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Palir N, Stajnko A, Mazej D, France Štiglic A, Rosolen V, Mariuz M, Ronfani L, Snoj Tratnik J, Runkel AA, Tursunova V, Marc J, Prpić I, Špirić Z, Barbone F, Horvat M, Falnoga I. Maternal APOE ε2 as a possible risk factor for elevated prenatal Pb levels. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 260:119583. [PMID: 38992759 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) is a global contaminant associated with multiple adverse health effects. Humans are especially vulnerable during critical developmental stages. During pregnancy, exposure to Pb can occur through diet and release from maternal bones. Apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) variants (ɛ2, ɛ3, ɛ4 alleles) may influence sex steroid hormones, bone metabolism, and Pb kinetics. We examined the interplay among maternal APOE (mAPOE) genotypes, fetal sex, parity, and Pb in maternal and cord blood (mB-Pb, CB-Pb) using linear regression models. Our study involved 817 pregnant women and 772 newborns with measured adequate levels of zinc and selenium. We compared carriers of the ε2 and ε4 alleles to those with the ε3/ε3 genotype. The geometric means (range) of mB-Pb and CB-Pb were 11.1 (3.58-87.6) and 9.31 (1.82-47.0) ng/g, respectively. In cases with female fetuses, the maternal mAPOE ε2 allele was associated with higher, while the mAPOE ε4 allele was associated with lower mB-Pb and CB-Pb levels. Nulliparity increased the strength of the observed associations. These findings highlight the significance of mAPOE genetics, fetal sex, and parity in prenatal Pb kinetics. Notably, the maternal ε2 allele may increase the risk of Pb exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neža Palir
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Anja Stajnko
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Darja Mazej
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alenka France Štiglic
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Valentina Rosolen
- Central Directorate for Health, Social Policies and Disability, Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, 34124, Trieste, Italy
| | - Marika Mariuz
- Central Directorate for Health, Social Policies and Disability, Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, 34124, Trieste, Italy
| | - Luca Ronfani
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", 34137, Trieste, Italy
| | - Janja Snoj Tratnik
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Agneta Annika Runkel
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Janja Marc
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Igor Prpić
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia
| | | | - Fabio Barbone
- Central Directorate for Health, Social Policies and Disability, Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, 34124, Trieste, Italy; Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34129, Trieste, Italy
| | - Milena Horvat
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ingrid Falnoga
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Packull-McCormick S, Ashley-Martin J, Singh K, Fisher M, Arbuckle TE, Lanphear B, Laird BD, Muckle G, Booij L, Asztalos E, Walker M, Bouchard MF, Saint-Amour D, Boivin M, Borghese M. Prenatal and concurrent blood mercury concentrations and associations with IQ in canadian preschool children. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 233:116463. [PMID: 37343750 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal and childhood mercury (Hg) exposures have been associated with negative impacts on child neurodevelopment. It is unclear if associations persist at the low Hg exposures typical in Western countries. OBJECTIVE To examine associations between prenatal/childhood blood Hg concentrations and child IQ in Canadian male and female children while considering the potential modifying role of prenatal fish consumption. METHODS We analyzed data from the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals study. Hg was measured in first trimester (n = 527), cord (n = 430), and child (at 3-4 years of age, n = 355) blood and examined sex-stratified associations between blood Hg and children's Full Scale IQ (FSIQ), Verbal IQ (VIQ), Performance IQ (PIQ), and General Language Composite (GLC) scores (assessed with WPPSI-III). Prenatal Hg analyses were further stratified by prenatal fish consumption (low: 0-2, moderate: 3-7, or high: ≥8 times/month). RESULTS Higher cord blood Hg concentrations were associated with lower PIQ (ß = -3.27; 95%CI: 6.44, -0.09) in male children with the lowest prenatal fish consumption. Progressively stronger positive associations were observed with PIQ in male children for moderate (ß = 1.08; 95%CI: 0.10, 2.26) and high (ß = 3.07; 95%CI: 1.95, 4.19) prenatal fish consumption. Cord blood Hg concentrations were positively associated with female children's FSIQ (ß = 1.29; 95% CI: 0.77, 1.81) and PIQ (ß = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.19, 2.83); however, when stratified only in the highest fish consumption subgroup. Among female children, higher child blood Hg concentrations were associated with an approximately 1-point increase in FSIQ, VIQ, and GLC. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal exposure to low levels of Hg was associated with lower PIQ scores in male children with low prenatal fish intake. Positive associations between cord and child blood Hg concentrations and IQ were primarily observed in female children and may be due to beneficial effects of prenatal fish intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Packull-McCormick
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada; School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Jillian Ashley-Martin
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Kavita Singh
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Mandy Fisher
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Tye E Arbuckle
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | | | - Brian D Laird
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- Université Laval, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada; Quebec CHU Research Center, QC, G1E 6W2, Canada
| | - Linda Booij
- Research Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute & Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada; CHU Sainte-Justine Research Rentre, QC, H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Asztalos
- Department of Newborn & Developmental Paediatrics, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada
| | - Mark Walker
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Maryse F Bouchard
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Montreal School of Public Health, QC, H3N 1X9, Canada
| | | | | | - Michael Borghese
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada.
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Cediel-Ulloa A, Lindner S, Rüegg J, Broberg K. Epigenetics of methylmercury. Neurotoxicology 2023; 97:34-46. [PMID: 37164037 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2023.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Methylmercury (MeHg) is neurotoxic at high levels and particularly affects the developing brain. One proposed mechanism of MeHg neurotoxicity is alteration of the epigenetic programming. In this review, we summarise the experimental and epidemiological literature on MeHg-associated epigenetic changes. RECENT FINDINGS Experimental and epidemiological studies have identified changes in DNA methylation following in utero exposure to MeHg, and some of the changes appear to be persistent. A few studies have evaluated associations between MeHg-related changes in DNA methylation and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Experimental studies reveal changes in histone modifications after MeHg exposure, but we lack epidemiological studies supporting such changes in humans. Experimental and epidemiological studies have identified microRNA-related changes associated with MeHg; however, more research is needed to conclude if these changes lead to persistent and toxic effects. SUMMARY MeHg appears to interfere with epigenetic processes, potentially leading to persistent changes. However, observed associations of mercury with epigenetic changes are as of yet of unknown relevance to neurodevelopmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cediel-Ulloa
- Department of Organism Biology, Uppsala University, Kåbovägen 4, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sabrina Lindner
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Joëlle Rüegg
- Department of Organism Biology, Uppsala University, Kåbovägen 4, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Broberg
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Ruiz R, Estevan C, Estévez J, Alcaide C, Sogorb MA, Vilanova E. Reference Values on Children's Hair for 28 Elements (Heavy Metals and Essential Elements) Based on a Pilot Study in a Representative Non-Contaminated Local Area. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098127. [PMID: 37175834 PMCID: PMC10179086 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies have been published, and laboratories offer services of measuring elements in hair as biomarkers of environmental exposure and/or control of essential elements (trace or macro). These reported values can have only sense if compared with adopted reference values. In this work, we propose provisional reference values based on a pilot child population. The concentrations of 28 elements were measured in children's hair samples. An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in a typical child population in the Mediterranean region void of excessive pollution problems to analyze 419 hair samples of children aged 3-12 years. Children were selected by a simple random method from eight primary education schools in different municipal districts, which included urban, rural and industrial areas. Samples of around 100 mg were washed and acid digested by an optimized procedure. All measures were performed using ICP-MS with Sc, Y and Re as internal standards. The statistical analysis was performed by two approaches: (a) considering all the data and (b) without outliers (second-order atypical data) to compare them with other published studies. The distribution curves in all the elements studied were asymmetric and did not fit the theoretical normality distributions. Therefore, the analysis based on percentiles was more appropriate. In most elements, only slight differences were observed with sex or age, which did not justify proposing separate reference ranges. From the results of this study, provisional reference values are proposed following two criteria: (a) simple application of the table of percentiles built by removing outlier values and (b) values after a detailed analysis case-by-case, considering other data as the distribution profile and other published data of each element. Although the pilot sample was from a limited area, it was carefully selected to be representative of a general non-contaminated population. With this limitation, the proposed reference values might be useful for researchers and physicians until a wider geographical study is available for a large number of elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Ruiz
- Institute of Bioengineering, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Carmen Estevan
- Institute of Bioengineering, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Jorge Estévez
- Institute of Bioengineering, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Carolina Alcaide
- Institute of Bioengineering, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Miguel A Sogorb
- Institute of Bioengineering, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Eugenio Vilanova
- Institute of Bioengineering, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
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Cegolon L, Petranich E, Pavoni E, Floreani F, Barago N, Papassissa E, Larese Filon F, Covelli S. Concentration of mercury in human hair and associated factors in residents of the Gulf of Trieste (North-Eastern Italy). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:21425-21437. [PMID: 36269483 PMCID: PMC9938062 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23384-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea, Italy) is the coastal area of the Mediterranean Sea most highly contaminated by mercury (Hg) due to fluvial inputs from the Isonzo/Soča River system, draining over 500 years' worth of cinnabar extraction activity from the Idrija mining district (Western Slovenia). The aim of this research is to investigate the concentration of Hg in hair samples taken from the general population of the Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) Region coastal area, as a marker of chronic exposure to Hg. Three hundred and one individuals - 119 males and 182 females - were recruited by convenience sampling in Trieste in September 2021. An amount of approximately 100 mg of hair was collected from the occipital scalp of each participant to measure the respective Hg concentrations (expressed as mg/kg). Moreover, participants completed a self-report questionnaire collecting extensive socio-demographic and life-style information. A multiple linear regression analysis was employed to investigate factors associated with increased levels of Hg concentration in hair. A mean Hg concentration in hair of 1.63 mg/kg was found, slightly above the 1.0 mg/kg threshold recommended by the WHO for pregnant women and children, although still well below the no observed adverse effects level (NOAEL) of 10 mg/kg. Among respondents, 55.6% showed a Hg concentration in hair > 1 mg/kg, 22.9% > 2 mg/kg, and 2 participants exhibited Hg levels > 10 mg/kg. The adjusted mean hair Hg level increased in those subjects who reported a preference for shellfish/crayfish/mollusks (RC = 0.35; 95%CI: 0.16; 0.55), whereas it decreased in those who reported a preference for frozen fish (RC = -0.23; 95%CI: - 0.39; - 0.06). Though a risk alert for Hg exposure for coastal residents from FVG is deemed unnecessary at this time, it is recommended that pregnant women limit their ingestion of locally caught fish to < 4 servings/month.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Cegolon
- Occupational Medicine Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical & Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- Public Health Department, University Health Agency Giuliano-Isontina (ASUGI), Trieste, Italy
| | - Elisa Petranich
- Department of Mathematics & Geosciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Elena Pavoni
- Department of Mathematics & Geosciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Federico Floreani
- Department of Mathematics & Geosciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Nicolò Barago
- Department of Mathematics & Geosciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Elisa Papassissa
- Occupational Medicine Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical & Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Francesca Larese Filon
- Occupational Medicine Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical & Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Stefano Covelli
- Department of Mathematics & Geosciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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Association of Zn and Cu Levels in Cord Blood and Maternal Milk with Pregnancy Outcomes among the Slovenian Population. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14214667. [DOI: 10.3390/nu14214667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Trace elements, including zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu), are known to play important roles in human health. The present study aimed to assess the levels of Zn and Cu in cord blood and maternal milk and to analyze their association with maternal and infant characteristics and pregnancy outcomes in a Slovenian study population of mothers and their neonates recruited within the PHIME prospective cohort study. The study included 324 mothers, but the data on Zn and Cu levels in both cord blood and maternal milk was available for 243 mothers. Questionnaires were used to assess the socio-demographic and health status of the mothers, their lifestyle habits (including detailed nutritional habits), and their residential and occupational histories. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure Zn and Cu levels in cord blood and maternal milk. Low Zn levels in cord blood were associated with lower gestational age and birth weight and were correlated with an increased probability of the birth of small for gestational age (SGA) infants. Maternal smoking influenced the Cu levels in both cord blood and maternal milk. Cord blood Cu levels were higher and Cu levels in maternal milk were lower in smoking compared to non-smoking mothers. Most importantly, a decreased Zn/Cu ratio in cord blood was associated with lower gestational age and lower birth weight. This indicates the overall positive effects of Zn and negative effects of Cu on pregnancy outcomes.
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Cegolon L, Mastrangelo G, Covelli S, Petranich E, Pavoni E, Larese Filon F. Occupational exposure to mercury from cinnabar enriched sand in workers of Grado Beach, Gulf of Trieste (North-eastern Italy, upper Adriatic Sea). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 184:114057. [PMID: 36170761 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Health and safety of occupations entailing extensive skin contact with cinnabar-enriched sand in beaches of Friuli-Venezia Giulia (FVG) Region (North-eastern Italy) have been questioned for possible skin absorption of mercury (Hg). One hundred mg hair was collected from the occipital scalp of 50 male workers of Grado beach and 121 males from FVG general population. Factors associated with hair Hg content were investigated by multivariable logistic (considering Hg levels >1 vs ≤1 mg/kg) and log-transformed linear regression. The median hair concentration of Hg in male beach workers was 0.70 (IQR = 0.42; 1.34) mg/kg, lower than FVG general population's [1.29 (IQR = 0.87-2.06) mg/kg (p < 0.001)]. In both regression models the hair Hg increased with fish consumption, both among beach workers of Grado and FVG general population. The mean Hg levels in beach workers of Grado fell within an acceptable range, not requiring restrictions of their occupational activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Cegolon
- Occupational Medicine Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical & Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy; Public Health Department, University Health Agency Giuliano-Isontina (ASUGI), Trieste, Italy.
| | | | - Stefano Covelli
- Department of Mathematics and Geosciences, University of Trieste, Via Weiss 2, 34128 Trieste, Italy
| | - Elisa Petranich
- Department of Mathematics and Geosciences, University of Trieste, Via Weiss 2, 34128 Trieste, Italy
| | - Elena Pavoni
- Department of Mathematics and Geosciences, University of Trieste, Via Weiss 2, 34128 Trieste, Italy
| | - Francesca Larese Filon
- Occupational Medicine Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical & Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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Cediel-Ulloa A, Yu X, Hinojosa M, Johansson Y, Forsby A, Broberg K, Rüegg J. Methylmercury-induced DNA methylation—From epidemiological observations to experimental evidence. Front Genet 2022; 13:993387. [PMID: 36176303 PMCID: PMC9513252 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.993387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a developmental neurotoxicant, and one potential mechanism of MeHg toxicity is epigenetic dysregulation. In a recent meta-analysis of epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS), associations between prenatal MeHg exposure and DNA methylation at several genomic sites were identified in blood from newborns and children. While EWASs reveal human-relevant associations, experimental studies are required to validate the relationship between exposure and DNA methylation changes, and to assess if such changes have implications for gene expression. Herein, we studied DNA methylation and gene expression of five of the top genes identified in the EWAS meta-analysis, MED31, MRPL19, GGH, GRK1, and LYSMD3, upon MeHg exposure in human SH-SY5Y cells exposed to 8 or 40 nM of MeHg during differentiation, using bisulfite-pyrosequencing and qPCR, respectively. The concentrations were selected to cover the range of MeHg concentrations in cord blood (2–8.5 μg/L) observed in the cohorts included in the EWAS. Exposure to MeHg increased DNA methylation at MED31, a transcriptional regulator essential for fetal development. The results were in concordance with the epidemiological findings where more MED31 methylation was associated with higher concentrations of MeHg. Additionally, we found a non-significant decrease in DNA methylation at GGH, which corresponds to the direction of change observed in the EWAS, and a significant correlation of GGH methylation with its expression. In conclusion, this study corroborates some of the EWAS findings and puts forward candidate genes involved in MeHg’s effects on the developing brain, thus highlighting the value of experimental validation of epidemiological association studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ximiao Yu
- Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria Hinojosa
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ylva Johansson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Forsby
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karin Broberg
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joëlle Rüegg
- Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Joëlle Rüegg,
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Kao CS, Wang YL, Jiang CB, Chuang YC, Chen YH, Hsi HC, Chien LC. Associations of maternal food safety-related risk perceptions and protective behaviors with daily mercury intake and internal doses of Taiwanese women and their preschool children. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113344. [PMID: 35461849 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a well-known toxicant that can affect children's neurodevelopment. This study attempted to evaluate the internal dose of Hg in hair and fingernails and external Hg exposure from dietary consumption in 283 pairs of mothers and their children aged under 6 years in Taiwan. Mean Hg levels in hair and fingernail samples were 1.07 ± 0.67 and 0.42 ± 0.34 μg/g for mothers, and 1.11 ± 1.22 and 0.36 ± 0.26 μg/g for children, respectively. Our results showed that 42% of mothers and 41% of children had hair Hg levels exceeding the US Environmental Protection Agency recommended value of 1 μg/g. Hg exposure in children was greater than that of their mothers. Estimated daily intake (EDI) levels of Hg among preschool children were 3.3-times higher than those of their mothers. A sensitivity analysis indicated that fish consumption was the main potential factor of Hg exposure among both mothers and their children. External Hg exposure using estimated daily dietary ingestion by mothers was a surrogate for internal hair Hg concentrations. However, poor correlations were found between EDI Hg levels and hair Hg levels among children aged 4-6 years. Exposure sources from food and other media, such as soil and dust, need to be considered to arrive at more-valid risk assessments for younger children's exposure to Hg. Children of mothers who did not have food safety-related risk perceptions or protective behaviors had significantly higher hair Hg concentrations compared to children whose mothers had risk perceptions and protective behaviors. Hg exposure of women of childbearing age and preschool children in Taiwan is still an area of great concern. Providing food safety information and risk-benefits of fish consumption for mothers may avoid harm to the developing nervous systems of their children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Sian Kao
- School of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Lin Wang
- School of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chuen-Bin Jiang
- Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, MacKay Children's Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, MacKay Medical College, SanZhi District, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Chih Chuang
- School of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hua Chen
- School of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsing-Cheng Hsi
- Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Ling-Chu Chien
- School of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Neuroscience Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Nutrition Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
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10
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Wells EM, Kopylev L, Nachman R, Radke EG, Congleton J, Segal D. Total Blood Mercury Predicts Methylmercury Exposure in Fish and Shellfish Consumers. Biol Trace Elem Res 2022; 200:3867-3875. [PMID: 34686996 PMCID: PMC9200869 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-021-02968-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Many studies evaluating methylmercury (MeHg) toxicity rely on whole blood total mercury (THg) measurements to estimate MeHg exposure. However, whole blood THg includes other forms of mercury (Hg), such as inorganic Hg, which have different exposure sources and toxicological effects than MeHg. Therefore, estimating the whole blood MeHg/THg ratio is critical to predicting MeHg exposure and, subsequently, efforts to establish an exposure-response relationship for use in risk assessment. A large, representative dataset (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2016) was used to determine the whole blood MeHg/THg ratio among (a) self-reported fish and shellfish consumers, ≥ 15 years of age (the "full adult" population (N = 5268 training dataset; N = 2336 test dataset)) and (b) female fish and shellfish consumers, 15-44 years of age (the "women of reproductive age" population (N = 1285 training dataset; N = 560 test dataset)). Unadjusted and adjusted linear and spline models with direct measurements for both THg and MeHg were evaluated. The mean whole blood MeHg/THg ratio was 0.75 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.74, 0.75). This ratio was significantly higher among those with higher THg concentrations. All models exhibited excellent fit (adjusted R2 from 0.957 to 0.982). Performance was slightly improved in spline versus linear models. For the full adult population and women of reproductive age, the unadjusted spline model predicted whole blood MeHg concentrations of 5.65 µg/L and 5.55 µg/L, respectively, when the THg concentration was 5.80 µg/L. These results suggest that whole blood THg is a good predictor of whole blood MeHg among fish and shellfish consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen M. Wells
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN USA
- Department of Public Health, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN USA
| | - Leonid Kopylev
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC, NW 20460 USA
| | - Rebecca Nachman
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC, NW 20460 USA
| | - Elizabeth G. Radke
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC, NW 20460 USA
| | - Johanna Congleton
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC, NW 20460 USA
| | - Deborah Segal
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC, NW 20460 USA
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11
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Wei L, Huang H, Chen X, Wang X, Zhang R, Su L, Duan W, Rahman M, Golam Mostofa M, Qamruzzaman Q, Shen H, Hu Z, Wei Y, Christiani DC, Chen F. Umbilical cord serum elementomics of 52 trace elements and early childhood neurodevelopment: Evidence from a prospective birth cohort in rural Bangladesh. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 166:107370. [PMID: 35772314 PMCID: PMC9926395 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposures to neurotoxic metals and trace elements are associated with early childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes. However, consequences of simultaneous exposure to mixtures of elements remain unclear. OBJECTIVE To examine individual and joint effects of prenatal trace element exposure on early childhood neurodevelopment. METHODS Using a well-established Bangladesh prospective birth cohort (2008-2011), we measured concentrations of 52 trace elements in umbilical cord serum of 569 mother-infant pairs using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Neurodevelopment was evaluated at 20-40 months of age using Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition. Stability elastic net (ENET) was used to screen elements individually associated with the outcome; candidate exposures were combined by weighted linear combination to form a risk score representing their mixture effect on early childhood neurodevelopment. RESULTS Stability ENET identified 15 trace elements associated with cognitive composite score and 14 associated with motor composite score, which were linearly combined to form the element risk score (ERS). Children with higher ERScognitive had lower probability of cognitive developmental delay (ORhighest vs lowest: 0.21; 95 %CI: 0.10, 0.40; P < 0.001; Ptrend < 0.001). Children with ERSmotor in the top quintile had a significantly lower risk of motor developmental delay (OR: 0.16; 95 %CI: 0.09, 0.31; P < 0.001; Ptrend < 0.001) versus the lowest quintile. In Bayesian kernel machine regression analyses, lithium [conditional posterior inclusion probability (cPIP) = 0.68], aluminum (cPIP = 0.83) and iron (cPIP = 1.00) contributed most to the lower cognitive composite score; zinc (cPIP = 1.00), silver (cPIP = 0.81), and antimony (cPIP = 0.65) mainly contributed to the change of motor composite score. CONCLUSION Co-exposure to lithium/aluminum/iron or zinc/silver/antimony appears to impact children's neurodevelopment. ERS score reflecting maternal exposure could indicate children's risk of neurodevelopmental delay, warranting further studies to explore the underlying mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangmin Wei
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Hui Huang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Ruyang Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Li Su
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Weiwei Duan
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | | | | | | | - Hongbing Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; China International Cooperation Center for Environment and Human Health, Center of Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Zhibin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; China International Cooperation Center for Environment and Human Health, Center of Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Yongyue Wei
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; China International Cooperation Center for Environment and Human Health, Center of Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.
| | - David C Christiani
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA; China International Cooperation Center for Environment and Human Health, Center of Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.
| | - Feng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; China International Cooperation Center for Environment and Human Health, Center of Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.
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12
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Love TM, Wahlberg K, Pineda D, Watson GE, Zareba G, Thurston SW, Davidson PW, Shamlaye CF, Myers GJ, Rand M, van Wijngaarden E, Broberg K. Contribution of child ABC-transporter genetics to prenatal MeHg exposure and neurodevelopment. Neurotoxicology 2022; 91:228-233. [PMID: 35654246 PMCID: PMC9723801 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2022.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is emerging evidence that exposure to prenatal methylmercury (MeHg) from maternal fish consumption during pregnancy can differ between individuals due to genetic variation. In previous studies, we have reported that maternal polymorphisms in ABC-transporter genes were associated with maternal hair MeHg concentrations, and with children's early neurodevelopmental tests. In this study, we add to these findings by evaluating the contribution of genetic variation in children's ABC-transporter genes to prenatal MeHg exposure and early child neurodevelopmental tests. METHODS We genotyped six polymorphisms (rs2032582, rs10276499 and rs1202169 in ABCB1; rs11075290 and rs215088 in ABCC1; rs717620 in ABCC2) in DNA from cord blood and maternal blood of the Seychelles Child Development Study Nutrition Cohort 2. We determined prenatal MeHg exposure by measuring total mercury (Hg) in cord blood by atomic fluorescence spectrometry. We assessed neurodevelopment in children at approximately 20 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID-II). We used linear regression models to analyze covariate-adjusted associations of child genotype with cord MeHg and BSID-II outcomes (Mental Developmental and Psychomotor Developmental Indexes). We also evaluated interactions between genotypes, cord MeHg, and neurodevelopmental outcomes. All models were run with and without adjustment for maternal genotype. RESULTS Of the six evaluated polymorphisms, only ABCC1 rs11075290 was associated with cord blood MeHg; children homozygous for the T-allele had on average 29.99 µg/L MeHg in cord blood while those homozygous for the C-allele had on average 38.06 µg/L MeHg in cord blood (p < 0.001). No polymorphisms in the children were associated with either subscale of the BSID. However, the association between cord MeHg and the Mental Developmental Index (MDI) of the BSID differed significantly across the three genotypes of ABCB1 rs10276499 (2df F-test, p = 0.045). With increasing cord MeHg, the MDI decreased (slope=-0.091, p = 0.014) among children homozygous for the rare C-allele. CONCLUSIONS These findings support the possibility that child ABC genetics might influence prenatal MeHg exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanzy M Love
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Karin Wahlberg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, 22185 Lund, Sweden
| | - Daniela Pineda
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, 22185 Lund, Sweden
| | - Gene E Watson
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Grazyna Zareba
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Sally W Thurston
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Philip W Davidson
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Conrad F Shamlaye
- The Child Development Centre, Ministry of Health, Mahé, Republic of Seychelles
| | - Gary J Myers
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Matthew Rand
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Edwin van Wijngaarden
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Karin Broberg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, 22185 Lund, Sweden; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Metals and Health, Box 210, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
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13
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Cossa D, Knoery J, Bănaru D, Harmelin-Vivien M, Sonke JE, Hedgecock IM, Bravo AG, Rosati G, Canu D, Horvat M, Sprovieri F, Pirrone N, Heimbürger-Boavida LE. Mediterranean Mercury Assessment 2022: An Updated Budget, Health Consequences, and Research Perspectives. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:3840-3862. [PMID: 35244390 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) and especially its methylated species (MeHg) are toxic chemicals that contaminate humans via the consumption of seafood. The most recent UNEP Global Mercury Assessment stressed that Mediterranean populations have higher Hg levels than people elsewhere in Europe. The present Critical Review updates current knowledge on the sources, biogeochemical cycling, and mass balance of Hg in the Mediterranean and identifies perspectives for future research especially in the context of global change. Concentrations of Hg in the Western Mediterranean average 0.86 ± 0.27 pmol L-1 in the upper water layer and 1.02 ± 0.12 pmol L-1 in intermediate and deep waters. In the Eastern Mediterranean, Hg measurements are in the same range but are too few to determine any consistent oceanographical pattern. The Mediterranean waters have a high methylation capacity, with MeHg representing up to 86% of the total Hg, and constitute a source of MeHg for the adjacent North Atlantic Ocean. The highest MeHg concentrations are associated with low oxygen water masses, suggesting a microbiological control on Hg methylation, consistent with the identification of hgcA-like genes in Mediterranean waters. MeHg concentrations are twice as high in the waters of the Western Basin compared to the ultra-oligotrophic Eastern Basin waters. This difference appears to be transferred through the food webs and the Hg content in predators to be ultimately controlled by MeHg concentrations of the waters of their foraging zones. Many Mediterranean top-predatory fish still exceed European Union regulatory Hg thresholds. This emphasizes the necessity of monitoring the exposure of Mediterranean populations, to formulate adequate mitigation strategies and recommendations, without advising against seafood consumption. This review also points out other insufficiencies of knowledge of Hg cycling in the Mediterranean Sea, including temporal variations in air-sea exchange, hydrothermal and cold seep inputs, point sources, submarine groundwater discharge, and exchanges between margins and the open sea. Future assessment of global change impacts under the Minamata Convention Hg policy requires long-term observations and dedicated high-resolution Earth System Models for the Mediterranean region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Cossa
- Université Grenoble Alpes, ISTerre, CS 40700, 38058 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Joël Knoery
- Ifremer, Centre Atlantique de Nantes, BP 44311, 44980 Nantes, France
| | - Daniela Bănaru
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS/INSU, Université de Toulon, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Mireille Harmelin-Vivien
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS/INSU, Université de Toulon, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Jeroen E Sonke
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP)/Université de Toulouse, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Ian M Hedgecock
- Istituto sull'inquinamento atmosferico, CNR-IIA, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | | | - Ginevra Rosati
- Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisca Sperimentale (OGS), 34010 Trieste, Italy
| | - Donata Canu
- Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisca Sperimentale (OGS), 34010 Trieste, Italy
| | | | | | - Nicola Pirrone
- Istituto sull'inquinamento atmosferico, CNR-IIA, 87036 Rende, Italy
| | - Lars-Eric Heimbürger-Boavida
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS/INSU, Université de Toulon, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France
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14
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de Weerth C, Aatsinki AK, Azad MB, Bartol FF, Bode L, Collado MC, Dettmer AM, Field CJ, Guilfoyle M, Hinde K, Korosi A, Lustermans H, Mohd Shukri NH, Moore SE, Pundir S, Rodriguez JM, Slupsky CM, Turner S, van Goudoever JB, Ziomkiewicz A, Beijers R. Human milk: From complex tailored nutrition to bioactive impact on child cognition and behavior. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2022; 63:7945-7982. [PMID: 35352583 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2053058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Human milk is a highly complex liquid food tailor-made to match an infant's needs. Beyond documented positive effects of breastfeeding on infant and maternal health, there is increasing evidence that milk constituents also impact child neurodevelopment. Non-nutrient milk bioactives would contribute to the (long-term) development of child cognition and behavior, a process termed 'Lactocrine Programming'. In this review we discuss the current state of the field on human milk composition and its links with child cognitive and behavioral development. To promote state-of-the-art methodologies and designs that facilitate data pooling and meta-analytic endeavors, we present detailed recommendations and best practices for future studies. Finally, we determine important scientific gaps that need to be filled to advance the field, and discuss innovative directions for future research. Unveiling the mechanisms underlying the links between human milk and child cognition and behavior will deepen our understanding of the broad functions of this complex liquid food, as well as provide necessary information for designing future interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina de Weerth
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Anna-Katariina Aatsinki
- FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Turku Brain and Mind Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Meghan B Azad
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre, Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Frank F Bartol
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
| | - Lars Bode
- Department of Pediatrics and Mother-Milk-Infant Center of Research Excellence (MOMI CORE), University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Maria Carmen Collado
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology-National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Amanda M Dettmer
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Catherine J Field
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Meagan Guilfoyle
- Department of Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Katie Hinde
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Aniko Korosi
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, Brain Plasticity group, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hellen Lustermans
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nurul Husna Mohd Shukri
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sophie E Moore
- Department of Women & Children's Health, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK
- School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nutrition Theme, MRC Unit The Gambia and the London, Fajara, The GambiaBanjul
| | - Shikha Pundir
- The Liggins Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Juan Miguel Rodriguez
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carolyn M Slupsky
- Department of Nutrition and Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Sarah Turner
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Manitoba Interdisciplinary Lactation Centre, Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Johannes B van Goudoever
- Department of Pediatrics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anna Ziomkiewicz
- Department of Anthropology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Roseriet Beijers
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Social Development, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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15
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Dack K, Fell M, Taylor CM, Havdahl A, Lewis SJ. Prenatal Mercury Exposure and Neurodevelopment up to the Age of 5 Years: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19041976. [PMID: 35206164 PMCID: PMC8871549 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19041976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental delays can interfere with children’s engagement with the world and further development, and may have negative consequences into adulthood. Mercury is highly toxic and may negatively influence neurodevelopment because it can freely cross the placenta and accumulate in the fetal brain. We searched four publication databases (Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus) for studies examining the relationship between early life mercury exposure and scores on neurodevelopmental performance measures in children aged 0 to 5 years old. Study quality was assessed using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Quality Assessment Tool. Thirty-two prospective studies were included in the review. Neurodevelopmental performance was measured using 23 different scales, most commonly the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID). In most cases, the evidence for an association between mercury and neurodevelopment was weak. There did not appear to be exceptions for particular childhood ages, outcome scales, or mercury levels. The small number of results to the contrary were more likely to be studies which did not meet our high-quality criteria, and could be a consequence of multiple testing, selection bias, or incomplete confounder adjustment. Based on current evidence, dietary mercury exposure during pregnancy is unlikely to be a risk factor for low neurodevelopmental functioning in early childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Dack
- Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK
- Correspondence:
| | - Matthew Fell
- Cleft Collective, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK;
| | - Caroline M. Taylor
- Centre for Academic Child Health, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK;
| | - Alexandra Havdahl
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0213 Oslo, Norway;
- Nic Waals Institute, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, 0853 Oslo, Norway
| | - Sarah J. Lewis
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TH, UK;
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16
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Al-Saleh I. Health Risk Assessment of Trace Metals Through Breast Milk Consumption in Saudi Arabia. Biol Trace Elem Res 2021; 199:4535-4545. [PMID: 33544311 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-021-02607-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
We previously measured the levels of inorganic mercury, methylmercury, lead, cadmium, and manganese in the breast milk of 203 healthy Saudi mothers who participated in a cross-sectional study between 2011 and 2013. The current study aimed to (1) calculate reference values (RVs) for these metals in breast milk based on the 95th percentile of the metal and the corresponding 95% confidence interval following the approach of the German Human Biomonitoring Commission, and (2) assess the health risk associated with these metals (except lead) by determining the hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) for breastfed infants. The risk characterization for the lead was applied using the margin of exposure (MOE) approach. Moreover, the cancer risk (CR) associated with lead was calculated. The RV95s (percentage of samples for which the value was higher than the set value) for inorganic mercury, methylmercury, total mercury, cadmium, lead, and manganese in breast milk (μg/L) were 1.5 (7.9%), 1.5 (5.4%), 2.8 (8.9%), 2.5 (8.4%), 53 (11.3%), and 22.3 (11.8%) μg/L, respectively. The methylmercury, lead, and manganese levels in the present study were higher than those reported previously. The HQ for methylmercury greater than 1 was found in 68.5% of the samples, indicating there may be a potential non-carcinogenic health risk of infant exposure to the toxic metal via breast milk consumption. Despite the high cadmium and manganese levels in breast milk, our results suggested no health risk (HQ < 1). The HI representing the combined non-carcinogenic health risk of four metals was > 1, with methylmercury (74%) being the major contributor. The estimated MOE mean value of 0.134, less than 1, indicates that our breastfed infants may be at increased risk of neurodevelopmental impairments. The CR for lead in two infants was higher than the acceptable level of 1 × 10-4. Although our results may suggest potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of infant exposure to toxic metals through breast milk consumption, the benefits of breastfeeding are well recognized and outweigh the potential risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iman Al-Saleh
- Environmental Health Program, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, PO Box: 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia.
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17
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Vilcins D, Cortes-Ramirez J, Currie D, Preston P. Early environmental exposures and life-long risk of chronic non-respiratory disease. Paediatr Respir Rev 2021; 40:33-38. [PMID: 34140237 DOI: 10.1016/j.prrv.2021.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to environmental hazards occurs from the earliest stages of development. There are a broad range of environmental hazards, and virtually all children are exposed to these hazards during the critical period of growth and development. The burden of many chronic diseases continues to rise, and life course studies have shown that early exposure to environmental hazards is associated with non-communicable disease in later years. This review will discuss the environmental exposures associated with four non-respiratory chronic diseases: obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and neurodevelopmental /neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dwan Vilcins
- Children's Health and Environment Program, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Javier Cortes-Ramirez
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - Paige Preston
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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18
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Ismail OI, El-Meligy MMS. Could Vitamin C Protect Against Mercuric Chloride Induced Lung Toxicity In The Offspring Rat: A Histological And Immunohistochemical Study. Ultrastruct Pathol 2021; 45:197-211. [PMID: 34315326 DOI: 10.1080/01913123.2021.1954118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is one of the most toxic heavy metals and widely utilized in various industries. Hg exposure causes serious health impacts through unfavorable pathological and biochemical effects. We aimed to assess the effect of mercuric chloride (HgCl2) prenatal exposure on the lung development and probable prophylactic effect of vitamin C. The 30 pregnant rats were used in this work and divided randomly into 3 equal groups: Group Ӏ given distilled water, Group ӀӀ given HgCl2 at dose of 4 mg/ BW/day and Group ӀӀӀ given HgCl2 and Vitamin C at dose of 200 mg/kg BW/day. The pups of each group at birth were collected, counted and weighted then lung specimens were extracted, weighted, anaesthetized and processed for the light, electron microscopic and immunohistochemical studies. Also, morphometric studies were performed. We found that prenatal HgCl2 exposure caused collapse of alveoli, thick interalveolar septa, degenerated type Ӏ and type Ӏ pneumocytes, extensive extravasation of RBCs, extensive collagen fibers deposition, positive iNOS immunoreaction and significant decrease in the body and lung weights. Vitamin C concomitant administration partially reversed HgCl2 induced lung degeneration. We concluded that prenatal HgCl2 exposure caused lung damage and vitamin C had protective effects against HgCl2 indued pulmonary toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omnia I Ismail
- Lecturer of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Manal M S El-Meligy
- Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez University, Suez, Egypt
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19
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Nutrient Intake during Pregnancy and Adherence to Dietary Recommendations: The Mediterranean PHIME Cohort. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13051434. [PMID: 33923157 PMCID: PMC8146946 DOI: 10.3390/nu13051434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Few studies provide a detailed description of dietary habits during pregnancy, despite the central role of nutrition for the health of the mother and offspring. This paper describes the dietary habits, energy and nutrient intake in pregnant women from four countries belonging to the Mediterranean PHIME cohort (Croatia, Greece, Italy and Slovenia) and evaluates their adherence to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommendations. A total of 1436 women were included in the present analysis. Maternal diet was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The mean macro and micronutrient intakes were estimated and compared with the dietary reference values (DRVs). The percentage distribution of the 16 food groups in the total intake of each macronutrient was estimated. All women shared a similar diet during pregnancy; almost all the women in the four countries exceeded the DRV for sugars, and the total fat intake was above the DRV in most women in all the countries, as was the contribution of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) to the total energy intake. In all four countries, we observed an increased risk of micronutrient deficiency for iron, folate and vitamin D. Shared guidelines, implemented at both the national and European level, are essential to improve the maternal nutritional status during pregnancy.
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Nyanza EC, Bernier FP, Martin JW, Manyama M, Hatfield J, Dewey D. Effects of prenatal exposure and co-exposure to metallic or metalloid elements on early infant neurodevelopmental outcomes in areas with small-scale gold mining activities in Northern Tanzania. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 149:106104. [PMID: 32948351 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is associated with release of neurotoxic metallic or metalloid chemical elements including lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As). OBJECTIVE To examine associations between prenatal exposure and co-exposure to total lead (T-Pb), total mercury (T-Hg), total cadmium (T-Cd) and total arsenic (T-As) and infant neurodevelopment at 6 to 12 months of age in areas with ASGM activities in Tanzania. METHODS Women in their second trimester of pregnancy who resided in ASGM areas were enrolled from 2015 to 2017 (n = 883). At 6 to 12 months of age, children were assessed with the Malawi Developmental Assessment Tool (MDAT) (n = 439). We measured T-Pb, T-Hg, and T-Cd in maternal dried blood spots and T-As in maternal urines. Poisson regression was used to examine associations between prenatal concentrations of these elements and neurodevelopmental outcomes. RESULTS Prenatal T-Hg concentration was associated with global neurodevelopment status (aPR 1.03, CI:1.01-1.04; p < 0.001) and language impairment (aPR 1.05, CI:1.03-1.07; p < 0.001) on the MDAT. When prenatal T-Hg and T-As values were at or above the human biomonitoring reference values (≥95%) of the German Environmental Survey for Human Biomonitoring, that is 0.80 µg/L and 15 µg/L, respectively, the prevalence ratio of global neurodevelopmental impairment was two times higher (aPR 2.1, CI:1.0-4.3; p = 0.034). There was a 40% increase in the prevalence ratio of global neurodevelopmental impairment (aPR 1.4, CI:0.90-2.10, p = 0.027), when prenatal T-Hg was at or above the reference value of 0.80 µg/L and T-Pb was at or above the reference value of 35 µg/L. When prenatal T-Hg was at or above the reference value of 0.80 µg/L and T-As was at or above the reference value of 15 µg/L, the prevalence ratio of global neurodevelopmental impairment was two times higher (aPR 2.1, CI:1.0-4.3; p < 0.034). DISCUSSION Infants born to women in areas with ASGM activities are at significant risk for neurodevelopmental impairment and this is associated with exposure to higher concentrations of Hg prenatally. Co-exposure to high concentrations of Hg and Pb, or Hg and As appeared to have negative potentiated effects on infants' neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias C Nyanza
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada; Department of Environmental, Occupational Health and GIS, School of Public Health, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 1464, Bugando, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Francois P Bernier
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Calgary, Alberta Children's Hospital, 28 Oki Drive NW, Calgary, AB T3B 6A8, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, 3330 Hospital Drive NW University of Calgary, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Room 294, Heritage Medical Research Building, 3330 Hospital Drive, NW Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Jonathan W Martin
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Mange Manyama
- Division of Medical Education, Weill-Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Jennifer Hatfield
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Deborah Dewey
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, University of Calgary, Alberta Children's Hospital, 28 Oki Drive NW, Calgary, AB T3B 6A8, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, 3330 Hospital Drive NW University of Calgary, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Room 294, Heritage Medical Research Building, 3330 Hospital Drive, NW Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Owerko Centre, #397 Child Development Centre, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
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21
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Strain JJ, Love TM, Yeates AJ, Weller D, Mulhern MS, McSorley EM, Thurston SW, Watson GE, Mruzek D, Broberg K, Rand MD, Henderson J, Shamlaye CF, Myers GJ, Davidson PW, van Wijngaarden E. Associations of prenatal methylmercury exposure and maternal polyunsaturated fatty acid status with neurodevelopmental outcomes at 7 years of age: results from the Seychelles Child Development Study Nutrition Cohort 2. Am J Clin Nutr 2021; 113:304-313. [PMID: 33330939 PMCID: PMC7851824 DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqaa338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fish is a primary source of protein and n-3 PUFA but also contains methylmercury (MeHg), a naturally occurring neurotoxicant to which, at sufficient exposure levels, the developing fetal brain is particularly sensitive. OBJECTIVES To examine the association between prenatal MeHg and maternal status of n-3 and n-6 PUFA with neurodevelopment, and to determine whether PUFA might modify prenatal MeHg associations with neurodevelopment. METHODS We examined the Seychelles Child Development Study Nutrition Cohort 2 (NC2) at age 7 y. We used a sophisticated and extensive neurodevelopmental test battery that addressed 17 specific outcomes in multiple neurodevelopmental domains: cognition, executive and psychomotor function, language development, behavior, scholastic achievement, and social communication. Analyses were undertaken on 1237 mother-child pairs with complete covariate data (after exclusions) and a measure of at least 1 outcome. We examined the main and interactive associations of prenatal MeHg exposure (measured as maternal hair mercury) and prenatal PUFA status (measured in maternal serum at 28 weeks' gestation) on child neurodevelopmental outcomes using linear regression models. We applied the Bonferroni correction to account for multiple comparisons and considered P values <0.0029 to be statistically significant. RESULTS Prenatal MeHg exposure and maternal DHA and arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) (AA) status were not significantly associated with any neurodevelopmental outcomes. Findings for 4 outcomes encompassing executive function, cognition, and linguistic skills suggested better performance with an increasing maternal n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio (P values ranging from 0.004 to 0.05), but none of these associations were significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons. No significant interaction between MeHg exposure and PUFA status was present. CONCLUSIONS Our findings do not support an association between prenatal MeHg exposure or maternal DHA and AA status with neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 7 y. The roles of n-6 and n-3 PUFA in child neurodevelopment need further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- JJ Strain
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food & Health, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Tanzy M Love
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Alison J Yeates
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food & Health, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Weller
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Maria S Mulhern
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food & Health, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Emeir M McSorley
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food & Health, Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Sally W Thurston
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Gene E Watson
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Daniel Mruzek
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Karin Broberg
- Unit of Metals and Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Metals and Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Laboratory of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Matthew D Rand
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Gary J Myers
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Philip W Davidson
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
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22
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Cediel Ulloa A, Gliga A, Love TM, Pineda D, Mruzek DW, Watson GE, Davidson PW, Shamlaye CF, Strain JJ, Myers GJ, van Wijngaarden E, Ruegg J, Broberg K. Prenatal methylmercury exposure and DNA methylation in seven-year-old children in the Seychelles Child Development Study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 147:106321. [PMID: 33340986 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methylmercury (MeHg) is present in fish and is a neurotoxicant at sufficiently high levels. One potential mechanism of MeHg toxicity early in life is epigenetic dysregulation that may affect long-term neurodevelopment. Altered DNA methylation of nervous system-related genes has been associated with adult mental health outcomes. OBJECTIVE To assess associations between prenatal MeHg exposure and DNA methylation (at the cytosine of CG dinucleotides, CpGs) in three nervous system-related genes, encoding brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), glutamate receptor subunit NR2B (GRIN2B), and the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1), in children who were exposed to MeHg in utero. METHODS We tested 406 seven-year-old Seychellois children participating in the Seychelles Child Development Study (Nutrition Cohort 2), who were prenatally exposed to MeHg from maternal fish consumption. Total mercury in maternal hair (prenatal MeHg exposure measure) collected during pregnancy was measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Methylation in DNA from the children's saliva was measured by pyrosequencing. To assess associations between prenatal MeHg exposure and CpG methylation at seven years of age, we used multivariable linear regression models adjusted for covariates. RESULTS We identified associations with prenatal MeHg exposure for DNA methylation of one GRIN2B CpG and two NR3C1 CpGs out of 12 total CpG sites. Higher prenatal MeHg was associated with higher methylation for each CpG site. For example, NR3C1 CpG3 had an expected increase of 0.03-fold for each additional 1 ppm of prenatal MeHg (B = 0.030, 95% CI 0.001, 0.059; p = 0.047). Several CpG sites associated with MeHg are located in transcription factor binding sites and the observed methylation changes are predicted to lead to lower gene expression. CONCLUSIONS In a population of people who consume large amounts of fish, we showed that higher prenatal MeHg exposure was associated with differential DNA methylation at seven years of age at specific CpG sites that may influence neurodevelopment and mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cediel Ulloa
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Organism Biology, Uppsala University, Kåbovägen 4, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anda Gliga
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tanzy M Love
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Daniela Pineda
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Scheelevägen 8, 22185 Lund, Sweden
| | - Daniel W Mruzek
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Gene E Watson
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Philip W Davidson
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | | | - J J Strain
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland Bt52 1SA, UK
| | - Gary J Myers
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Edwin van Wijngaarden
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Joelle Ruegg
- Department of Organism Biology, Uppsala University, Kåbovägen 4, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Broberg
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Scheelevägen 8, 22185 Lund, Sweden.
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23
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Papaioannou N, Distel E, de Oliveira E, Gabriel C, Frydas IS, Anesti O, Attignon EA, Odena A, Díaz R, Aggerbeck Μ, Horvat M, Barouki R, Karakitsios S, Sarigiannis DA. Multi-omics analysis reveals that co-exposure to phthalates and metals disturbs urea cycle and choline metabolism. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 192:110041. [PMID: 32949613 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the response of HepaRG cells after co-exposure to phthalates and heavy metals, using a high-dimensional biology paradigm (HDB). Liver is the main metabolism site for the majority of xenobiotics. For this reason, the HepaRG cell line was used as an in vitro model, and cells were exposed to two characteristic mixtures of phthalates and heavy metals containing phthalates (DEHP, DiNP, BBzP) and metals (lead, methylmercury, total mercury) in a concentration-dependent manner. The applied chemical mixtures were selected as the most abundant pollutants in the REPRO_PL and PHIME cohorts, which were studied using the exposome-wide approach in the frame of the EU project HEALS. These studies investigated the environmental causation of neurodevelopmental disorders in neonates and across Europe. The INTEGRA computational platform was used for the calculation of the effective concentrations of the chemicals in the liver through extrapolation from human biomonitoring data and this dose (and a ten-times higher one) was applied to the hepatocyte model. Multi-omics analysis was performed to reveal the genes, proteins, and metabolites affected by the exposure to these chemical mixtures. By extension, we could detect the perturbed metabolic pathways. The generated data were analyzed using advanced bioinformatic tools following the HEALS connectivity paradigm for multi-omics pathway analysis. Co-mapped transcriptomics and proteomics data showed that co-exposure to phthalates and heavy metals leads to perturbations of the urea cycle due to differential expression levels of arginase-1 and -2, argininosuccinate synthase, carbamoyl-phosphate synthase, ornithine carbamoyltransferase, and argininosuccinate lyase. Joint pathway analysis of proteomics and metabolomics data revealed that the detected proteins and metabolites, choline phosphate cytidylyltransferase A, phospholipase D3, group XIIA secretory phospholipase A2, α-phosphatidylcholine, and the a 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, are responsible for the homeostasis of the metabolic pathways phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis I, and phospholipases metabolism. The urea, phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis I and phospholipase metabolic pathways are of particular interest since they have been identified also in human samples from the REPRO_PL and PHIME cohorts using untargeted metabolomics analysis and have been associated with impaired psychomotor development in children at the age of two. In conclusion, this study provides the mechanistic evidence that co-exposure to phthalates and metals disturb biochemical processes related to mitochondrial respiration during critical developmental stages, which are clinically linked to neurodevelopmental perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nafsika Papaioannou
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece; HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001, Greece
| | - Emilie Distel
- INSERM UMR-S 1124, 45 Rue des Saints Pères, 75006, Paris, France; Université de Paris, 45 Rue des Saints Pères, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Eliandre de Oliveira
- Barcelona Science Park, Proteomics Platform, Barcelona Science Park, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Catherine Gabriel
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece; HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001, Greece
| | - Ilias S Frydas
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece; HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001, Greece
| | - Ourania Anesti
- HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001, Greece; Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, 71003, Greece
| | - Eléonore A Attignon
- INSERM UMR-S 1124, 45 Rue des Saints Pères, 75006, Paris, France; Université de Paris, 45 Rue des Saints Pères, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Antonia Odena
- Barcelona Science Park, Proteomics Platform, Barcelona Science Park, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramon Díaz
- Barcelona Science Park, Proteomics Platform, Barcelona Science Park, Barcelona, Spain; Proteomics Facility, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Μartine Aggerbeck
- INSERM UMR-S 1124, 45 Rue des Saints Pères, 75006, Paris, France; Université de Paris, 45 Rue des Saints Pères, 75006, Paris, France
| | | | - Robert Barouki
- INSERM UMR-S 1124, 45 Rue des Saints Pères, 75006, Paris, France; Université de Paris, 45 Rue des Saints Pères, 75006, Paris, France; Service de Biochimie Métabolomique et Protéomique, Hôpital Universitaire Necker Enfants Malades, AP-HP, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Spyros Karakitsios
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece; HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001, Greece
| | - Denis A Sarigiannis
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece; HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001, Greece; School for Advanced Study (IUSS), Science, Technology and Society Department, Environmental Health Engineering, Piazza Della Vittoria 15, Pavia, 27100, Italy.
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Bauer JA, Fruh V, Howe CG, White RF, Henn BC. Associations of metals and neurodevelopment: a review of recent evidence on susceptibility factors. CURR EPIDEMIOL REP 2020; 7:237-262. [PMID: 33777647 PMCID: PMC7993302 DOI: 10.1007/s40471-020-00249-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Epidemiologic evidence exists that many metals are associated with adverse neurobehavioral effects in young children, including lead (Pb), methylmercury (meHg), manganese (Mn) and arsenic (As)5-8. Importantly, chemical insult can vary depending on host factors and exposure circumstance. This systematic review summarizes the recent literature investigating modifying factors of the associations between metals and neurodevelopment, including immutable traits (sex or genetics) or exposure conditions (timing or co-exposures). RECENT FINDINGS Of the 53 studies included in this review, the number investigating modification of exposure effects were: 30 for sex, 21 for co-exposures, 12 for timing of exposure, and six for genetic modifiers. Sex-specific effects of metal-neurobehavioral associations were inconclusive for all metals, likely due to the heterogeneity of outcome domains assessed and the exposure time points measured. Seven studies evaluated both sex and exposure timing as modifying factors using deciduous teeth or other biomarkers with repeated measures to characterize metals exposure over time. Only five studies used statistical methods for mixtures to evaluate associations of more than two metals with neurobehavioral domains. SUMMARY Despite the expansion of research on susceptibility to the neurodevelopmental effects of metals exposure, considerable gaps remain. This work remains critical, as characterizing susceptible subpopulations can aid in identifying biological mechanisms and is fundamental for the protection of public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia A Bauer
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Victoria Fruh
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Caitlin G Howe
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, NH, USA
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Roberta F White
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Birgit Claus Henn
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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25
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Trdin A, Snoj Tratnik J, Stajnko A, Marc J, Mazej D, Sešek Briški A, Kastelec D, Prpić I, Petrović O, Špirić Z, Horvat M, Falnoga I. Trace elements and APOE polymorphisms in pregnant women and their new-borns. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 143:105626. [PMID: 32622117 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the relationship between lipid binding glycoprotein apolipoprotein E (apoE; gene APOE) polymorphisms (ε4 allele carriers versus no carriers = ε4+/ε4-) and trace elements (TEs) (e.g., (methyl)mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium, selenium, manganese, copper, and zinc) in mothers (N = 223) and their new-borns (N = 213) exposed to potentially toxic metal(loid)s from seafood consumption. The apoE isoform encoded by the ε4 allele is believed to have beneficial effects in early life but represents a risk factor for age-associated diseases. Under certain conditions ε4 carriers are more susceptible to oxidative stress and metal(loid) toxicity. DNA from Croatian pregnant women (N = 223, third trimester) and their new-borns (N = 176), was genotyped for APOE by TaqMan® SNP assay - rs429358 and rs7412. Seafood intake data and TE levels in maternal urine, milk, hair, peripheral venous blood, mixed cord blood, and new-borns' urine were available from previous studies. We compared TEs between ε4+ and ε4- carriers using Mann-Whitney U tests and applied multiple linear regression models to analyse the TE's dependence on the presence of allele ε4 (genotypes ε3/ε4, ε4/ε4) in combination with other explanatory variables. We identified 17% (n = 37) and 20% (n = 35) ε4 allele carriers in mothers and new-borns, respectively. The Mann-Whitney U test showed that mothers with the ε4 allele had significantly higher mean levels of (methyl)mercury in peripheral venous blood, cord blood, and hair; arsenic in urine and cord blood; and selenium in peripheral venous blood and plasma. However, taking confounders into account, only the maternal plasma selenium remained statistically significant in the linear regression models (ε4 carriers vs non-carriers: 62.6 vs 54.9 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Literature suggestions of possible ε4 allele impact on Hg levels were not observed, while superior selenium status observed in healthy pregnant women carrying allele ε4 could be linked to the proposed APOE ε4 beneficial effects early in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajda Trdin
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janja Snoj Tratnik
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Anja Stajnko
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janja Marc
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Darja Mazej
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alenka Sešek Briški
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Igor Prpić
- Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Oleg Petrović
- Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | | | - Milena Horvat
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ingrid Falnoga
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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26
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Al-Saleh I, Moncari L, Jomaa A, Elkhatib R, Al-Rouqi R, Eltabache C, Al-Rajudi T, Alnuwaysir H, Nester M, Aldhalaan H. Effects of early and recent mercury and lead exposure on the neurodevelopment of children with elevated mercury and/or developmental delays during lactation: A follow-up study. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2020; 230:113629. [PMID: 32956901 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
This follow-up study of 82 children investigated the potential impact of early and recent exposure to mercury and lead on their neurodevelopmental performance at 5-8 years of age (2017-2018). Early exposure of these children to mercury, methylmercury, and lead was assessed during lactation at 3-12 months old, as well as their mother's exposure using measurements from a cross-sectional study (2011-2013). Only infants who failed to pass the neurodevelopment screening tools and/or had elevated mercury were included in this study. Urine and hair were sampled during the follow-up study to assess the children's recent exposure to mercury, methylmercury, and lead. Their cognitive performance and visual-motor integration were also measured using the Test of Non-Verbal Intelligence (TONI) and the Beery-Visual-Motor Integration (Beery VMI), respectively. The association between alterations in urinary porphyrins excretion and exposure to metals was analyzed and their influence on the children's neurodevelopment was explored. Linear regression models revealed a significant negative association between the infants' mercury exposure during lactation and the TONI Quotient (β = -0.298, 95%CI = -4.677, -0.414) and Beery VMI Age Equivalent scores at age 5-8 (β = -0.437, 95%CI = -6.383, -1.844). The mothers' blood methylmercury was inversely and significantly associated with their children's TONI Quotient (β = -0.231, 95%CI = -8.184, -0.331). In contrast, the children's Beery VMI Age Equivalent scores were positively and significantly associated with the hair methylmercury of the mothers (β = 0.214, 95%CI = 0.088, 3.899) and their infants (β = 0.256, 95%CI = 0.396, 4.488). These relationships suggest the presence of negative confounding that we did not take into account. Unlike mercury, there was some evidence that lead in breast milk had an inverse relationship with the children's visual-motor coordination skills. Our study did not show a clear association between children's recent exposure to metals and neurodevelopment. However, a significant inverse association was observed between the TONI Quotient and the interaction of hair methylmercury × ∑porphyrins (ß = -0.224, 95%CI = -0.86, -0.049), implying that porphyrins are a sensitive measure of low body-mercury burden. Although lead induced higher ∑porphyrins excretion in urine (β = 0.347, 95%CI = 0.107, 0.525), their interaction did not influence children's neurodevelopmental scores. The interactions between metals and porphyrins might provide insights into their potential contributory role in the pathogenesis associated with neurological disorders or other diseases. Despite the small sample size of the present study, its findings about the association between toxic metal exposure and the high risk of poor neurodevelopmental performance are worrying, particularly at an early age, and additional research is needed using larger sample sizes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ahmed Jomaa
- Center for Autism Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P.O. Box: 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Hesham Aldhalaan
- Center for Autism Research, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P.O. Box: 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
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Castriotta L, Rosolen V, Biggeri A, Ronfani L, Catelan D, Mariuz M, Bin M, Brumatti LV, Horvat M, Barbone F. The role of mercury, selenium and the Se-Hg antagonism on cognitive neurodevelopment: A 40-month follow-up of the Italian mother-child PHIME cohort. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2020; 230:113604. [PMID: 32871542 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite a 15-year long effort to define the "safety" of fish intake during pregnancy, there remains still uncertainty on this important public health issue. The evaluation of the toxic effects of contaminants, particularly mercury (Hg) in fish-eating populations is complicated by the fact that sea-food is also rich in beneficial nutrients, such as selenium (Se). There is toxicological plausibility of an antagonistic effects between Se and Hg, and some theoretical support for the inclusion of the Se-Hg interaction to better assess the risk linked with fish intake. To assess the effects of exposure to low-level Hg through fish consumption on the developing brain and the interaction between Hg and Se, we conducted an analysis at age 40 months in Italian children, enrolled in a prospective mother-child cohort, comparing additive and multiplicative models. Participant subjects were the 470 children born within the Northern Adriatic Cohort II (NAC-II) cohort who were tested by using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development third edition (Bayley-III) (BSID-III) at age 40. Family demographic and socioeconomic information, pregnancy and delivery history, parental and child medical history and food consumption were assessed through questionnaires. Maternal blood samples were collected during pregnancy, cord blood at birth and maternal milk 1 month after delivery. As other exposures of interest, we considered the level of Se in maternal and cord blood and in breast milk and the potential Se-Hg antagonism. Se and inverse of THg (1:THg) concentrations were categorized according to the tertiles of their distributions, in low, medium and high levels of exposure. The lower end of the composite cognitive score distribution closest to 20% was defined as suboptimal development. Multiple logistic regression were applied to assess the association between the dichotomized composite cognitive score and the categorized exposure to Se and 1:THg, and the antagonism between Se and 1:THg. In the recruiting period, 900 pregnant women were enrolled in the cohort; 767 of these remained in the study at delivery and 470 children at 40 months. After excluding preterm births, 456 children were used in the final analyses. The larger difference in risk for suboptimal neurodevelopment was observed for the category with High THg and Low Se with OR = 2.55 (90% CI 1.02; 6.41) under the multiplicative and OR = 1.33 (90% CI 0.80; 1.87) under the additive model. The category High THg and High Se showed a very slightly better fit of the additive model (OR = 1.07, 90% CI 0.65; 1.50) versus the multiplicative (OR = 1.66, 90% CI 0.73; 1.77). A negative - antagonistic - interaction term for this category was estimated under the multiplicative model giving an OR = 1.17 (90% CI 0.42; 3.28). Although this evidence of the effects of the Se-Hg antagonism on the children neuro-development needs to be confirmed, if Se can counterbalance Hg toxicity, the evaluation of the effect on human health of fish consumption, should also consider the diverse ratios between Se and Hg concentration in different fish species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Castriotta
- Institute of Hygiene and Clinical Epidemiology. Friuli Centrale Healthcare and University Trust, Via Colugna 50, 33100, Udine, Italy.
| | - Valentina Rosolen
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Via Dell'Istria, 65/1, 34137, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Annibale Biggeri
- Department of Statistics, Computer Science, Applications' G. Parenti '(DiSIA). University of Florence, Viale Morgagni, 59, 50134, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Luca Ronfani
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Via Dell'Istria, 65/1, 34137, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Dolores Catelan
- Department of Statistics, Computer Science, Applications' G. Parenti '(DiSIA). University of Florence, Viale Morgagni, 59, 50134, Firenze, Italy.
| | - Marika Mariuz
- Department of Medical Area, University of Udine, Via Colugna 50, 33100, Italy.
| | - Maura Bin
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Via Dell'Istria, 65/1, 34137, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Liza Vecchi Brumatti
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Via Dell'Istria, 65/1, 34137, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Milena Horvat
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39 SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; International Postgraduate School Jozef Stefan, Jamova 39 SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Fabio Barbone
- Department of Medical Area, University of Udine, Via Colugna 50, 33100, Italy.
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Drago G, Ruggieri S, Bianchi F, Sampino S, Cibella F. Birth Cohorts in Highly Contaminated Sites: A Tool for Monitoring the Relationships Between Environmental Pollutants and Children's Health. Front Public Health 2020; 8:125. [PMID: 32411642 PMCID: PMC7198735 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.00125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Industrial areas are characterized by the dispersion of environmental stressors that could possibly have long-term detrimental effects on both human health and the environment. Environmental contamination has been indicated to be one of the major risks for reproductive health. In this context, the effects of environmental pollution on pregnant women living in heavily polluted areas is of special interest. In fact, fetal development is a crucial phase due to the dynamic interaction between the maternal/external environments and the developing organs and tissues. Moreover, following Barker's postulate of the intrauterine origin of health and disease, the events occurring in this time window could affect future health. Birth cohorts provide the most suitable design for assessing the association between early-life and possible long-term health outcomes in highly contaminated sites. By providing an assessment of the early life environment throughout the collection of biological samples, birth cohorts offer the opportunity to study in-depth several possible confounders and outcomes by means of questionnaires and follow-ups based on clinical evaluations and bio-specimen samplings. The exposome comprises the totality of exposures from conception onwards; the birth cohort approach allows the integration of the exposures as a whole, including those related to socioeconomic status, with "omics" data from biological samples collected at birth and throughout life. In the characterization of the "fetal exposome," the placenta represents a highly informative and scarcely considered organ. For this purpose, the "Neonatal Environment and Health Outcomes" (NEHO) birth cohort has been established by enrolling pregnant women residing in contaminated sites and in surrounding areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaspare Drago
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, Palermo, Italy
| | - Silvia Ruggieri
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Bianchi
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvestre Sampino
- Department of Experimental Embryology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland
| | - Fabio Cibella
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, Palermo, Italy
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Vecchi Brumatti L, Rosolen V, Mariuz M, Piscianz E, Valencic E, Bin M, Athanasakis E, D'Adamo P, Fragkiadoulaki E, Calamandrei G, Dinckol Ö, Barbone F, Ronfani L. Impact of Methylmercury and Other Heavy Metals Exposure on Neurocognitive Function in Children Aged 7 Years: Study Protocol of the Follow-up. J Epidemiol 2020; 31:157-163. [PMID: 32249266 PMCID: PMC7813770 DOI: 10.2188/jea.je20190284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The extent to which prenatal low-level mercury (Hg) exposure through maternal fish intake and heavy metals exposure affect children’s neurodevelopment is controversial and may appear in the long term. In 2007, a prospective cohort, the Northern Adriatic Cohort II (NAC-II), was established to investigate the association between prenatal Hg exposure from maternal fish consumption and child neurodevelopment. The study enrolled 900 pregnant women, and 632 and 470 children underwent neurodevelopmental evaluation at 18 and 40 months of age, respectively. The NAC-II cohort is a part of the Mediterranean cohort in the “Public health impact of long-term, low-level, mixed element exposure in susceptible population strata” project. Methods This protocol describes the follow-up assessment of the effects of prenatal low level Hg and other heavy metals exposure on the developing nervous system of the children born within the NAC-II who reached the age of 7 years. Child diet components are estimated through a Diet Diary. Child hair and urine are collected for determination of Hg level. In addition, levels of other potentially neurotoxic metals, namely Manganese, Cadmium, Lead, Arsenic, and Selenium, are also measured in the same matrices. Discussion This protocol extends to the first years of schooling age the evaluation of the neurotoxicant effect of Mercury and of the other heavy metals on children’s neurodevelopment, adjusting for the potential confounders, such as the lifestyles and social economic status of children’s families. Longitudinal analysis of neurodevelopment, assessed in different ages (18 months, 40 months, and 7 years), are performed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marika Mariuz
- Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine and Institute of Hygiene and Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospital of Udine
| | - Elisa Piscianz
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo"
| | - Erica Valencic
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo"
| | - Maura Bin
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo"
| | | | - Pio D'Adamo
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo".,Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste
| | | | | | | | - Fabio Barbone
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo"
| | - Luca Ronfani
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo"
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30
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Calamandrei G, Ricceri L, Meccia E, Tartaglione AM, Horvat M, Tratnik JS, Mazej D, Špirić Z, Prpić I, Vlašić-Cicvarić I, Neubauer D, Kodrič J, Stropnik S, Janasik B, Kuraś R, Mirabella F, Polańska K, Chiarotti F. Pregnancy exposome and child psychomotor development in three European birth cohorts. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 181:108856. [PMID: 31706595 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Characterization of the exposome, the totality of all environmental factors that one is exposed to from conception onwards, has been recommended to better evaluate the role of environmental influences on developmental programming and life-course vulnerability to major chronic diseases. In the framework of the Health and Environment-wide Associations based on Large population Surveys (HEALS) project we considered the pregnancy exposome exploiting two databases (PHIME and REPRO_PL) that include birth cohorts from three EU countries (Croatia, Slovenia and Poland). The databases contained information on several chemical exposures, socio-demographic, lifestyle and health related factors from conception to child birth, and neuropsychological scores assessed by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development in the first two years of life. Our main goal was to assess consistency of environmental influences on neurodevelopment, if any, across European countries differing for geographical, socio-demographic characteristics and levels of chemical exposures to metals such as lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd) and trace elements, including micronutrients such as zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se). To this aim, we first selected variables common to the different databases, then applied univariate and multivariate regression analyses to identify factors linked to neurodevelopment, and finally performed meta-analysis to detect potential heterogeneity among cohorts and pooled estimates. Significant differences in exposure levels among the three sub-cohorts were observed as for Hg and Se; exposure levels under study were relatively low and within the range described in existing EU biomonitoring studies. The univariate analyses did not show any common pattern of association as only in the Polish cohort chemical exposure had an impact on neuropsychological outcome. In the meta-analysis, some consistent trends were evident, relative to the adverse influence of Pb on children's language and cognition and the positive influence of Se on language abilities. The effects of the neurotoxic metal Hg positively influenced the motor scores in the Polish cohorts, while it decreased the motor scores in the Slovenia and Croatian sub-cohorts. The only socio-demographic factor consistently associated to the outcome among cohorts was child's sex, with females performing better than males on cognitive and language scores. These findings point to the need of harmonizing existing cohorts or creating prospective study designs that facilitate comparisons in the exposome over time, places and kind of environmental exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Calamandrei
- Centre for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy.
| | - Laura Ricceri
- Centre for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Ettore Meccia
- Department of Environment and Primary Prevention, National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Tartaglione
- Centre for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Milena Horvat
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI), Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janja Snoj Tratnik
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI), Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Darja Mazej
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI), Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Igor Prpić
- University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Centre for Clinical, Health and Organizational Psychology, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Inge Vlašić-Cicvarić
- University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Centre for Clinical, Health and Organizational Psychology, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - David Neubauer
- Division of Paediatrics, Department of Child, Adolescent and Developmental Neurology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jana Kodrič
- Division of Paediatrics, Department of Child, Adolescent and Developmental Neurology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Staša Stropnik
- Division of Paediatrics, Department of Child, Adolescent and Developmental Neurology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Beata Janasik
- Department of Biological and Environmental Monitoring, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine (NIOM), Lodz, Poland
| | - Renata Kuraś
- Department of Biological and Environmental Monitoring, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine (NIOM), Lodz, Poland
| | - Fiorino Mirabella
- Centre for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy
| | - Kinga Polańska
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine (NIOM), Lodz, Poland
| | - Flavia Chiarotti
- Centre for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, National Institute of Health (ISS), Rome, Italy
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Hibbeln JR, Spiller P, Brenna JT, Golding J, Holub BJ, Harris WS, Kris-Etherton P, Lands B, Connor SL, Myers G, Strain JJ, Crawford MA, Carlson SE. Relationships between seafood consumption during pregnancy and childhood and neurocognitive development: Two systematic reviews. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2019; 151:14-36. [PMID: 31739098 PMCID: PMC6924512 DOI: 10.1016/j.plefa.2019.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Abundant data are now available to evaluate relationships between seafood consumption in pregnancy and childhood and neurocognitive development. We conducted two systematic reviews utilizing methodologies detailed by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans Scientific Advisory Committee 2020-2025. After reviewing 44 publications on 106,237 mother-offspring pairs and 25,960 children, our technical expert committee developed two conclusion statements that included the following: "Moderate and consistent evidence indicates that consumption of a wide range of amounts and types of commercially available seafood during pregnancy is associated with improved neurocognitive development of offspring as compared to eating no seafood. Overall, benefits to neurocognitive development began at the lowest amounts of seafood consumed (∼4 oz/wk) and continued through the highest amounts, above 12 oz/wk, some range up to >100 oz/wk.", "This evidence does not meet the criteria for "strong evidence" only due to a paucity of randomized controlled trials that may not be ethical or feasible to conduct for pregnancy" and "Moderate and consistent evidence indicates that consumption of >4 oz/wk and likely >12 oz/wk of seafood during childhood has beneficial associations with neurocognitive outcomes." No net adverse neurocognitive outcomes were reported among offspring at the highest ranges of seafood intakes despite associated increases in mercury exposures. Data are insufficient for conclusive statements regarding lactation, optimal amounts, categories or specific species characterized by mercury content and neurocognitive development; although there is some evidence that dark/oily seafood may be more beneficial. Research was conducted in healthy women and children and is generalizable to US populations. Assessment of seafood as a whole food integrates inherently integrates any adverse effects from neurotoxicants, if any, and benefits to neurocognition from omega-3 fats, as well as other nutrients critical to optimal neurological development. Understanding of the effects of seafood consumption on neurocognition can have significant public health implications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - J Thomas Brenna
- Dell Pediatric Research Institute, Depts of Pediatrics, of Chemistry, and of Nutrition, University of Texas at Austin, TX, USA
| | - Jean Golding
- Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, Population Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Bruce J Holub
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - William S Harris
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Dakota School of Medicine and OmegaQuant Analytics, LLC, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Penny Kris-Etherton
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Bill Lands
- American Society for Nutrition, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Sonja L Connor
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Gary Myers
- Neurology, Pediatrics, and Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - J J Strain
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food & Health, (NICHE), Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Michael A Crawford
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Susan E Carlson
- Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
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Nišević JR, Prpić I, Kolić I, Baždarić K, Tratnik JS, Prpić IŠ, Mazej D, Špirić Z, Barbone F, Horvat M. Combined prenatal exposure to mercury and LCPUFA on newborn's brain measures and neurodevelopment at the age of 18 months. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 178:108682. [PMID: 31450150 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2019] [Revised: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Prenatal exposure of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) are essential for normal fetal growth and neurodevelopment. Availability of LCPUFA depends mostly on maternal fish consumption. Fish consumption also exposes the fetus to mercury which is well known neurotoxicant. We analyzed the associations of combined LCPUFA and mercury from fish consumption during pregnancy on newborn's brain measures and child neurodevelopment in a northern Adriatic coastal area. PATIENTS AND METHODS The prospective cohort study included 257 mother - infant pairs enrolled in a susceptible population of the Public Health Impact on long-term, low-level, Mixed Element exposure (PHIME) EU Sixth Framework Programme from 2 recruitment areas of the northern part of the Adriatic coast. Umbilical cord blood taken at delivery was used for measuring concentration of total mercury (THg) and specific LCPUFA - docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA). Neonatal cranial sonography was performed at the age of 3 days in 57 newborns. Neurodevelopmental assessment of cognitive, motor and language skills were conducted at 257 children at the age of 18 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition. The participants were divided into two groups depending on the THg concentration in the umbilical cord blood (exposed > 5.8 μg/L and unexposed < 5.8 μg/L). Dietary habits and exposures to environmental and social factors were assessed through questionnaires. RESULTS There is a statistically significant difference in the cerebellum length (p = 0.032) and the superior frontal gyrus width (p = 0.023) between the exposed and the unexposed group. In combined analysis, including possible protective variables as DHA and ARA (R2 = 0.22, p = 0.001), the negative contribution of THg on cerebellum length (beta = -0.16, p = 0.001) persisted. We found no correlation between THg concentration in umbilical cord blood and child neurodevelopment scores at the age of 18 months. Language score with receptive and expressive subscores was significantly associated with fish consumption (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION This analysis demonstrates the existence of morphological brain changes in newborns that are prenatally exposed at mercury concentrations what was diminished in combined analyse including LCPUFA. Our results emphasizes the importance of LCPUFA's and mercury common influence as a predictor of developmental outcome. Fish consumption, not solely LCPUFA contributes to better language development of children at the age of 18 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Radić Nišević
- Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Centre, Istarska 43, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia.
| | - Igor Prpić
- Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Centre, Istarska 43, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Ivana Kolić
- Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Centre, Istarska 43, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Ksenija Baždarić
- Faculty of Medicine Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Janja Snoj Tratnik
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ingrid Škarpa Prpić
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Centre, Istarska 43, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Darja Mazej
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Zdravko Špirić
- Green Infrastructure Ltd., Fallerovo Setaliste 22, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Fabio Barbone
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", via dell'Istria, 65/1, 34137, Trieste, Italy
| | - Milena Horvat
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Trdin A, Snoj Tratnik J, Mazej D, Fajon V, Krsnik M, Osredkar J, Prpić I, Špirić Z, Petrović O, Marc J, Neubauer D, Kodrič J, Kobal AB, Barbone F, Falnoga I, Horvat M. Mercury speciation in prenatal exposure in Slovenian and Croatian population - PHIME study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 177:108627. [PMID: 31421448 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, several studies have addressed the issue of prenatal exposure to methylmercury (MeHg); however, few have actually analysed MeHg blood concentrations. Our study population included mothers and their new-borns from Slovenia (central region; N = 584) and Croatia (coastal region; N = 234). We have measurements of total Hg (THg) and MeHg in maternal hair, maternal peripheral blood, and cord blood. Cord blood Hg concentrations were low to moderate (median THg = 1.84 ng/g and MeHg = 1.69 ng/g). The proportion of THg as MeHg (%MeHg) in maternal and cord blood varied between 4% and 100% (coefficient of variation, CV = 32%) and between 8% and 100% (CV = 20%), respectively. Our data shows that variability of %MeHg was higher at lower blood THg levels. Concentrations of MeHg in maternal blood and cord blood were highly correlated (Rs = 0.943), in the case of inorganic Hg correlation was significant but weaker (Rs = 0.198). MeHg levels in maternal blood and cord blood were positively associated with seafood intake, maternal age, and negatively associated with pre-pregnancy BMI. Additionally, MeHg in maternal blood was positively associated with plasma selenium levels, and cord blood MeHg was negatively associated with parity. The results of multiple linear regression models showed that speciation analysis provides more defined estimation of prenatal exposure in association modelling. Associations between Hg exposure and cognitive performance of children (assessed using Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler development) adjusted for maternal or child Apolipoprotein E genotypes showed higher model R2 and lower p-values when adjusted for MeHg compared to THg. This study demonstrates that Hg speciation improves the association between exposure and possible negative health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajda Trdin
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janja Snoj Tratnik
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Darja Mazej
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Vesna Fajon
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mladen Krsnik
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Joško Osredkar
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Igor Prpić
- Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | | | - Oleg Petrović
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Janja Marc
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - David Neubauer
- Department of Child, Adolescent, and Developmental Neurology, Division of Paediatrics, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jana Kodrič
- Department of Child, Adolescent, and Developmental Neurology, Division of Paediatrics, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alfred B Kobal
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Fabio Barbone
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Ingrid Falnoga
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Milena Horvat
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Nakayama SF, Espina C, Kamijima M, Magnus P, Charles MA, Zhang J, Wolz B, Conrad A, Murawski A, Iwai-Shimada M, Zaros C, Caspersen IH, Kolossa-Gehring M, Meltzer HM, Olsen SF, Etzel RA, Schüz J. Benefits of cooperation among large-scale cohort studies and human biomonitoring projects in environmental health research: An exercise in blood lead analysis of the Environment and Child Health International Birth Cohort Group. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2019; 222:1059-1067. [PMID: 31327570 PMCID: PMC6732228 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
A number of prospective cohort studies are ongoing worldwide to investigate the impact of foetal and neonatal exposures to chemical substances on child health. To assess multiple exposure (mixture) effects and low prevalence health outcomes it is useful to pool data from several studies and conduct mega-data-analysis. To discuss a path towards data harmonization, representatives from several large-scale birth cohort studies and a biomonitoring programme formed a collaborative group, the Environment and Child Health International Birth Cohort Group (ECHIBCG). In this study, an intra-laboratory trial was performed to harmonize existing blood lead measurements within the groups' studies. Then, decentralized analyses were conducted in individual countries' laboratories to evaluate blood lead levels (BLL) in each study. The measurements of pooled BLL samples in French, German and three Japanese laboratories resulted in an overall mean blood lead concentration of 8.66 μg l-1 (95% confidence interval: 8.59-8.72 μg l-1) with 3.0% relative standard deviation. Except for China's samples, BLL from each study were comparable with mean concentrations below or close to 10 μg l-1. The decentralized multivariate analyses revealed that all models had coefficients of determination below 0.1. Determinants of BLL were current smoking, age >35 years and overweight or obese status. The three variables were associated with an increase in BLL in each of the five studies, most strongly in France by almost 80% and the weakest effect being in Norway with only 15%; for Japan, with the far largest sample (~18,000), the difference was 36%. This study successfully demonstrated that the laboratory analytical methods were sufficiently similar to allow direct comparison of data and showed that it is possible to harmonize the epidemiological data for joint analysis. This exercise showed the challenges in decentralized data analyses and reinforces the need for data harmonization among studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoji F Nakayama
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan.
| | - Carolina Espina
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Section of Environment and Radiation, Lyon, France
| | - Michihiro Kamijima
- Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Per Magnus
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Jun Zhang
- Ministry of Education - Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Birgit Wolz
- Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Bonn, Germany
| | - André Conrad
- German Environment Agency, Section Toxicology, Health Related Monitoring, Berlin, Germany
| | - Aline Murawski
- German Environment Agency, Section Toxicology, Health Related Monitoring, Berlin, Germany
| | - Miyuki Iwai-Shimada
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Cécile Zaros
- Ined, Inserm, EFS, Elfe Joint Unit, Paris, France
| | - Ida Henriette Caspersen
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Marike Kolossa-Gehring
- German Environment Agency, Section Toxicology, Health Related Monitoring, Berlin, Germany
| | - Helle Margrete Meltzer
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sjurdur F Olsen
- Centre for Fetal Programming, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Nutrition, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Ruth A Etzel
- Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Joachim Schüz
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Section of Environment and Radiation, Lyon, France
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Method validation and determination of heavy metals in cocoa beans and cocoa products by microwave assisted digestion technique with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Food Chem 2019; 303:125392. [PMID: 31446362 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.125392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
In this article, an easy and quick method based on microwave assisted acid digestion technique prior to quantification using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the analysis of heavy metals in cocoa beans, cocoa powder and chocolate was established and validated for arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and antimony (Sb). Limit of quantification for all elements were product dependent and varies from 7.84 to 194.52 µg/kg. The recoveries of the heavy metals at 250 and 1000 µg/kg spiking levels were ranged between 96.27-108.75%, 90.43-101.97% and 89.72-106.26% for cocoa beans, cocoa powder, and chocolate, respectively. Relative standard deviation values obtained were all below 20% and the expanded uncertainty measurements for the elements were less than 25%. The analysis of real samples found that the concentration level is far from the national alarming level except for cadmium in cocoa beans.
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Xu Y, Wahlberg K, Love TM, Watson GE, Yeates AJ, Mulhern MS, McSorley EM, Strain JJ, Davidson PW, Shamlaye CF, Rand MD, Myers GJ, van Wijngaarden E, Broberg K. Associations of blood mercury and fatty acid concentrations with blood mitochondrial DNA copy number in the Seychelles Child Development Nutrition Study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 124:278-283. [PMID: 30660840 PMCID: PMC6405959 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 12/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fish contains methylmercury (MeHg) which can cause oxidative stress and neurodevelopmental toxicity at sufficiently high doses. Fish also contains polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) which have both antioxidant (n-3) and oxidant (n-6) properties. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is sensitive to oxidative stress but has not been previously studied in relation to MeHg exposure or PUFA status. OBJECTIVE To investigate the associations between MeHg exposure and PUFA status during pregnancy with relative mitochondrial DNA copy number (RmtDNAcn) in mothers and their newborns. METHODS In total, 1488 mother-child pairs from the Seychelles Child Development Study Nutrition Cohort 2 were included in this study. Total Hg was measured in maternal blood collected at 28 weeks' gestation, maternal hair at delivery, and in fetal cord blood. PUFA (n-3 and n-6) were measured only in maternal blood. RmtDNAcn was measured by qPCR in both maternal and cord blood. RESULTS Increasing maternal blood Hg (β = 0.001, 95%CI: 0.000, 0.002) and n-3 PUFA concentrations (β = 0.183, 95%CI: 0.048, 0.317) were associated with higher maternal RmtDNAcn. Increasing maternal n-6 PUFA (β = -0.103, 95%CI: -0.145, -0.062) and n-6/n-3 ratio (β = -0.011, 95%CI: -0.017, -0.004) were associated with lower maternal RmtDNAcn. Increasing fetal cord blood Hg was associated with lower fetal RmtDNAcn (β = -0.002, 95%CI: -0.004, -0.000). Neither maternal blood Hg nor PUFA status was associated with fetal RmtDNAcn. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that MeHg and PUFA may influence mitochondrial homeostasis although the magnitude of these associations are small. Future studies should confirm the findings and explore the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyi Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, 22185 Lund, Sweden; Unit of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Karin Wahlberg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, 22185 Lund, Sweden
| | - Tanzy M Love
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Gene E Watson
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Alison J Yeates
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Co. Londonderry, UK
| | - Maria S Mulhern
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Co. Londonderry, UK
| | - Emeir M McSorley
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Co. Londonderry, UK
| | - J J Strain
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Co. Londonderry, UK
| | - Philip W Davidson
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | | | - Matthew D Rand
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - G J Myers
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Edwin van Wijngaarden
- University of Rochester Medical Center, School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Karin Broberg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, 22185 Lund, Sweden; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
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Nassan FL, Williams PL, Gaskins AJ, Braun JM, Ford JB, Calafat AM, Hauser R. Correlation and temporal variability of urinary biomarkers of chemicals among couples: Implications for reproductive epidemiological studies. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 123:181-188. [PMID: 30529890 PMCID: PMC6358023 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.11.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to some environmental chemicals is ubiquitous and linked to a variety of adverse outcomes, including children's health. While few studies have assessed the contribution of both male and female exposures to children's health, understanding the patterns of couple's exposure is needed to understand their joint effects. OBJECTIVE We assessed the correlation patterns between male and female partners' concentrations of 37 environmental chemical biomarkers. We also assessed the temporal reliability of the biomarkers within couples. METHODS We calculated Spearman pairwise correlations between specific gravity adjusted urinary biomarker concentrations and hair mercury concentrations among 380 couples enrolled in the Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) study at the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center (2004-2017). We calculated intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) for couple's biomarkers to assess the temporal variability of these exposures within a couple using multiple paired-samples from couples. RESULTS All biomarkers were positively correlated within couples (range: 0.05 for tert-butylphenyl phenyl phosphate to 0.66 for triclosan). In general, the biomarkers with the highest within couple correlation were those of chemicals for which diet (e.g., di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), personal care products use (e.g., triclosan, benzophenone-3), and the indoor environment (e.g., 2,5-dichlorophenol) are considered primary exposure sources. Most other biomarkers were moderately correlated (0.3-<0.6). Similar patterns of temporal reliability were observed across biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS Urinary concentrations of several biomarkers were mostly moderately correlated within couples, suggesting similar exposure sources. Future epidemiological studies should collect samples from both partners to be able to accurately determine the contribution of maternal and paternal exposures to offspring health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feiby L Nassan
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Nutrition, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Paige L Williams
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Audrey J Gaskins
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Jennifer B Ford
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Russ Hauser
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Vincent Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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38
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McCaulley ME. Autism spectrum disorder and mercury toxicity: use of genomic and epigenetic methods to solve the etiologic puzzle. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars) 2019. [DOI: 10.21307/ane-2019-010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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