Evaluation of endocrine disruption and gestational disorders in women residing in areas with intensive pesticide application: An exploratory study

Endocrine disruptors, aryl hydrocarbon receptor and cortisol secretion

PURPOSE

Endocrine disruptors exert a plethora of effects in endocrine tissues, from altered function to carcinogenesis. Given its lipophilic nature, the adrenal cortex represents an ideal target for endocrine disruptors and thus, possibly, xenobiotic-induced adrenocortical dysfunction. However, there is no clear understanding of the effect of endocrine disruptors on adrenal steroidogenesis, in particular as regards the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway, one of the key mediators.

METHODS

The present review recapitulates available evidence on the effects of AHR ligands on adrenal steroidogenesis, with focus on cortisol secretion.

RESULTS

Short-term exposure to AHR ligands most often induced a stress-like corticosteroid response followed by decreased responsiveness to stressors with long-term exposure. This was observed in several experimental models across species as well as in animals and humans in real-life settings. Prenatal exposure led to different effects according to sex of the offspring, as observed in murine models and in children from mothers in several countries. In vitro findings proved highly dependent on the experimental setting, with reduced cortisol response and steroidogenic enzyme synthesis mostly observed in fish and increased cortisol synthesis and secretion observed in murine and human adrenal cell lines. Of note, no AHR-binding element was detected in steroidogenic enzyme promoters, suggesting the involvement of additional factors.

CONCLUSION

Our review provides evidence for the impact of AHR ligands on adrenocortical function and indicates further avenues of research to better clarify its effects.

Multi-residue analysis method based on QuEChERS followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode-array detector for pesticides in human serum and breast milk

Background: Maternal fluids play a key role in the risk assessment regarding early life pesticide exposure as the chemicals can transfer to neonate through prenatal exposure and lactation.Aim: A developed UHPLC-DAD and modified QuChERS methods were validated for human serum and breast milk. Matrix effect of the biological samples were evaluated.Methods & results: Serum was extracted by unbuffered QuChERS method while breast milk was extracted by citrate buffered method with addition of hexane. Remaining lipid in breast milk extract was later removed using lipid-removal sorbent. Sample matrices caused huge impacted on low-sensitivity pesticides.Conclusion: The modified QuEChERS methods coupled with UHPLC-DAD were fully validated. Application in paired-serum and breast milk samples revealed 6 detected pesticides.

Fetal Origin of Abnormal Glucose Tolerance in Adult Offspring Induced by Maternal Bisphenol A Analogs Exposure

With the widespread use of bisphenol A (BPA) analogs, their health risks have attracted attention. The effects of maternal BPA analogs exposure on glucose homeostasis in adult offspring and the underlying fetal origins require further exploration. Herein, we exposed pregnant mice to two types of BPA analogs─BPB and BPAF; we evaluated glucose homeostasis in adult offspring and maternal-fetal glucose transport by testing intraperitoneal glucose tolerance, determining glucose and glycogen contents, conducting positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT), detecting expression of placental nutrient transport factors, and assessing placental barrier status. We observed that adult female offspring maternally exposed to BPB and BPAF exhibited low fasting blood glucose in adulthood, with even abnormal glucose tolerance in the BPAF group. This phenomenon can be traced back to the elevated fetal glucose induced by the increased efficiency of placenta glucose transport in late pregnancy. On the other hand, the expression of genes associated with vascular development and glucose transport was significantly altered in the placenta in the BPAF group, potentially contributing to enhanced fetal glucose. These findings provide preliminary insights into potential mechanisms underlying the disturbance of glucose metabolism in adult female offspring mice induced by maternal exposure to BPA analogs.

Glucocorticoid hormones in relation to environmental exposure to bisphenols and multiclass pesticides among middle aged-women: Results from hair analysis

Bisphenols and pesticides have been shown to alter circulating glucocorticoids levels in animals, but there is limited human data. Moreover, measurements from biological fluids may not be able to reflect long-term status of non-persistent pollutants and glucocorticoids due to the high variability in their levels. Using hair analysis, we examined the associations between glucocorticoid hormones and environmental exposure to multi-class organic pollutants among a healthy female population aged 25-45 years old. Concentrations of four glucocorticoids, four polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs), seven polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners (PBDEs), two bisphenols and 140 pesticides and their metabolites were measured in hair samples collected from 196 Chinese women living in urban areas. Due to the low detection frequency of some pollutants, associations were explored only on 54 pollutants, i.e. PCB 180, bisphenol A, bisphenol S and 51 pesticides and their metabolites. Using stability-based Lasso regression, there were associations of cortisol, tetrahydrocortisol, cortisone, and tetrahydrocortisone with 14, 10, 13 and 17 biomarkers of exposure to pollutants, respectively, with bisphenol S, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, diethyl phosphate, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, fipronil, tebuconazole, trifluralin, pyraclostrobin and 1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-methylurea being associated with at least three of the four hormones. There were also associations between cortisone/cortisol molar ratio and pollutants, namely dimethyl phosphate, 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol, carbofuran, λ-cyhalothrin, permethrin, fipronil, flusilazole, prometryn and fenuron. Some of these relationships were confirmed by single-pollutant linear regression analyses. Overall, our results suggest that background level of exposure to bisphenols and currently used pesticides may interfere with the glucocorticoid homeostasis in healthy women.

Theoretical insights into the HO●-induced oxidation of chlorpyrifos pesticide: Mechanism, kinetics, ecotoxicity, and cholinesterase inhibition of degradants

The oxidation of the common pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) initiated by HO● radical and the risks of its degradation products were studied in the gaseous and aqueous phases via computational approaches. Oxidation mechanisms were investigated, including H-, Cl-, CH3- abstraction, HO●-addition, and single electron transfer. In both phases, HO●-addition at the C of the pyridyl ring is the most energetically favorable and spontaneous reaction, followed by H-abstraction reactions at methylene groups (i.e., at H19/H21 in the gas phase and H22/H28 in water). In contrast, other abstractions and electron transfer reactions are unfavorable. However, regarding the kinetics, the significant contribution to the oxidation of CPF is made from H-abstraction channels, mostly at the hydrogens of the methylene groups. CPF can be decomposed in a short time (5-8 h) in the gas phase, and it is more persistent in natural water with a lifetime between 24 days and 66 years, depending on the temperature and HO● concentration. Subsequent oxidation of the essential radical products with other oxidizing reagents, i.e., HO●, NO2●, NO●, and 3O2, gave primary neutral products P1-P15. Acute and chronic toxicity calculations estimate very toxic levels for CPF and two degradation products, P7w and P12w, in aquatic systems. The neurotoxicity of these products was investigated by docking and molecular dynamics. P7w and P12w show the most significant binding scores with acetylcholinesterases, while P8w and P13w are with butyrylcholinesterase enzyme. Finally, molecular dynamics illustrate stable interactions between CPF degradants and cholinesterase enzyme over a 100 ns time frame and determine P7w as the riskiest degradant to the neural developmental system.

Early Abortions and Congenital Malformations: A Comparison Between Agricultural and Nonagricultural Areas in the State of São Paulo/Brazil

INTRODUCTION

Areas with higher agricultural production have higher rates of abortion and malformation, probable related to pesticides.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the rates of early abortion and fetal malformation in agricultural and nonagricultural areas.

METHOD

A survey was carried out on fetal deaths in children weighing less than 500 g or gestational age less than 22 weeks and fetal malformations in live births.

RESULTS

From 1996 to 2018, there was an increase in the rates of abortion and, albeit to a lesser extent, malformation. The areas of greater agricultural production have higher rates of fetal mortality and malformation than the others.

CONCLUSIONS

The study suggests that areas with higher use of pesticides have higher rates of abortion and fetal malformations than the others, requiring further observational studies, reducing confounders inherent to the ecological study.

An Evaluation of a Pesticide Training Program to Reduce Pesticide Exposure and Enhance Safety among Female Farmworkers in Nan, Thailand

BACKGROUND

Although exposure to chemical pesticides is known to cause negative effects on human health, farmers in Ban Luang, Nan, Thailand, continue to use them regularly to protect crops. This study focused on mothers who were engaged in farm tasks and had children between the ages of 0 to 72 months, with the objective of reducing pesticide exposure.

METHODS

This study was conducted from May 2020 to October 2020 in the Ban Fa and Ban Phi sub-districts in Ban Luang due to the high use of pesticides in these areas. A systematic random sampling technique was used to recruit 78 mothers exposed to pesticides. Thirty-nine mothers from Ban Fa district were randomly assigned to the intervention group and 39 from Ban Phi to the control group over a 3-month period. This study applied a pesticide behavioral change training program for the intervention group. To assess the effectiveness of the program, the study compared the results of a questionnaire regarding knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) and health beliefs related to pesticide exposure as well as the levels of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyryl cholinesterase (BChE) enzymes, biomarkers of exposure to pesticides, before and after the intervention using ANCOVA statistical test. Furthermore, to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention program, a paired t-test was used to investigate the in-home pesticide safety assessment.

RESULTS

After the intervention, we observed no significant change in AChE; however, a significant improvement in BChE (p < 0.05), a marker of short-term recovery, was observed. Pesticides can cause a reduction in AChE and BChE, however, after eliminating pesticides, BChE takes a shorter time (about 30-50 days) to recover than AChE (around 90-120 days). Therefore, increases in the measured concentrations of AChE and/or BChE suggest the presence of less chemicals from pesticides in the human body. The study also found a significant improvement in KAP and beliefs about chemical pesticide exposure after the intervention (p < 0.05). Furthermore, using a paired t-test, we found a significant increase in pesticide safety practices (p < 0.05) in the intervention group and a borderline significant increase regarding in-home safety (p = 0.051) in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results, the constructs of the intervention program were effective and could be applied in other agricultural areas in less developed countries. However, due to time limitations during the COVID-19 pandemic, further studies should be conducted to enable data collection over a longer time, with a larger number of subjects providing the ChE levels for the non-agricultural season.

Pesticide exposure and child growth in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), pesticides are widely used in agricultural and residential settings. Little is known about how pesticides affect child growth.

OBJECTIVES

To systematically review and synthesise the evidence on the associations between pesticide exposure and adverse birth outcomes and/or impaired postnatal growth in children up to 5 years of age in LMICs.

METHODS

We searched 10 databases from inception through November 2021. We included cohort and cross-sectional studies investigating associations between self-reported or measured prenatal or postnatal pesticide exposure and child growth (postnatal child linear/ponderal growth, and/or birth outcomes). Two researchers screened studies, extracted data, and assessed certainty using GRADE. The protocol was preregistered with PROSPERO (CRD42021292919).

RESULTS

Of 939 records retrieved, 31 studies met inclusion criteria (11 cohort, 20 cross-sectional). All studies assessed prenatal exposure. Twenty-four studies reported on birth weight. Four found positive associations with organochlorines (0.01-0.25 standardised mean difference (SMD)) and two found negative associations (-0.009 SMD to -55 g). Negative associations with organophosphates (-170 g, n = 1) and pyrethroids (-97 to -233 g, n = 2) were also documented. Two (out of 15) studies reporting on birth length found positive associations with organochlorines (0.21-0.25 SMD) and one found negative associations (-0.25 to -0.32 SMD). Organophosphate exposure was negatively associated with birth length (-0.37 cm, n = 1). Organophosphate exposure was also associated with higher risk/prevalence of low birth weight (2 out of nine studies) and preterm birth (2 out of six studies). Certainty of the evidence was "very low" for all outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The limited literature from LMICs shows inconclusive associations between prenatal pesticide exposure, child growth, and birth outcomes. Studies with accurate quantitative data on exposure to commonly used pesticides in LMICs using consistent methodologies in comparable populations are needed to better understand how pesticides influence child growth.

Assessing the Quality of Burkina Faso Soybeans Based on Fatty Acid Composition and Pesticide Residue Contamination

Soybean is widely used in the food industry because of its high fatty acid and protein content. However, the increased use of pesticides to control pests during cultivation, in addition to being a public health concern, may influence the nutritional quality of soybeans. This study aimed to assess the nutritional quality of soybeans with respect to fatty acid profile and pesticide residue contamination. The levels of fatty acids and pesticides in soybean varieties G196 and G197 were determined by gas chromatography and by the QuEChERS method, respectively. The results showed a significant variation in the quantitative and qualitative fatty acid composition of the two varieties, with 18.03 g/100 g and 4 fatty acids detected for the G196 variety and 21.35 g/100 g and 7 fatty acids for the G197 variety, respectively. In addition, 12 active pesticide compounds were found, and among them, imazalil, quintozene, cyfluthrin and lindane exceeded their maximum limits. The G197 variety had a better nutritional profile compared to G196. The profile of fatty acids and the content of pesticide residues were used as important determinants for soybean utilization in human nutrition.

Health Effects of Pesticide Exposure in Latin American and the Caribbean Populations: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Multiple epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to pesticides is associated with adverse health outcomes. However, the literature on pesticide-related health effects in the Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) region, an area of intensive agricultural and residential pesticide use, is sparse. We conducted a scoping review to describe the current state of research on the health effects of pesticide exposure in LAC populations with the goal of identifying knowledge gaps and research capacity building needs.

METHODS

We searched PubMed and SciELO for epidemiological studies on pesticide exposure and human health in LAC populations published between January 2007 and December 2021. We identified 233 publications from 16 countries that met our inclusion criteria and grouped them by health outcome (genotoxicity, neurobehavioral outcomes, placental outcomes and teratogenicity, cancer, thyroid function, reproductive outcomes, birth outcomes and child growth, and others).

RESULTS

Most published studies were conducted in Brazil (37%, n = 88 ) and Mexico (20%, n = 46 ), were cross-sectional in design (72%, n = 167 ), and focused on farmworkers (45%, n = 105 ) or children (21%, n = 48 ). The most frequently studied health effects included genotoxicity (24%, n = 62 ) and neurobehavioral outcomes (21%, n = 54 ), and organophosphate (OP) pesticides were the most frequently examined (26%, n = 81 ). Forty-seven percent (n = 112 ) of the studies relied only on indirect pesticide exposure assessment methods. Exposure to OP pesticides, carbamates, or to multiple pesticide classes was consistently associated with markers of genotoxicity and adverse neurobehavioral outcomes, particularly among children and farmworkers.

DISCUSSION

Our scoping review provides some evidence that exposure to pesticides may adversely impact the health of LAC populations, but methodological limitations and inconsistencies undermine the strength of the conclusions. It is critical to increase capacity building, integrate research initiatives, and conduct more rigorous epidemiological studies in the region to address these limitations, better inform public health surveillance systems, and maximize the impact of research on public policies. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9934.

Comparison of Estradiol, Testostosterone, and CYP19 Methylation Levels between Full-Term and Preterm Newborns

Estradiol (E), testosterone (T), and their ratio are crucial axis in life. Especially during intrauterine growth, they orchestrate the complex development of organs and their interaction, which have lifelong impact on health and an organism's capacity to respond to environmental stressors. The aim of this study was to compare for the first time E, T, and their ratio levels with aromatase (CYP19) gene methylation levels between preterm newborns (PN) and full-term newborns (FN) with respect to their mother's environmental exposure and diet. In this study, 56 FN of 37-42 weeks of gestation age (GA) and 46 PN at GA 27-36 weeks were analysed for E and T levels and CYP19A1 gene pI.3/II promoter region methylation. Results showed there was no difference in E levels between PN and FN, but there were significantly lower levels of T in PN than in FN (2.81 nmol vs. 3.76 nmol, respectively) and consequently a significantly higher E/T ratio in PN than in FN (5278.04 vs. 2891.23, respectively). CYP19A1 methylation was significantly lower in PN than in FN (86.04% vs. 90.04%, respectively). CYP19A1 methylation was significantly reduced in newborns whose mothers reported daily milk consumption. Our study is the first to provide referent values for CYP19A1 methylation levels in FN and PN and shows that PN and FN significantly differ in CYP19A1 methylation levels, T levels, and E/T ratio. Future research should further investigate the mechanisms involved in GA-dependent CYP19A1 methylation levels and mechanisms of sex hormone disturbances which may contribute to preterm birth.

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.

Residential proximity to pesticide applications in Argentine Patagonia: impact on pregnancy and newborn parameters

Among residents living close to agricultural fields who are potentially exposed to pesticides, pregnant women and their fetuses are of particular concern for their vulnerability to environmental chemicals. In this collaborative multicenter study, we covered a wide distribution of participants in the most important fruit production zone of north Patagonia (Argentina) to investigate whether maternal residential proximity to fruit croplands with intense pesticide applications (rural group -RG-) is associated with pregnancy complications and alterations in their newborn parameters compared to the urban population (urban group -UG-). A total of 776 pregnant women met the inclusion criteria. The percentage of threatened miscarriage was significantly higher in the RG than in the UG. The percentage of miscarriage, threat of premature labor, intrauterine fetal death, preterm premature rupture of membranes, and intrauterine growth retardation were similar in both groups. Newborn anthropometric parameters were corrected by sex and gestational age prior to statistical analysis. Length at birth and head circumference were lower in the RG than in the UG. Birth weight was similar in both groups. The percentage of head circumference less than the 5th percentile and the ponderal index were greater in the RG than in the UG. Our results suggest that proximity to pesticide applications may increase the risk of pregnancy complications and altered newborn parameters.

Characteristics of organic pollutants in source water and purification evaluations in drinking water treatment plants

The release of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) into water bodies has aroused wide concern in recent years. Little information on the characteristics of CECs to pose potential risks even at low concentrations in urban water systems of Shanghai is available. This study investigated the occurrence and spatial distribution in source water, as well as the fates by drinking water treatment processes for organic compounds including 35 pesticides, 17 antibiotics, 7 microcystins (MCs), and 10 disinfection by-products (DBPs). The similar trends across seasons for COD and TOC, the indicators for organic pollutants, indicated that the water qualities in three targeted reservoirs were relatively stable. COD in the R3 reservoir inlet was 1.3-2.4 times greater than that in the R1 and R2 reservoirs, possibly resulting from the inflow of the Taipu River as a tributary. Pesticides, particularly methamidophos and metabolites, macrolide and sulfonamide antibiotics, particularly roxithromycin, were frequently detected in Shanghai source water inlets. Pesticide concentrations were 2.58-3.66 μg/L much higher than antibiotics (8.6-47.6 ng/L). The results showed that MCs (ng/L) and DBPs (haloacetic acids, HAAs μg/L; N-nitrosodimethylamine, NDMA ng/L) were found to be in low detection frequencies. It was found that 51.1-74.6% of organic matters in source water were composed of molecular weight (MW) <1 kDa. The removal rates for the part of MW <1 kDa were only 11.7-12.3% through the conventional treatment processes, compared with higher removal rates of 23.5-28.5% by advanced treatment processes. Pesticides, antibiotics and MCs can be significantly removed by six drinking water treatment plants.