Autism-Related Traits Using a Bayesian Mixture Approach: Results from 2 United States Cohorts

Background

Prior work has suggested relationships between prenatal intake of certain nutrients and autism.

Objectives

We examined a broad set of prenatal nutrients and foods using a Bayesian modeling approach.

Methods

Participants were drawn from the Early Autism Risks Longitudinal Investigation (n = 127), a cohort following women with a child with autism through a subsequent pregnancy. Participants were also drawn from the Nurses' Health Study II (NHSII, n = 713), a cohort of United States female nurses, for comparison analyses. In both studies, information on prospectively reported prenatal diet was drawn from food frequency questionnaires, and child autism-related traits were measured by the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). Bayesian kernel machine regression was used to examine the combined effects of several nutrients with neurodevelopmental relevance, including polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), iron, zinc, vitamin D, folate, and other methyl donors, and separately, key food sources of these, in association with child SRS scores in crude and adjusted models.

Results

In adjusted analyses, the overall mixture effects of nutrients in Early Autism Risks Longitudinal Investigation and foods in both cohorts on SRS scores were not observed, though there was some suggestion of decreasing SRS scores with increasing overall nutrient mixture in NHSII. No associations were observed with folate within the context of this mixture, but holding other nutrients fixed, n-6 PUFAs were associated with lower SRS scores in NHSII. In both cohorts, lower SRS scores were observed with higher intake of some groupings of vegetables, though for differing types of vegetables across cohorts, and some vegetable groups were associated with higher SRS scores in NHSII.

Conclusions

Our work extends prior research and suggests the need to further consider prenatal dietary factors from a combined effects perspective. In addition, findings here point to potential differences in nutrient associations based on a family history of autism, which suggests the need to consider gene interactions in future work.

Determination of multi-class pesticide residues in food commodities from Gujarat, India and evaluation of acute and chronic health risk

An increasing concern for food safety has drawn attention to the overuse of pesticides, which pose a risk to public health. The present study determined 61 pesticide residues in 120 samples of cauliflower, green chili, cucumber, grapes, bananas and mangoes samples, and these were collected from markets in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surendranagar, Anand and Sabarkantha districts of Gujarat state, India. The samples were extracted and analyzed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-q-TOF-MS) and Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). In addition, the health risk assessment associated with pesticide residues were evaluated by calculating the Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI), which indicate a value of less than 1 is safe for consumption. Out of 61 pesticide residues, 29 residues were detected in 107 samples; 68 samples showed multiple residues, and 39 samples found a single residue. Pesticides such as dimethoate, λ-cyhalothrin, fenvalerate, bifenthrin, and cyfluthrin were frequently detected in samples. HI in adults and adolescents confirmed a value less than 1 in cauliflower, cucumber, grapes and mango samples and greater than 1 in green chili and banana samples, respectively. The overall results depicted that, no considerable risk was observed in the selected food commodities. However, green chili and banana samples were found to exhibit marginal risk to human health. As a result, proper application, implementation of control plans, and continuous monitoring are required to prevent the risk and safeguard human health.

Fruit and vegetable consumption, pesticide residue intake from consumption of fruits and vegetables, and risk of uterine fibroids

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between consumption of fruits and vegetables and pesticide residue intake from consumption of fruits and vegetables and risk of ultrasound- or hysterectomy-confirmed fibroids. Only a few studies have evaluated the association of fruit and vegetable intake with uterine fibroids, with inconsistent results. No studies have examined pesticide exposure through fruits and vegetables with fibroid risk.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

SETTING

Not applicable.

PATIENT(S)

A total of 81,782 premenopausal participants from the Nurses' Health Study II cohort were followed from 1991 to 2009 for fruit and vegetable analysis, and 49,927 participants were followed from 1999 to 2009 for pesticide residue burden analysis. Their diet was assessed every 4 years with a food frequency questionnaire. Fruits and vegetables were classified into high- or low-pesticide residues using a validated method based on surveillance data from the US Department of Agriculture.

INTERVENTION(S)

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Cases of ultrasound- or hysterectomy-confirmed fibroids were identified from self-reports to validated questionnaires.

RESULT(S)

From 1991 to 2009, 9,706 incident cases of ultrasound- or hysterectomy-confirmed fibroids were reported, and 4,195 incident cases were identified from 1999 to 2009. No association was observed between total fruit and vegetable consumption and uterine fibroid risk. Participants with the highest intake of total fruits (≥4/day) were 10% less likely to develop uterine fibroids compared with participants who consumed <1/day (95% CI = 0.80-1.01). No associations were observed with any other fruit or vegetable groups. An inverse association was observed between intake of high-pesticide-residue fruits and vegetables and fibroid risk (HR for 5th vs. 1st quintile = 0.87; 95% CI = 0.77-0.99), while no association with low-pesticide-residue fruits and vegetables was observed (HR for 5th vs. 1st quintile = 1.08; 95% CI = 0.95-1.23).

CONCLUSION(S)

Our findings suggest that pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables are not associated with a higher risk of uterine fibroids. Furthermore, our results suggest that intake of fruits may be associated with a lower risk of fibroids. Future research in this area should focus on dietary exposures across the life course as well as assessment of class-specific pesticides.

Association of aldehyde exposure with bone mineral density in the national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES 2013-2014)

PURPOSE

The association between aldehyde exposure and bone health in humans remains unclear. This study was to evaluate the association of serum aldehydes with bone mineral density (BMD) and osteopenia/osteoporosis.

METHODS

We analyzed the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cross-sectional data from 2013 to 2014. Weighted multivariate-adjusted linear regression and logistic regression models were used to assess the association between specific aldehydes and osteopenia/osteoporosis. Associations between aldehyde combinations and BMD were also evaluated using the restricted cubic spline (RCS) method.

RESULTS

Compared with men in the first tertile, those in the third tertile of propanaldehyde concentration were negatively associated with proximal femur and lumbar spine BMD. Significant inverse associations were observed between benzaldehyde exposure and trochanter BMD in women. Benzaldehyde increased the risk of osteopenia/osteoporosis 2.75-fold [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06, 7.11] in the highest tertile in women compared to the lowest tertile concentration. In males, the prevalence of total femur, femur neck, and trochanter osteopenia/osteoporosis was significantly higher in the highest versus the lowest tertile of propanaldehyde exposure, with odds ratios (ORs) of 6.84 (95% CI = 2.33, 20.04), 2.72 (95% CI = 1.18, 6.27), and 3.26 (95% CI = 1.25, 8.56), respectively. RCS regression also showed decreased BMD continuously with increasing serum mixed aldehyde levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum aldehyde concentrations were associated with low BMD and high osteopenia/osteoporosis risk in adults, with propanaldehyde and benzaldehyde being the most critical. Co-exposure to aldehyde combinations was negatively correlated with BMD.

Pesticide residue intake from fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between the intake of fruits and vegetables with high- vs. low-pesticide residue burden and diagnosis of laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis. The etiology of endometriosis is not well understood, but dietary factors may influence the risk. Pesticides may act as endocrine disruptors, and the intake of pesticide-contaminated food is a common exposure pathway.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models to evaluate the intake of fruits and vegetables with high- and low-pesticide residues in relation to the diagnosis of laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis.

SETTING

Not applicable.

PATIENT(S)

Premenopausal US women (N = 52,053) of the Nurses' Health Study II, aged 34-53 years at study baseline (1999), were followed until 2013. The diet was assessed every 4 years using a validated food frequency questionnaire. A previously developed and validated pesticide residue burden score (PRBS), on the basis of the US Department of Agriculture Pesticide Data Program, was used to assign fruits and vegetables to pesticide residue groups (high/low).

INTERVENTION(S)

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Cases of laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis were identified from self-reports to validated questionnaires.

RESULT(S)

During 14 years of follow-up, 956 incidences of laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis were reported. No association was observed between the intake of high- or low-PRBS fruit and vegetable intake and endometriosis (hazard ratio for 5th vs. 1st quintile: high-PRBS intake = 0.94, 95% confidence interval = 0.73-1.23; low-PRBS intake = 1.07, 95% confidence interval = 0.82-1.40). No associations were observed for high- or low-PRBS fruit and vegetable intake by fertility status.

CONCLUSION(S)

No clear associations were observed between high- or low-PRBS fruit and vegetable intake and endometriosis risk among premenopausal women. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the association between dietary pesticide residue intake and endometriosis. Further research is needed, particularly to evaluate this association among a younger population of women (adolescence or early adulthood) and assess the dietary exposure to specific pesticides or chemical families.

Systematic evaluation of chiral fungicide penflufen for the bioactivity improvement and input reduction using alphafold2 models and transcriptome sequencing

Traditional risk assessment of pesticide concludes at the racemic level, which is often incomprehensive. In this study, systematic studies on environmental stability, bioactivity, and ecotoxicological effects of fungicide penflufen were carried out at the enantiomeric level. The single-enantiomer of penflufen was successfully separated and prepared, and their stability was verified in different environmental matrices. Meanwhile, bioactivity test indicated that S-(+)-penflufen had increased bioactivity with its bioactivities against Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium oxysporum, and Fusarium moniliforme being factors of 7.8, 1.8, and 4.7, respectively greater than those of R-(-)-penflufen. Molecular docking results showed the strong hydrogen bond interactions with Leu300, enantiomer-specific hydrophobic interactions with Cys299, Arg91, and His93, and the greater binding energy between S-(+)-penflufen and succinate dehydrogenase of Rhizoctonia solani caused the selective bioactivity. Additionally, two enantiomers showed low acute toxicity whereas selective sub-chronic toxicity to earthworms. In sub-chronic toxicity test, the accumulated enantiomers caused abnormalities in intestinal tract structure, enzyme activities, and gene expression of earthworms, especially in the S-(+)-penflufen treatment. The selective interactions between penflufen enantiomers and key proteins were elucidated using molecular docking, which may be the main reason of stereoselective subchronic toxicity. S-(+)-penflufen has high bioactivity and low acute risk, it has great potential for development.

Operating pesticide use reduction within the boundary of food security in peri-urban settings

Pesticide use in peri-urban areas affects the urban environment and public health, and reducing the use may present food security issues for urban dwellers. In this study, we explore how a municipality-adopted goal of a 20% reduction in pesticide use could be achieved, along with local food security and environmental implications, for Shanghai located in the densely populated East China. A regional Shanghai Agricultural Sector Model incorporating district- and technology-varying crop budgets, was developed to simulate the effects of pesticide reduction policy. Here we find that achieving the reduction goal had the largest implications in districts with high pesticide use totals and intensities, potentially reducing pesticide non-point source pollution in the Yangtze River Estuary and Dianshan Lake; the production levels of rice and leafy vegetables would be most affected; and adopting machinery that allows more precise pesticide application modulates these results. Moreover, imposing the requirements at the district-level caused more severe local food security concerns, and less environmental benefits. Furthermore, a closed Shanghai's agricultural economy would substantially enlarge the regional heterogeneity in the above-mentioned outcomes. Exploring the effects of a quantity control policy on current-use pesticides at different aggregation levels has important implications for regulating the use of agrochemicals.

Analysis of multiple pesticide residues in market samples of okra and associated dietary risk assessment for consumers

European Union Reference Laboratory method for Fruits and Vegetables (EURL-FV-2010-M1) for the quantification of pesticide residues was verified for the determination of multiple pesticide residues in okra. The targeted pesticides were extracted using acetonitrile with citrate buffer salts followed by cleanup with primary secondary amine (PSA) and analyzed on LC-MS/MS. The recoveries for all the targeted pesticides were within an acceptable range of 70.1-116.6% and precision in terms of RSD was 0.3-18.1%, respectively. The limit of quantification ranged from 0.002 mg/kg for carbofuran to 0.5 mg/kg for α-cypermethrin. The status of pesticide residues in okra (n = 21) available to consumers in the main markets of Pakistan has been determined by using this verified method. Sixty-two percent of the tested samples were contaminated out of which three samples were non-compliant with European Union maximum residue limits (EU-MRL). The pesticides violating the EU-MRL were bifenthrin, thiamethoxam, and triazophos. For all the detected pesticides, estimated daily intake (EDI) ranged between 1.40 × 10^-6 and 1.78 × 10^-4 mg/kg of body weight, chronic exposure risk (%ADI) ranged from 0.0073 to 1.8%, and acute exposure risk (%ARfD) ranged from 0.01 to 24.20%. The results exhibited insignificant risk from chronic exposure and minor to medium level of risk from acute exposure of these pesticides to human health.

Prenatal exposure to pesticide residues in the diet in association with child autism-related traits: Results from the EARLI study

Prior work has suggested associations between prenatal exposure to several classes of pesticides and child autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We examined a previously developed pesticide residue burden score (PRBS) and intake of high pesticide residue foods in association with ASD-related traits. Participants were drawn from the Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI) (n = 256), a cohort following mothers who previously had a child with ASD through a subsequent pregnancy and that child's development. ASD-related traits were captured according to total Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) scores at age 3 (mean raw total SRS score = 35.8). Dietary intake was assessed through a food frequency questionnaire collected during pregnancy. We also incorporated organic intake and fatty foods in modified versions of the PRBS. Associations between high-residue fruit and vegetable intake, the overall PRBS and modified versions of it, and SRS scores were assessed using multivariable linear regression. Overall, we did not observe associations between pesticide residues in foods and ASD-related outcomes, and modified versions of the PRBS yielded similar findings. However, reductions in ASD-related traits were observed with higher overall fruit and vegetable intake (adjusted estimates for Q4 vs. Q1: β -12.76, 95%CI -27.8, 2.3). Thus, findings from this high familial probability cohort did not suggest relationships between pesticide residues in the diet according to the PRBS and ASD-related traits. Beneficial effects of fruit and vegetable intake may influence these relationships. Future work should consider fruit and vegetable intake in association with ASD-related outcomes. LAY SUMMARY: Diet is the main source of exposure to most pesticides in use today. In this study, we examined the relationship between pesticide exposure from residues in the diet during pregnancy and child autism-related traits. We found that these pesticide residues from the diet were not related to child autism-related outcomes at age three. However, higher prenatal fruit and vegetable intake was associated with reductions in child autism-related traits.

Pesticide Residue Intake From Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Risk of Glioma

We aimed to determine whether intake of pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables was associated with glioma. Within 3 prospective cohorts from 1998-2016-the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), Nurses' Health Study II (NHSII), and Health Professionals Follow-up Study-we computed multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (MVHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for glioma by quintiles of intake of low- and high-pesticide-residue fruits and vegetables using Cox proportional hazards regression. Fruits and vegetables were categorized as high or low residue using a validated method based on pesticide surveillance data. We confirmed 275 glioma cases across 2,745,862 person-years. A significant association was observed between intake of high-residue fruits and vegetables and glioma in NHS (MVHR = 2.99, 95% CI: 1.38, 6.44 comparing highest with lowest quintile, P for trend = 0.02). This was not identified in NHSII (MVHR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.19, 1.45, P for trend = 0.20) or Health Professionals Follow-up Study (MVHR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.42, 2.45, P for trend = 0.39). No significant associations were observed by intake of low-residue fruits and vegetables; overall intake was not significantly associated with glioma in any cohort. We found no evidence for an inverse relationship of fruit and vegetable intake with glioma. Although limited in power, this study suggests a possible association between fruit-and-vegetable pesticide residue intake and risk of glioma that merits further study.

Dietary patterns are associated with improved ovarian reserve in overweight and obese women: a cross-sectional study of the Lifestyle and Ovarian Reserve (LORe) cohort

BACKGROUND

Growing evidence suggests that adherence to certain dietary patterns is associated with improved fecundity and reproductive outcomes in the general population and infertile couples assisted reproductive treatments. The objective of this study was to assess if dietary patterns are associated with ovarian reserve in reproductive age women without a history of infertility.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of 185 women in the Lifestyle and Ovarian Reserve (LORe) cohort. Women aged 18-44 without a history of infertility were recruited from the local community at an academic medical center. Subjects completed validated food frequency and physical activity questionnaires to assess patterns over the year prior to presentation. Dietary patterns including a Western (including meat, refined carbohydrates, high-calorie drinks), prudent (including fruits, vegetables, olive oil and nuts), fertility (lower intake of trans fat with higher intake of monounsaturated fatty acids, increased intake of plant based protein, high-fat dairy, lower glycemic load carbohydrates and supplemental iron) and profertility diet (PFD) (characterize by whole grains, soy and seafood, low pesticide residue produce, supplemental folic acid, B12 and vitamin D) were identified through principal component analysis. Main outcome measures were serum antimullerian hormone concentration (AMH) (ng/mL) and antral follicle count (AFC) obtained by transvaginal ultrasound.

RESULTS

After stratifying by BMI, adjusting for age, smoking and physical activity, dietary patterns were not associated with ovarian reserve in normal weight women. Increased adherence to a profertility diet in overweight and obese women (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) was associated with a significantly higher AMH. Women in the third and fourth quartiles of PFD adherence had a mean AMH concentration of 1.45 ng/mL (95%CI 0.33-2.56, p = 0.01) and 1.67 ng/mL (95%CI 0.60-2.74, p = 0.003) higher than women in the lowest quartile respectively. The highest adherence to PFD was also associated with a higher AFC in women with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² (β = 7.8, 95%CI 0.003-15.34, p < 0.05). Other common dietary patterns were not significantly associated with ovarian reserve.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased adherence to a profertility diet is associated with improved markers of ovarian reserve in overweight and obese women. These findings provide novel insight on potential modifiable lifestyle factors associated with ovarian reserve.

Phosphate-triggered ratiometric fluoroimmunoassay based on nanobody-alkaline phosphatase fusion for sensitive detection of 1-naphthol for the exposure assessment of pesticide carbaryl

The excessive use of carbaryl has resulted in the risk of its exposure. In this study, we isolated six nanobodies (Nbs) from a camelid phage display library against the biomarker of carbaryl, 1-naphthol (1-NAP). Owing to its characteristics of easy genetic modifications, we produced a nanobody-alkaline phosphatase (Nb-CC4-ALP) fusion protein with good stability. A dual-emission system based ratiometric fluoroimmunoassay (RFIA) for quick and highly sensitive determination of 1-NAP was developed. Silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) was used as an internal reference and for aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) of gold nanoclusters (AuNCs), while AuNCs could be quenched by MnO₂ via oxidation. In the presence of ALP, ascorbic acid phosphate (AAP) can be transformed into ascorbic acid (AA), the later can etch MnO₂ to recover the fluorescence of the AuNCs. Based on optimal conditions, the proposed assay showed 220-fold sensitivity improvement in comparison with conventional monoclonal antibody-based ELISA. The recovery test of urine samples and the validation by standard HPLC-FLD demonstrated the proposed assay was an ideal tool for screening 1-NAP and provided technical support for the monitoring of carbaryl exposure.

Pesticide residue intake from fruits and vegetables and alterations in the serum metabolome of women undergoing infertility treatment

BACKGROUND

Pesticide exposure is linked to a myriad of negative health effects; however, the mechanisms underlying these associations are less clear. We utilized metabolomics to describe the alterations in the serum metabolome associated with high and low pesticide residue intake from fruits and vegetables (FVs), the most common route of exposure in humans.

METHODS

This analysis included 171 women undergoing in vitro fertilization who completed a validated food frequency questionnaire and provided a serum sample during controlled ovarian stimulation (2007-2015). FVs were categorized as high or low-to-moderate pesticide residue using a validated method based on pesticide surveillance data from the USDA. We conducted untargeted metabolic profiling using liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry and two chromatography columns. We used multivariable generalized linear models to identified metabolic features (p < 0.005) associated with high and low-to-moderate pesticide residue FV intake, followed by enriched pathway analysis.

RESULTS

We identified 50 and 109 significant features associated with high pesticide residue FV intake in the C18 negative and HILIC positive columns, respectively. Additionally, we identified 90 and 62 significant features associated with low-to-moderate pesticide residue FV intake in the two columns, respectively. Four metabolomic pathways were associated with intake of high pesticide residue FVs including those involved in energy, vitamin, and enzyme metabolism. 12 pathways were associated with intake of low-to-moderate pesticide residue FVs including cellular receptor, energy, intercellular signaling, lipid, vitamin, and xenobiotic metabolism. One energy pathway was associated with both high and low-to-moderate pesticide residue FVs.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified limited overlap in the pathways associated with intake of high and low-to-moderate pesticide residue FVs, which supports findings of disparate health effects associated with these two exposures. The identified pathways suggest there is a balance between the dietary antioxidant intake associated with FVs intake and heightened oxidative stress as a result of dietary pesticide exposure.

Intake of fruits and vegetables according to pesticide residue status in relation to all-cause and disease-specific mortality: Results from three prospective cohort studies

BACKGROUND

Intake of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables (FVs) is an important route of exposure to pesticide residues in the general population. However, whether health risk stemming from exposure to pesticides through diet could offset benefits of consuming FVs is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

We assessed the association of FV intake, classified according to their pesticide residue status, with total and cause-specific mortality.

METHODS

We followed 137,378 women (NHS, 1998-2019, and NHSII, 1999-2019) and 23,502 men (HPFS, 1998-2020) without cardiovascular disease, cancer, or diabetes at baseline. FV intake was assessed using validated food frequency questionnaires and categorized as having high- or low-pesticide-residues using data from the USDA Pesticide Data Program. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for total and cause-specific mortality associated with high- and low-pesticide-residue FV intake.

RESULTS

A total of 27,026 deaths, including 4,318 from CVD and 6,426 from cancer, were documented during 3,081,360 person-years of follow-up. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, participants who consumed ≥4 servings/day of low-pesticide-residue FVs had 36% (95% CI: 32%-41%) lower mortality risk compared to participants who consumed <1 serving/day. The corresponding estimate for high-pesticide residue FV intake was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.81-1.07). This pattern was similar across the three most frequent causes of death (cardiovascular disease, cancer and respiratory diseases).

CONCLUSIONS

High-pesticide-residue FV intake was unrelated whereas low-pesticide residue FV intake was inversely related to all-cause mortality, suggesting that exposure to pesticide residues through diet may offset the beneficial effect of FV intake on mortality.

Maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy and exposure to persistent endocrine disrupting chemicals in two European birth cohorts

Food consumption, particularly of animal-based products, is considered the most important contributor to persistent endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) exposure. This study aims to describe the association between maternal diet during pregnancy and exposure to persistent EDCs using dietary pattern analysis. This study is based on subsamples of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) (N=422) and the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) (N=276) which uses data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN). Women in both studies completed food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) during pregnancy, from which consumption data were categorized into 38 aggregated food groups. Maternal blood samples were collected during pregnancy and concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in serum/plasma were measured. Dietary patterns were identified using reduced rank regression, with blood EDC concentrations as response variables. Within ALSPAC, all patterns (PFAS, PCB, and OCP) were characterized by high consumption of meat, poultry, white fish, and biscuits. In MoBa, high consumption of sausages and burgers (representing processed meats), pasta, and chocolate bars characterized PCB and OCP dietary patterns, while high consumption of cheese characterized the PFAS pattern. Across both cohorts, PFAS patterns were characterized by high consumption of cheese, PCB patterns by high consumption of rice, and OCP patterns by poultry. Dietary patterns explained between 8 and 20% of the variation in serum EDC concentrations, with explained variance being the highest for PCBs in both cohorts. In conclusion, dietary patterns high in animal-based products appear to be associated with persistent EDC concentrations among pregnant women. Diet explains more variation in PCB concentrations than for other persistent EDC classes.

Intake of fruits and vegetables by pesticide residue status in relation to cancer risk

BACKGROUND

Conventionally grown fruits and vegetables (FVs) are the main source of general population exposure to pesticide residues.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relation of intake of high- and low-pesticide-residue FVs with cancer risk.

METHODS

We followed 150,830 women (Nurses' Health Study, 1998-2016, and Nurses' Health Study II, 1999-2017) and 29,486 men (Health Professionals Follow-up Study, 1998-2016) without a history of cancer. We ascertained FV intake via validated food frequency questionnaires and categorized FVs as having high or low pesticide residue levels based on USDA surveillance data. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of total and site-specific cancer related to quintiles of high- and low-pesticide-residue FV intake.

RESULTS

We documented 23,678 incident cancer cases during 2,862,118 person-years of follow-up. In the pooled multivariable analysis, neither high- nor low-pesticide-residue FV intake was associated with cancer. The HRs (95% CI) per 1 serving/day increase in intake were 0.99 (0.97-1.01) for high- and 1.01 (0.99-1.02) for low-pesticide-residue FVs. Additionally, we found no association between high-pesticide-residue FV intake and risk of specific sites, including malignancies previously linked to occupational pesticide exposure ([HR, 95% CI comparing extreme quintiles of intake] lung [1.17 (0.95-1.43)], non-Hodgkin lymphoma [0.89 (0.72-1.09)], prostate [1.31 (0.88-1.93)]) or inversely related to intake of organic foods (breasts [1.03 (0.94-1.31)]).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that overall exposure to pesticides through FV intake is not related to cancer risk, although they do not rule out associations with specific chemicals or sub-types of specific cancers.

Combined lethal toxicities of pesticides with similar structures to Caenorhabditis elegans are not necessarily concentration additives

Studies have shown that the mixture toxicity of compounds with similar modes of action (MOAs) is usually predicted by the concentration addition (CA) model. However, due to the lack of toxicological information on compounds, more evidence is needed to determine whether the above conclusion is generally applicable. In general, the same type of compounds with similar chemical structures have similar MOAs, so whether the toxicities of the mixture of these compounds are additive needs to be further studied. In this paper, three types of pesticides with similar chemical structures (three organophosphoruses, two carbamates and two neonicotinoids) that may have similar MOAs were selected and five binary mixture systems were constructed. For each system, five mixture rays with different concentration ratios were designed by the direct equipartition ray design (EquRay) method. The mortality of Caenorhabditis elegans was regarded as the endpoint for the toxicity exposure to single pesticides and binary mixtures. The combined toxicities were evaluated simultaneously using the CA model, isobologram and combination index. The structural similarity of the same type of pesticides was quantitatively analyzed according to the MACCS molecular fingerprint and the slope of dose-response curve at pEC₅₀. The results show that the toxicities of neonicotinoid mixtures and carbamate mixtures are almost antagonistic. The entire mixture system of dichlorvos and dimethoate produced synergism, and four of the five mixture rays of dimethoate and methamidophos induced antagonism, while among the mixture rays of dichlorvos and methamidophos, different concentrations showed different interaction types. The results of structural similarity analysis show that the size of structural similarity showed a certain quantitative relationship with the toxicity interaction of mixtures, that is, the structural similarity of the same type of pesticides may show an additive action in a certain range.

Levels of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables in the Turkish domestic markets

In this work, pesticide residues in 493 fruit and vegetable samples obtained from markets in Turkey were detected after QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) extraction followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with electron spray ionization (LC-ESI/MS/MS) and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS). Validation of the method was tested based on the European Union SANTE/12682/2019 guidelines. The samples were analyzed to determine the concentrations of 500 pesticide residues. The results indicated that 254 samples of 493 samples contaminated with pesticides, only 22% contained pesticide residues at or below maximum residue limits (MRLs), and 30% contained pesticide residues above MRLs. Chlorpyrifos was the most common pesticide (105 samples) from the detected pesticides; 49 samples were found above to MRLs with concentrations of 0.011-2.001 mg/kg. Among samples, peach (88%), dill (84%), mushroom (83%), arugula (73%), and spinach (72%) were the crops with the higher percentages of pesticide residues.

Connecting inorganic mercury and lead measurements in blood to dietary sources of exposure that may impact child development

Pre-natal and post-natal chemical exposures and co-exposures from a variety of sources including contaminated air, water, soil, and food are common and associated with poorer birth and child health outcomes. Poor diet is a contributing factor in the development of child behavioral disorders. Child behavior and learning can be adversely impacted when gene expression is altered by dietary transcription factors such as zinc insufficiency or deficiency or by exposure to toxic substances permitted in our food supply such as mercury, lead, or organophosphate pesticide residue. Children with autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders exhibit decreased or impaired PON1 gene activity which is needed by the body to metabolize and excrete neurotoxic organophosphate pesticides. In this current review we present an updated macroepigenetic model that explains how dietary inorganic mercury and lead exposures from unhealthy diet may lead to elevated blood mercury and/or lead levels and the development of symptoms associated with the autism and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorders. PON1 gene activity may be suppressed by inadequate dietary calcium, selenium, and fatty acid intake or exposures to lead or mercury. The model may assist clinicians in diagnosing and treating the symptoms associated with these childhood neurodevelopmental disorders. Recommendations for future research are provided based on the updated model and review of recently published literature.

Estimated dietary exposure to pesticide residues based on organic and conventional data in omnivores, pesco-vegetarians, vegetarians and vegans

PURPOSE

To examine dietary exposure to 25 pesticide residues in several diet groups including omnivores, pesco-vegetarians, vegetarians and vegans while accounting for the farming system (organic or conventional) of plant-based foods consumed.

METHODS

Organic and conventional consumption data in combination with data on pesticide residues in plant-based foods were used to derive estimated dietary exposure to pesticide residues. Pesticide residue exposure was estimated based on observed data, and using two scenarios simulated for 100%-conventional and 100%-organic diets in 33,018 omnivores, 555 pesco-vegetarians, 501 vegetarians and 368 vegans from the NutriNet-Santé study. Pesticide residue exposure across groups was compared using Kruskal-Wallis tests.

RESULTS

Exposure levels varied across diet groups depending on the pesticide studied. The highest exposure was observed for imazalil in all groups. Vegetarians appeared to be less exposed to the studied pesticides overall. Compared to omnivores - apart from pesticides authorised in organic farming - vegetarians had lowest exposure. The 100%-conventional scenario led to a sharp increase in exposure to pesticide residues, except for pesticides allowed in organic farming and conversely for the 100%-organic scenario.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite their high plant-based product consumption, vegetarians were less exposed to synthetic pesticides than omnivores, due to their greater propensity to consume organic.

Resolving the twin human and environmental health hazards of a plant-based diet

Food can be health-giving. A global transition towards plant-based diets may equally help curb carbon emissions, slow land-system change and conserve finite resources. Yet, projected benefits of such 'planetary health' diets imperfectly capture the environmental or societal health outcomes tied to food production. Here, we examine pesticide-related hazards of fruit and vegetable consumption, and list proven management alternatives per commodity, geography and chemical compound. Across countries, pesticide use in these alleged healthful foods is extensive with up to 97% food items containing residues and up to 42% posing dietary risks to consumers. Multiple residues are present in 70-92% of US- and China-grown stone fruit while 58% US cauliflower is tainted with neonicotinoid insecticides. Science-based alternatives and decision-support frameworks can help food producers reduce risks and potential harm by deliberately abstaining from pesticide use. As such, opportunities abound to advance 'win-win' diets that simultaneously nurture human health and conserve global biodiversity.

Comparative efficacy of mitigation techniques for the detoxification of Prunus persica (L.) from selected pesticide residues

Fruits are the valuable and important components of human diet. Among them, Prunus persica is a rich source of different minerals and dietary fibers. In Pakistan, the total annual production of P. persica is approximately 837,000 tons. In order to enhance agricultural yield and quality, the plant protection agents are employed during fruit production. Ultimately, this in turn leads to the incorporation of pesticide residues in fruits. In present study, an effort has been made for the determination of three selected pesticide residues, i.e., chlorpyrifos (CPF), difenoconazole (DFN), and carbendazim (CRB) in samples of P. persica collected from Swat territory. Samples were analyzed through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results revealed the occurrence of all three pesticides in studied samples; however, levels of CPF and DFN were found to be higher than MRLs. Moreover, the effects of different mitigation techniques revealed that highest reduction of CPF, DFN, and CRB (86%, 97%, 89%) residues was obtained by treatment with 10% CH₃COOH followed by 10% NaCl (74%, 78%, 84%). The lowest reduction was obtained by treatment with 10% solution of NaOH (52%, 55%, 63%).

Pump-Free Microfluidic Rapid Mixer Combined with a Paper-Based Channel

Capillary forces are commonly employed to transport fluids in pump-free microfluidic platforms such as paper-based microfluidics. However, since paper is a porous material consisting of nonuniform cellulose fibers, it has some limitations in performing stable flow functions like mixing. Here, we developed a pump-free microfluidic device that enables rapid mixing by combining paper and plastic. The device was fabricated by laminating transparency film and double-sided adhesive and is composed of an overlapping inlet ending in a paper-based reaction area. The mixing performance of the developed device was confirmed experimentally using aqueous dyes and pH indicators. In addition, the absolute mixing index was evaluated by numerically calculating the concentration field across the microfluidic channels. To demonstrate the utility of the new approach, the detection of an organophosphate pesticide was carried out using a colorimetric enzymatic inhibition assay. The developed device and a smartphone application were used to detect organophosphate pesticide on food samples, demonstrating the potential for onsite analysis.

Pesticide residue intake from fruits and vegetables and fecundability in a North American preconception cohort study

Intake of conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables with higher levels of pesticide residue contamination has been associated with poorer semen quality and lower probability of live birth among couples undergoing fertility treatment. We examined the association between dietary intake of pesticide residues and fecundability, the per cycle probability of conception, in a preconception cohort of pregnancy planners. We enrolled women aged 21-45 years who were attempting to conceive without use of fertility treatment into Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO) from June 2013 through September 2019. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire on demographics, lifestyle factors, and medical and reproductive histories, and bimonthly follow-up questionnaires for up to 12 months or until reported conception. Ten days after baseline, participants completed the National Cancer Institute's Diet History Questionnaire II, a validated food frequency questionnaire. Using data from the USDA Pesticide Data Program, we classified fruits and vegetables as having high or low pesticide residues using a validated method. We examined the relation between greater intake of high- and low-pesticide residue fruits and vegetables with fecundability using proportional probabilities regression models, adjusted for potential confounders and accounting for consumption of organic produce. We restricted our analysis to 5234 women who had been attempting conception for ≤6 cycles at study entry, and further stratified by pregnancy attempt time at study entry (<3 vs. 3-6 cycles) to evaluate potential for reverse causation. Intakes of high- and low-pesticide residue fruits and vegetables were not appreciably related to fecundability in the full sample, or among women trying to conceive for <3 cycles at study entry. However, among women trying to conceive for 3-6 cycles at study entry, both high- and low-pesticide residue fruit and vegetable intakes were strongly inversely related to fecundability, indicating potential reverse causation bias. These results do not support the hypothesis that intake of pesticide residues from conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables is harmful to fertility, although non-differential exposure misclassification may have attenuated our findings.

Organophosphate insecticide exposure and telomere length in U.S. adults

BACKGROUND

Organophosphate insecticides have been widely used for >30 years, and are reported to be associated with various age-related chronic diseases. While shortening of telomere length has been considered as a marker of cellular aging, only a few small studies have been conducted to examine any difference of telomere length in workers exposed to organophosphates versus controls. Epidemiologic studies of the dose-response associations between environmental organophosphate exposure and telomere length in the general population are few.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the association between levels of organophosphate insecticide exposure and telomere length in the general population.

METHODS

We analyzed data for 1724 participants aged 20 years or more from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002. Organophosphate insecticide exposure was estimated using measures of urinary concentrations for 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPY) and six non-specific dialkyl phosphate metabolites, e.g., diethyl thiophosphate (DETP). Multiple linear regression was conducted to assess the association between organophosphate exposure and telomere length.

RESULTS

After controlling for sociodemographic and physical factors and urinary creatinine, participants in the second quartile for urinary TCPY had 0.06 (95% CI: 0.02-0.10) T/S ratio shorter telomere length than those in the lowest quartile. By contrast, participants in the second and third tertiles of urinary DETP had 0.08 (95% CI: 0.02-0.14) and 0.06 (95% CI, 0.01-0.11) T/S ratio longer telomere length than those in the lowest tertile. For other five metabolites, there was no association with telomere length.

CONCLUSIONS

Levels of environmental exposures to certain organophosphate insecticides may be linked to altered telomere length in adults in the general population. Although our findings may need to be replicated, we provide the first evidence that environmental exposure to organophosphates may contribute to the alteration of telomere length, which is potentially related to biological aging and to the development of various chronic diseases.

Association between intake of fruits and vegetables by pesticide residue status and coronary heart disease risk

BACKGROUND

Fruit and vegetable (FV) intake is recommended for the prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD). FVs are also an important source of exposure to pesticide residues. Whether the relations of FV intake with CHD differ according to pesticide residue status is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the associations of high- and low-pesticide-residue FVs with the risk of CHD.

METHODS

We followed 145,789 women and 24,353 men free of cardiovascular disease and cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) at baseline and participating in three ongoing prospective cohorts: the Nurses' Health Study (NHS: 1998-2012), the NHS-II (1999-2013), and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS: 1998-2012). FV intake was assessed via food frequency questionnaires. We categorized FVs as having high- or low-pesticide-residues using a validated method based on pesticide surveillance data from the US Department of Agriculture. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) of CHD in relation to high- and low-pesticide-residue FV intake.

RESULTS

A total of 3707 incident CHD events were identified during 2,241,977 person-years of follow-up. In multivariable-adjusted models, a greater intake of low-pesticide-residue FVs was associated with a lower risk of CHD whereas high-pesticide-residue FV intake was unrelated to CHD risk. Specifically, compared with individuals consuming <1 serving/day of low-pesticide-residue FVs, those consuming ≥4 servings/day had 20% (95CI: 4%, 33%) lower risk of CHD. The corresponding HR (comparing ≥4 servings/day to <1 serving/day) for high-pesticide-residue FV intake and CHD was 0.97 (95%CI: 0.72, 1.30).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggested exposure to pesticide residues through FV intake may modify some cardiovascular benefits of FV consumption. Further confirmation of these findings, especially using biomarkers for assessment of pesticide exposure, is needed.

Effect of a 24-week randomized trial of an organic produce intervention on pyrethroid and organophosphate pesticide exposure among pregnant women

BACKGROUND

Introduction of an organic diet can significantly reduce exposure to some classes of pesticides in children and adults, but no long-term trials have been conducted.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effect of a long-term (24-week) organic produce intervention on pesticide exposure among pregnant women.

METHODS

We recruited 20 women from the Idaho Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program during their first trimester of pregnancy. Eligible women were nonsmokers aged 18-35 years who reported eating exclusively conventionally grown food. We randomly assigned participants to receive weekly deliveries of either organic or conventional fruits and vegetables throughout their second or third trimesters and collected weekly spot urine samples. Urine samples, which were pooled to represent monthly exposures, were analyzed for biomarkers of organophosphate (OP) and pyrethroid insecticides.

RESULTS

Food diary data demonstrated that 66% of all servings of fruits and vegetables consumed by participants in the "organic produce" group were organic, compared to <3% in the "conventional produce" group. We collected an average of 23 spot samples per participant (461 samples total), which were combined to yield 116 monthly composites. 3-Phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA, a non-specific biomarker of several pyrethroids) was detected in 75% of the composite samples, and 3-PBA concentrations were significantly higher in samples collected from women in the conventional produce group compared to the organic produce group (0.95 vs 0.27 μg/L, p = 0.03). Another pyrethroid biomarker, trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid, was detected more frequently in women in the conventional compared to the organic produce groups (16% vs 4%, p = 0.05). In contrast, we observed no statistically significant differences in detection frequency or concentrations for any of the four biomarkers of OP exposure quantified in this trial.

DISCUSSION

To our knowledge, this is the first long-term organic diet intervention study, and the first to include pregnant women. These results suggest that addition of organic produce to an individual's diet, as compared to conventional produce, significantly reduces exposure to pyrethroid insecticides.

Intake of Antioxidants in Relation to Infertility Treatment Outcomes with Assisted Reproductive Technologies

BACKGROUND

Randomized trials of supplementation with antioxidant mixtures during infertility treatment show no benefit on pregnancy or live birth rate. However, the roles of individual antioxidants are poorly understood. We examined the association of baseline intake of vitamins A, C, E, and carotenoids with outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs).

METHODS

We followed 349 women undergoing a total of 588 ART cycles for infertility treatment at the Massachusetts General Hospital. We assessed antioxidant intakes from food and supplements before treatment using a validated food frequency questionnaire. We used generalized linear mixed models to account for multiple ART cycles per woman while adjusting for confounding.

RESULTS

Mean (SD) age and body mass index were 35.1 years (4.0 years) and 24.1 kg/m (4.3 kg/m), respectively. Total intake of vitamins A, C, and E was not associated with the probability of live birth. Women in the highest intake category of β-carotene from foods had a lower probability of live birth than women in the lowest intake quartile (50% vs. 22%; P trend = 0.03); for lutein and zeaxanthin, the probability for the highest intake group was 44% vs. 28% for the lowest. Intake of β-carotene from supplements and intakes of retinol and all other carotenoids were unrelated to live birth rates.

CONCLUSIONS

We found unexpected inverse associations of β-carotene intake from foods and of lutein and zeaxanthin intake with live birth rates. Within the observed intake ranges, total consumption of vitamins A, C, and E before starting infertility treatment with ART was not associated with live birth rates.

Maternal intake of pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables in relation to fetal growth

OBJECTIVES

To examine the associations of maternal intake of fruits and vegetables (FVs), considering pesticide residue levels, with fetal growth.

METHODS

We studied 1777 mothers (1275 white, 502 non-white) and their infants from Project Viva, a prospective pre-birth cohort (1999-2002). We categorized FVs as containing high or low pesticide residues using data from the US Department of Agriculture. We then used a food frequency questionnaire to estimate each participant's intake of high and low pesticide residue FVs in the first and second trimester. The primary outcomes were small-for-gestational-age (SGA; <10th percentile in birth-weight-for-gestational-age), large-for-gestational-age (LGA; ≥10th percentile in birth-weight-for-gestational-age) and preterm birth (gestational age <37 weeks). We also evaluated whether the associations between high pesticide residue FV intake and birth outcomes were modified by race/ethnicity.

RESULTS

5.5% of newborns were SGA, 13.7% were LGA, and 7.3% were preterm. Intakes of high or low pesticide residue FVs, regardless of pregnancy trimester, were not associated with risks of SGA, LGA, or preterm birth. In addition, the associations of high pesticide FV intake with SGA and LGA were not modified by race/ethnicity. However, we observed heterogeneity in the relationship between first trimester high pesticide FV intake and risk of preterm birth by race/ethnicity (P value for interaction = 0.01), although this relationship did not persist after correction for multiple comparisons (Bonferroni corrected level of significance: P < 2.8 × 10-3).

CONCLUSIONS

There were no clear associations between high or low pesticide FV intake during pregnancy with SGA, LGA or preterm birth.

Associations of urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with bone mass density and osteoporosis in U.S. adults, NHANES 2005-2010

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental endocrine disruptors, which may modify the bone mineralization. However, epidemiological evidences on this issue were scant. We aimed to investigate the associations of PAHs with bone mass density (BMD) and osteoporosis based on a nationally-representative sample from general U.S.

POPULATION

Data utilized were extracted from the 2005-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Nine urinary PAHs (U-PAHs) metabolites were measured as exposure biomarkers. Associations of specific U-PAHs with BMD and osteoporosis were estimated by multivariable adjusted linear regression models and logistic regression models, respectively. Compared with women at the first tertiles, those at the third tertiles of 1-Hydroxynapthalene, 2-Hydroxyfluorene, 3-Hydroxyphenanthrene, 2-Hydroxyphenanthrene and 9-Hydroxyfluorene had significantly decreased BMD levels [coefficient (β) = -0.023 to -0.014, p < 0.05] or increased likelihoods of osteoporosis [odds ratios (ORs) = 1.86 to 3.36, p < 0.05] at different bone sites. Whereas, elevated BMD levels (β = 0.021, p < 0.05) at trochanter and decreased likelihoods of osteoporosis (OR = 0.33, p < 0.05) at intertrochanter were observed among women at the second tertiles of 1-Hydroxypyrene and 2-Hydroxynapthalene, respectively. Similar results were found for all the population, i.e., combination of men and women. Most of the significant associations disappeared among adult men only. Furthermore, Associations between U-PAHs and BMD were stronger for postmenopausal women when compared with premenopausal group. In conclusion, associations of U-PAHs with BMD and osteoporosis varied by specific U-PAHs and bone sites, as well as menopausal status and genders in U.S. adults.

Organophosphate Pesticide Urinary Metabolites Among Latino Immigrants: North Carolina Farmworkers and Non-farmworkers Compared

BACKGROUND

This analysis documents detections and concentrations of the six dialkylphosphate (DAP) urinary metabolite of organophosphorus (OP) pesticides among North Carolina Latino migrant farmworkers, with comparison to non-farmworker Latino immigrants.

METHODS

Participants provided up to four urine samples during the 2012 and 2013 agricultural seasons. Composite urine samples for each year were analyzed.

RESULTS

DAP urinary metabolite detections were similar in farmworkers and non-farmworker; for example, for 2012, 75.4% of farmworkers and 67.4% of non-farmworkers and, for 2013, 89.3% of farmworkers and 89.7% of non-farmworkers had dimethylthiophosphate detections. DAP geometric mean concentrations were high; for example, dimethylphosphate concentrations among farmworkers were 11.39 μg/g creatinine for 2012 and 4.49 μg/g creatinine for 2013, while they were 10.49 μg/g creatinine for 2012 and 1.97 μg/g creatinine for 2013 for non-farmworkers CONCLUSIONS:: Research to reduce pesticide exposure among Latino farmworkers and non-farmworkers is needed.

Comparison of questionnaire-based estimation of pesticide residue intake from fruits and vegetables with urinary concentrations of pesticide biomarkers

We developed a pesticide residue burden score (PRBS) based on a food frequency questionnaire and surveillance data on food pesticide residues to characterize dietary exposure over the past year. In the present study, we evaluated the association of the PRBS with urinary concentrations of pesticide biomarkers. Fruit and vegetable (FV) intake was classified as having high (PRBS≥4) or low (PRBS<4) pesticide residues for 90 men from the EARTH study. Two urine samples per man were analyzed for seven biomarkers of organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides, and the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. We used generalized estimating equations to analyze the association of the PRBS with urinary concentrations of pesticide biomarkers. Urinary concentrations of pesticide biomarkers were positively related to high pesticide FV intake but inversely related to low pesticide FV intake. The molar sum of urinary concentrations of pesticide biomarkers was 21% (95% confidence interval (CI): 2%, 44%) higher for each one serving/day increase in high pesticide FV intake, and 10% (95% CI: 1%, 18%) lower for each one serving/day increase in low pesticide FV intake. Furthermore, intake of high pesticide FVs positively related to most individual urinary biomarkers. Our findings support the usefulness of the PRBS approach to characterize dietary exposure to select pesticides.

Association Between Pesticide Residue Intake From Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables and Pregnancy Outcomes Among Women Undergoing Infertility Treatment With Assisted Reproductive Technology

Importance

Animal experiments suggest that ingestion of pesticide mixtures at environmentally relevant concentrations decreases the number of live-born offspring. Whether the same is true in humans is unknown.

Objective

To examine the association of preconception intake of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables (FVs) with outcomes of infertility treatment with assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

Design, Setting, and Participants

This analysis included 325 women who completed a diet assessment and subsequently underwent 541 ART cycles in the Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) prospective cohort study (2007-2016) at a fertility center at a teaching hospital. We categorized FVs as having high or low pesticide residues using a validated method based on surveillance data from the US Department of Agriculture. Cluster-weighted generalized estimating equations were used to analyze associations of high- and low-pesticide residue FV intake with ART outcomes.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Adjusted probabilities of clinical pregnancy and live birth per treatment cycle.

Results

In the 325 participants (mean [SD] age, 35.1 [4.0] y; body mass index, 24.1 [4.3]), mean (SD) intakes of high- and low-pesticide residue FVs were 1.7 (1.0) and 2.8 (1.6) servings/d, respectively. Greater intake of high-pesticide residue FVs was associated with a lower probability of clinical pregnancy and live birth. Compared with women in the lowest quartile of high-pesticide FV intake (<1.0 servings/d), women in the highest quartile (≥2.3 servings/d) had 18% (95% CI, 5%-30%) lower probability of clinical pregnancy and 26% (95% CI, 13%-37%) lower probability of live birth. Intake of low-pesticide residue FVs was not significantly related to ART outcomes.

Conclusions and Relevance

Higher consumption of high-pesticide residue FVs was associated with lower probabilities of pregnancy and live birth following infertility treatment with ART. These data suggest that dietary pesticide exposure within the range of typical human exposure may be associated with adverse reproductive consequences.

Pesticide Urinary Metabolites Among Latina Farmworkers and Nonfarmworkers in North Carolina

OBJECTIVES

This paper compares detections and concentrations of pesticide urinary metabolites for Latina farmworkers and nonfarmworkers in North Carolina.

METHODS

Thirty-one farmworkers and 55 nonfarmworkers provided urine samples in 2012 and 2013. Urine samples were analyzed for detections and concentrations of organophosphate insecticide, bis-dithiocarbamate fungicide, and pyrethroid insecticide urinary metabolites.

RESULTS

Detections for several organophosphate and pyrethroid pesticide urinary metabolites were present for substantial proportions of the farmworkers and nonfarmworkers. Concentrations for several of these metabolites were high. Farmworkers and nonfarmworkers were similar in detections and concentrations for the pesticide urinary metabolites included in this analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Participant pesticide exposure increases health risks for them and their children. Research needs to document pesticide exposure, its health effects, and ways to reduce it. Current information justifies policy development to reduce pesticide exposure in all communities.