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Alajlouni M, Kurz I, Lee JH, Bryant AK, Pechin J, Tso B, Valdez A, Vemuru S, Bozymski M, Latham B, Littell S, Mills S, Koch SM, Turyk ME, Liu S. Tetrachloroethylene exposure and neurobehavioral performance among children living near multiple contamination sites. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 954:176172. [PMID: 39277008 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 09/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) is a known neurotoxicant mainly observed in populations with high level occupational exposure. Health effects of low-level community exposure are poorly understood. This study evaluated PCE exposure and neurobehavioral performance in 6 to 11-year-old children living in a community with multiple PCE contamination sites. METHODS This cross-sectional study recruited eighty-nine children who attended public schools in Martinsville, Indiana. PCE was measured in exhaled breath using proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry. Children were classified into three exposure groups: 'Level 1' (≤ 0.75 μg/m3), 'Level 2' (>0.75-1.90 μg/m3), and 'Level 3' (>1.90 μg/m3). A battery of tests assessed children's neurobehavioral performance related to their cognition, behavior, and academic achievement and a questionnaire collected demographic and exposure characteristics. Adjusted regression models estimated associations of PCE exposure with neurobehavioral outcomes. RESULTS Seventy-three participants completed data collection. The average scores for all participants on the Fluid, Total, Early Childhood Composites, Behavioral Symptoms Index, and Math Computation were significantly lower than standard scores of normative sample, with 30 % of participants having one or more scores two standard deviations worse than the standard scores. Compared to children having the lowest PCE exposure, significant inverse associations were identified for PCE exposure with Fluid Composite for Level 2 (β = -12.0 (95 % CI = -23.4, -0.6)) and Level 3 (-12.2 (-23.4, -1.0)) exposure groups, Total Composite for Level 2 (-10.1 (-19.2, -1.1)) and Level 3 (-11.8 (-20.4, -3.2)) exposure groups, and Early Childhood Composite for Level 3 exposure group (-11.0 (-18.7, -3.4)). CONCLUSIONS This study identified associations of PCE in exhaled breath with lower cognitive functioning, problem-solving abilities, and adaptive functioning in children. Mainly, working memory, episodic memory, processing speed, and executive function-cognitive flexibility were associated with PCE exposure. These results underscore the need for further investigations, considering the impact of low-level environmental exposure on children's neurobehavioral outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwan Alajlouni
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Ian Kurz
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Jung Hyun Lee
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Alaina K Bryant
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Jackson Pechin
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Brandon Tso
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Abigail Valdez
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Sujana Vemuru
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Monica Bozymski
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Bethaney Latham
- Martinsville Environmental Community Action Project, Martinsville, IN, USA
| | - Stephanie Littell
- Martinsville Environmental Community Action Project, Martinsville, IN, USA
| | - Samantha Mills
- School of Psychology, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Steven M Koch
- School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Mary E Turyk
- School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sa Liu
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
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Aschengrau A, Grippo A, Winter MR, Shea MG, White RF, Saitz R. Drug use disorder following early life exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE)-contaminated drinking water: a retrospective cohort study. Environ Health 2020; 19:99. [PMID: 32943075 PMCID: PMC7495895 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-020-00638-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many studies of adults with occupational exposure to solvents such as tetrachloroethylene (PCE) have shown adverse effects on cognition, mood and behavioral problems. Much less is known about neurotoxic effects in early life at lower exposure levels seen in community settings. We recently reported that illicit drug use was more frequent among adults from Cape Cod, Massachusetts who were exposed to PCE-contaminated drinking water during gestation and early childhood than their unexposed counterparts. Using newly collected data from this population-based retrospective cohort study, the current analysis examines whether early life PCE exposure is also associated with drug use disorder over the life course. METHODS Three-hundred and sixty-three subjects with prenatal and early childhood PCE exposure and 255 unexposed subjects were studied. These individuals (median age: 40-41 years) completed self-administered questionnaires on the eleven established diagnostic criteria for drug use disorder and confounding variables. A validated leaching and transport model was used to estimate exposure to PCE-contaminated water. RESULTS Overall, 23.3% of subjects reported having at least one criterion for drug use disorder over their lifetime. Early life PCE exposure was associated with a modest increase in the lifetime presence of one or more diagnostic criteria for drug use disorder (adjusted RR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.0-1.8). Compared to unexposed subjects, PCE-exposed subjects were more likely to report having most diagnostic criteria of drug use disorder, including neglecting major roles due to drug use, physical and psychological problems related to drug use, and giving up activities due to drug use. No dose-response relationships were observed with increasing levels of PCE exposure. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that exposure to PCE-contaminated drinking water during early life modestly increases the risk of developing diagnostic criteria for drug use disorder later in life. Because this study has several limitations, these findings should be confirmed in follow-up investigations of other exposed populations with more diverse racial and socioeconomic characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Aschengrau
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118 USA
| | - Alexandra Grippo
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118 USA
| | - Michael R. Winter
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center, Boston University School of Public Health, 85 East Newton Street, Boston, MA 02118 USA
| | - Margaret G. Shea
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center, Boston University School of Public Health, 85 East Newton Street, Boston, MA 02118 USA
| | - Roberta F. White
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118 USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118 USA
| | - Richard Saitz
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118 USA
- Clinical Addiction Research and Education Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
- Grayken Center for Addiction, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA USA
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Perinatal Exposure to Environmental Endocrine Disruptors in the Emergence of Neurodevelopmental Psychiatric Diseases: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16081318. [PMID: 31013727 PMCID: PMC6517937 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16081318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background: Exposure to endocrine disruptors is on the rise, with new compounds regularly incriminated. In animals and humans, this exposure during critical developmental windows has been associated with various developmental abnormalities, including the emergence of psychiatric disorders. We aimed to review the association between perinatal endocrine disruptor exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders in humans, focusing on cognitive and psychiatric disorders. Methods: We performed a systematic review with key words referring to the fields of neurodevelopment and endocrine disruptors. We reviewed 896 titles, choosing studies on the basis of titles and abstracts. We searched through the methodology sections to find perinatal exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders, following the categories indicated in the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition). References in some studies brought us to a total of 47 studies included here. Results: Convergent studies report an association between exposure to endocrine disruptors and autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, global developmental delay, intellectual disability, communication disorders and unspecified neurodevelopmental disorders. Conclusion: Sufficient data exist to report that exposure to some endocrine disruptors is a risk factor for the emergence of neurodevelopmental disorders. Studying endocrine disruptor exposure in humans is still associated with some limits that are difficult to overcome.
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Karimaei M, Shokri B, Khani MR, Yaghmaeian K, Mesdaghinia A, Nabizadeh R, Mahvi AH, Nazmara S. Comparative investigation of argon and argon/oxygen plasma performance for Perchloroethylene (PCE) removal from aqueous solution: optimization and kinetic study. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2018; 16:277-287. [PMID: 30728999 PMCID: PMC6277337 DOI: 10.1007/s40201-018-0316-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study is evaluation of the perchloroethylene degradation from aqueous solutions by non-thermal plasma produced in dielectric barrier discharge reactor in two different scenarios: first plasma generated with 225 cc/min mixture of oxygen and argon flow (12% gas ratio of O2/Ar), and in the second scenario plasma generated with 225 cc/min of pure argon gas. METHODS Design studies were performed using response surface methodology and central composite design. All experiments with the selected levels of independent parameters including the initial concentration of perchloroethylene (5-100 mg/L), voltage (20-5 kv) and contact time (15-180 s) was implemented, and 29 tests were proposed by using response surface methodology and central composite design was performed in two experimental scenarios. RESULTS Results showed that the Pseudo first-order kinetics coefficient of perchloroethylene degradation in the mixture of oxygen and argon and pure argon scenario under the optimum conditions were 0.024 and 0.016 S-1 respectively. Results conveyed that in order to achieve the highest removal efficiency (100%), the values of contact time, perchloroethylene concentration and voltage variables were predicted 169.55 s, 74.3 mg/l, 18.86 kv respectively in mixture of oxygen and argon scenario and also were predicted 203 s, 85.22 mg/l, 20.39 kv respectively in pure argon scenario. CONCLUSIONS In the recent study dielectric barrier discharge was an efficient method for perchloroethylene removal with both oxygen an argon mixture and pure argon as input gas. Both input voltage and reaction time has positive effect on perchloroethylene removal; but initial perchloroethylene concentration has negative effect on perchloroethylene removal. Comparison of two plasma scenarios with different input gas shown that plasma generated by mixture of oxygen and argon gas was more powerful and had higher removal efficiency and degradation kinetics than the plasma generated by pure argon gas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa Karimaei
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Babak Shokri
- Laser and Plasma Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C. Zip Code: 19839-63113 Evin, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
- Department of Physics, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C. Zip Code: 19839-63113 Evin, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Khani
- Laser and Plasma Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G.C. Zip Code: 19839-63113 Evin, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Kamyar Yaghmaeian
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Center for Water Quality Research (CWQR), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Mesdaghinia
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ramin Nabizadeh
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Hossein Mahvi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Center for Solid Waste Research, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahrokh Nazmara
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Karimaei M, Nabizadeh R, Shokri B, Khani MR, Yaghmaeian K, Mesdaghinia A, Mahvi A, Nazmara S. Dielectric barrier discharge plasma as excellent method for Perchloroethylene removal from aqueous environments: Degradation kinetic and parameters modeling. J Mol Liq 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2017.10.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
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Gallagher LG, Webster TF, Aschengrau A. Exploring associations between prenatal solvent exposures and teenage drug and alcohol use: a retrospective cohort study. Environ Health 2017; 16:26. [PMID: 28283038 PMCID: PMC5346200 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-017-0232-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Investigating the effects of prenatal and childhood exposures on behavioral health outcomes in adolescence is challenging given the lengthy period between the exposure and outcomes. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in Cape Cod, Massachusetts to evaluate the impact of prenatal and early childhood exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE)-contaminated drinking water on the occurrence of risk-taking behaviors as a teenager. An increased occurrence of risk-taking behaviors, particularly illicit drug use, was observed in those highly exposed to PCE. We hypothesized that there may be other sources of prenatal solvent exposure such as maternal consumption of alcoholic beverages during pregnancy which might modify the previously observed associations between PCE and risk-taking behaviors and so we conducted an exploratory analysis using available cohort data. The current report presents the results of these analyses and describes the difficulties in conducting research on long-term behavioral effects of early life exposures. METHODS The exploratory analysis compared a referent group of subjects with no early life exposure to PCE or alcohol (n = 242) to subjects with only alcohol exposure (n = 201), subjects with only PCE exposure (n = 361), and subjects with exposure to both PCE and alcohol (n = 302). Surveys completed by the subject's mother included questions on prenatal alcoholic beverage consumption and available confounding variables such as cigarette smoking and marijuana use. Surveys completed by the subjects included questions on risk-taking behaviors such as alcoholic beverage consumption and illicit drug use as a teenager and available confounding variables. PCE exposure was modeled using a leaching and transport algorithm embedded in water distribution system modeling software that estimated the amount of PCE delivered to a subject's residence during gestation and early childhood. RESULTS Subjects with early life exposure to both PCE and alcohol had an increased risk of using two or more major drugs as a teen (RR = 1.9 (95% CI 1.2, 3.0)) compared to unexposed subjects. Increased risks for only PCE exposure (RR = 1.6 (95% CI 1.0, 2.4) and only alcohol exposure (RR = 1.3 (95% CI 0.7, 2.1)) were also evident but were smaller than the increased risk associated with both exposures. While available confounding variables were controlled, many relevant social risk factors were not obtained due to limitations in the retrospective study design. CONCLUSIONS This exploratory analysis found evidence for an additive effect of early life exposure to PCE and alcohol on the risk of use of multiple illicit drugs as a teenager. Because of numerous limitations in this retrospective study, further research is needed to examine longstanding behavioral effects of early life exposures. To be most informative, this research should involve long-term prospective data collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa G. Gallagher
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street T3E, Boston, MA 02118 USA
| | - Thomas F. Webster
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Ann Aschengrau
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street T3E, Boston, MA 02118 USA
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Butler LJ, Janulewicz PA, Carwile JL, White RF, Winter MR, Aschengrau A. Childhood and adolescent fish consumption and adult neuropsychological performance: An analysis from the Cape Cod Health Study. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2017; 61:47-57. [PMID: 28263856 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2017.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2016] [Revised: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This exploratory analysis examines the relationship between childhood and adolescent fish consumption and adult neuropsychological performance. DESIGN Data from a retrospective cohort study that assessed fish consumption from age 7 to 18years via questionnaire were analyzed. A subset of the population underwent domain-specific neuropsychological assessment. Functions evaluated included omnibus intelligence, academic achievement, language, visuospatial skills, learning and memory, attention and executive function, fine motor coordination, mood, and motivation to perform. SETTING Eight towns in the Cape Cod region of Massachusetts, USA, an area characterized by high fish consumption and an active seafood industry. SUBJECTS A cohort of 1245 subjects was recruited based on Massachusetts birth records from 1969 to 1983. Sixty-five participants from the original cohort underwent neuropsychological testing in adulthood (average age=30years). RESULTS Participant report of consuming fish at least twice per month was associated with better performance on tests of visual learning, memory, and attentional abilities. However, self-report of consuming fish at rates higher than twice per month was not associated with improved abilities. No statistically significant associations were observed between type of fish consumed (e.g., species known to be high in methylmercury content) and test outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that moderate fish consumption during childhood and adolescence may be associated with some cognitive benefits and that consumption of fish during this exposure window may potentially influence adult neuropsychological performance. Future prospective studies should take into account this time period of exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey J Butler
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Medical Campus, 715 Albany Street, T4W, Boston, MA 02118, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Medical Campus, 715 Albany Street, T4E, Boston, MA 02118, United States.
| | - Patricia A Janulewicz
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Medical Campus, 715 Albany Street, T4W, Boston, MA 02118, United States
| | - Jenny L Carwile
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Medical Campus, 715 Albany Street, T4E, Boston, MA 02118, United States
| | - Roberta F White
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Medical Campus, 715 Albany Street, T4W, Boston, MA 02118, United States
| | - Michael R Winter
- Data Coordinating Center, Boston University, Medical Campus, 85 East Newton Street, M921, Boston, MA 02118, United States
| | - Ann Aschengrau
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Medical Campus, 715 Albany Street, T4E, Boston, MA 02118, United States
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Carwile JL, Butler LJ, Janulewicz PA, Winter MR, Aschengrau A. Childhood Fish Consumption and Learning and Behavioral Disorders. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2016; 13:ijerph13111069. [PMID: 27827868 PMCID: PMC5129279 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13111069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Fish is a major source of nutrients critical for brain development during early life. The importance of childhood fish consumption is supported by several studies reporting associations of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplementation with better behavior and school performance. However, fish may have a different effect than n-3 PUFA alone due to the neurotoxic effects of methylmercury, a frequent contaminant. We investigated associations of childhood fish consumption with learning and behavioral disorders in birth cohort study of the neurotoxic effects of early life exposure to solvent-contaminated drinking water. Childhood (age 7–12 years) fish consumption and learning and behavioral problems were reported in self-administered questionnaires (age 23–41 at questionnaire completion). Fish consumption was not meaningfully associated with repeating a grade, tutoring, attending summer school, special class placement, or low educational attainment. However, participants who ate fish several times a week had an elevated odds of Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (odds ratio: 5.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.5–18) compared to participants who did not eat fish. While these findings generally support the safety of the observed level of fish consumption, the absence of a beneficial effect may be attributed to insufficient fish intake or the choice of relatively low n-3 PUFA fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny L Carwile
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - Lindsey J Butler
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - Patricia A Janulewicz
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - Michael R Winter
- Data Coordinating Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - Ann Aschengrau
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
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Hoffman K, Aschengrau A, Webster TF, Bartell SM, Vieira VM. Associations between residence at birth and mental health disorders: a spatial analysis of retrospective cohort data. BMC Public Health 2015; 15:688. [PMID: 26195105 PMCID: PMC4508761 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-2011-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 07/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mental health disorders impact approximately one in four US adults. While their causes are likely multifactorial, prior research has linked the risk of certain mental health disorders to prenatal and early childhood environmental exposures, motivating a spatial analysis to determine whether risk varies by birth location. METHODS We investigated the spatial associations between residence at birth and odds of depression, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a retrospective cohort (Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1969-1983) using generalized additive models to simultaneously smooth location and adjust for confounders. Birth location served as a surrogate for prenatal exposure to the combination of social and environmental factors related to the development of mental illness. We predicted crude and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for each outcome across the study area. The results were mapped to identify areas of increased risk. RESULTS We observed spatial variation in the crude odds ratios of depression that was still present even after accounting for spatial confounding due to geographic differences in the distribution of known risk factors (aOR range: 0.61-3.07, P = 0.03). Similar geographic patterns were seen for the crude odds of PTSD; however, these patterns were no longer present in the adjusted analysis (aOR range: 0.49-1.36, P = 0.79), with family history of mental illness most notably influencing the geographic patterns. Analyses of the odds of bipolar disorder did not show any meaningful spatial variation (aOR range: 0.58-1.17, P = 0.82). CONCLUSION Spatial associations exist between residence at birth and odds of PTSD and depression, but much of this variation can be explained by the geographic distributions of available risk factors. However, these risk factors did not account for all the variation observed with depression, suggesting that other social and environmental factors within our study area need further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Hoffman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Ann Aschengrau
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
| | - Thomas F Webster
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
| | - Scott M Bartell
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, 653 E. Peltason Drive, AIRB 2042, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
| | - Verónica M Vieira
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, 653 E. Peltason Drive, AIRB 2042, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
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Zeng H, Shu WQ, Chen JA, Liu L, Wang DH, Fu WJ, Wang LQ, Luo JH, Zhang L, Tan Y, Qiu ZQ, Huang YJ. Experimental comparison of the reproductive outcomes and early development of the offspring of rats given five common types of drinking water. PLoS One 2014; 9:e108955. [PMID: 25279561 PMCID: PMC4184831 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2014] [Accepted: 09/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tap water (unfiltered), filtered tap water and processed bottled water (purified water, artificial mineralized water, or natural water) are now the five most widely consumed types of drinking water in China. However, the constituents (organic chemicals and inorganic ingredients) of the five waters differ, which may cause them to have different long-term health effects on those who drink them, especially sensitive children. In order to determine which type of water among the five waters is the most beneficial regarding reproductive outcomes and the developmental behaviors of offspring, two generations of Sprague–Dawley rats were given these five waters separately, and their reproductive outcomes and the developmental behaviors of their offspring were observed and compared. The results showed that the unfiltered tap water group had the lowest values for the maternal gestation index (MGI) and offspring's learning and memory abilities (OLMA); the lowest offspring survival rate was found in the purified water group; and the highest OLMA were found in the filtered tap water group. Thus, the best reproductive and offspring early developmental outcomes were found in the group that drank filtered tap water, which had the lowest levels of pollutants and the richest minerals. Therefore, thoroughly removing toxic contaminants and retaining the beneficial minerals in drinking water may be important for both pregnant women and children, and the best way to treat water may be with granular activated carbon and ion exchange by copper zinc alloy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zeng
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, P. R. China
| | - Wei-qun Shu
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, P. R. China
- * E-mail:
| | - Ji-an Chen
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, P. R. China
| | - Lin Liu
- The Lundberg-Kienlen Lung Biology and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Physiological Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Da-hua Wang
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, P. R. China
| | - Wen-juan Fu
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, P. R. China
| | - Ling-qiao Wang
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, P. R. China
| | - Jiao-hua Luo
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, P. R. China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, P. R. China
| | - Yao Tan
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, P. R. China
| | - Zhi-qun Qiu
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, P. R. China
| | - Yu-jing Huang
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, P. R. China
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Janulewicz PA, Killiany RJ, White RF, Martin BM, Winter MR, Weinberg JM, Aschengrau A. Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging in an adult cohort following prenatal and early postnatal exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE)-contaminated drinking water. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2013; 38:13-20. [PMID: 23571160 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2013.03.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2012] [Revised: 03/21/2013] [Accepted: 03/22/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
This population-based retrospective cohort study examined Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain in relation to prenatal and early postnatal exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE)-contaminated drinking water on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Subjects were identified through birth records from 1969 through 1983. Exposure was modeled using pipe network information from town water departments, a PCE leaching and transport algorithm, EPANet water flow modeling software, and Geographic Information System (GIS) methodology. Brain imaging was performed on 26 exposed and 16 unexposed subjects. Scans were acquired on a Philips 3T whole body scanner using the ADNI T1-weighted MP-RAGE scan. The scans were processed by FreeSurfer version 4.3.1 software to obtain measurements of specific brain regions. There were no statistically significant differences between exposed and unexposed subjects on the measures of white matter hypointensities (β: 127.5mm(3), 95% CI: -259.1, 1514.0), white matter volumes (e.g. total cerebral white matter: β: 21230.0mm(3), 95% CI: -4512.6, 46971.7) or gray matter volumes (e.g. total cerebral gray matter: β: 11976.0mm(3), 95% CI: -13657.2, 37609.3). The results of this study suggest that exposure to PCE during gestation and early childhood, at the levels observed in this population, is not associated with alterations in the brain structures studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia A Janulewicz
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University Schools of Public Health and Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
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de Cock M, Maas YGH, van de Bor M. Does perinatal exposure to endocrine disruptors induce autism spectrum and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders? Review. Acta Paediatr 2012; 101:811-8. [PMID: 22458970 DOI: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2012.02693.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AIM To provide an overview of studies on perinatal exposure in humans to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in relation to autism spectrum (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) disorders. METHODS A review of the literature (PubMed) was performed. Exposure-related keywords, including various chemicals, were matched with keywords describing outcome. Animal studies as well as publications not written in English were excluded. In total, 834 titles were retrieved. The final selection included 21 publications. RESULTS Positive associations were found for ASD in relation to exposure to all chemicals investigated, which included hazardous air pollutants, pesticides and bisphenol A (BPA). Increased risks of ADHD or positive associations were found for exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dialkyl phosphate (DAP) and chlorpyrifos. BPA, polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) and low molecular weight (LMW) phthalates were positively associated with externalizing behaviour. Five of 17 studies did not find any association between exposure and ADHD. CONCLUSION Perinatal exposure to EDCs appears to be associated with the occurrence of ASD as well as ADHD. Disruption of thyroid hormone function and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic mechanisms may offer an explanation for the observed relations; though, conclusive evidence in humans is limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marijke de Cock
- Department of Health and Life Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Adult neuropsychological performance following prenatal and early postnatal exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE)-contaminated drinking water. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2012; 34:350-9. [PMID: 22522125 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2012.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2011] [Revised: 04/03/2012] [Accepted: 04/04/2012] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
This population-based retrospective cohort study examined adult performance on a battery of neuropsychological tests in relation to prenatal and early postnatal exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE)-contaminated drinking water on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Subjects were identified through birth records from 1969 through 1983. Exposure was modeled using pipe network information from town water departments, a PCE leaching and transport algorithm, EPANet water flow modeling software, and a Geographic Information System (GIS). Results of crude and multivariate analyses among 35 exposed and 28 unexposed subjects showed no association between prenatal and early postnatal exposure and decrements on tests that assess abilities in the domains of omnibus intelligence, academic achievement or language. The results were suggestive of an association between prenatal and early postnatal PCE exposure and diminished performance on tests that assessed abilities in the domains of visuospatial functioning, learning and memory, motor, attention and mood. Because the sample size was small, most findings were not statistically significant. Future studies with larger sample sizes should be conducted to further define the neuropsychological consequences of early developmental PCE exposure.
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Aschengrau A, Weinberg JM, Janulewicz PA, Romano ME, Gallagher LG, Winter MR, Martin BR, Vieira VM, Webster TF, White RF, Ozonoff DM. Affinity for risky behaviors following prenatal and early childhood exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE)-contaminated drinking water: a retrospective cohort study. Environ Health 2011; 10:102. [PMID: 22136431 PMCID: PMC3268745 DOI: 10.1186/1476-069x-10-102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2011] [Accepted: 12/02/2011] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many studies of adults with acute and chronic solvent exposure have shown adverse effects on cognition, behavior and mood. No prior study has investigated the long-term impact of prenatal and early childhood exposure to the solvent tetrachloroethylene (PCE) on the affinity for risky behaviors, defined as smoking, drinking or drug use as a teen or adult. OBJECTIVES This retrospective cohort study examined whether early life exposure to PCE-contaminated drinking water influenced the occurrence of cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug use among adults from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. METHODS Eight hundred and thirty-one subjects with prenatal and early childhood PCE exposure and 547 unexposed subjects were studied. Participants completed questionnaires to gather information on risky behaviors as a teenager and young adult, demographic characteristics, other sources of solvent exposure, and residences from birth through 1990. PCE exposure was estimated using the U.S. EPA's water distribution system modeling software (EPANET) that was modified to incorporate a leaching and transport model to estimate PCE exposures from pipe linings. RESULTS Individuals who were highly exposed to PCE-contaminated drinking water during gestation and early childhood experienced 50-60% increases in the risk of using two or more major illicit drugs as a teenager or as an adult (Relative Risk (RR) for teen use = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.2-2.2; and RR for adult use = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2-1.9). Specific drugs for which increased risks were observed included crack/cocaine, psychedelics/hallucinogens, club/designer drugs, Ritalin without a prescription, and heroin (RRs:1.4-2.1). Thirty to 60% increases in the risk of certain smoking and drinking behaviors were also seen among highly exposed subjects. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that risky behaviors, particularly drug use, are more frequent among adults with high PCE exposure levels during gestation and early childhood. These findings should be confirmed in follow-up investigations of other exposed populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Aschengrau
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Talbot 3E, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Janice M Weinberg
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Crosstown, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Patricia A Janulewicz
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Talbot 3E, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Megan E Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Talbot 3E, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Box 357236, Seattle WA, 98195, USA
| | - Lisa G Gallagher
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Talbot 4W, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Michael R Winter
- Data Coordinating Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Crosstown, 715 Albany Street, Boston MA 02118, USA
| | - Brett R Martin
- Data Coordinating Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Crosstown, 715 Albany Street, Boston MA 02118, USA
| | - Veronica M Vieira
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Talbot 4W, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Thomas F Webster
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Talbot 4W, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Roberta F White
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Talbot 4W, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord Street, Boston Ma 02118 USA
| | - David M Ozonoff
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Talbot 4W, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
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Bukowski JA. Review of the epidemiologic literature on residential exposure to perchloroethylene. Crit Rev Toxicol 2011; 41:771-82. [PMID: 21728756 DOI: 10.3109/10408444.2011.581649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Perchloroethylene is a solvent that is widely used for dry cleaning. There has been considerable interest in the toxicity of this chemical because of the potential for low-level exposure among a large portion of the US population. Although substantial epidemiologic literature exists on high-level occupational exposure to perchloroethylene, there are relatively few studies dealing with lower-level residential exposure. In the current paper, the author reviews this limited residential literature, with special emphasis on strengths, limitations, and consistency. Reviewed studies primarily address neurobehavioral, cancer, and reproductive endpoints. Most studies used an ecological or cross-sectional design, with exposure defined by either drinking-water contamination or proximity to dry cleaning. In general, reviewed studies were highly exploratory, with inconsistencies and potential for bias that detract from interpretation of study findings. The magnitudes of reported effects are frequently incompatible with the effects reported from much higher occupational and human-chamber exposures. Overall, few reliable conclusions can be drawn from this sparse and highly limited body of literature.
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Tucker JD, Sorensen KJ, Ruder AM, McKernan LT, Forrester CL, Butler MA. Cytogenetic analysis of an exposed-referent study: perchloroethylene-exposed dry cleaners compared to unexposed laundry workers. Environ Health 2011; 10:16. [PMID: 21392400 PMCID: PMC3062579 DOI: 10.1186/1476-069x-10-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2010] [Accepted: 03/10/2011] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Significant numbers of people are exposed to tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene, PCE) every year, including workers in the dry cleaning industry. Adverse health effects have been associated with PCE exposure. However, investigations of possible cumulative cytogenetic damage resulting from PCE exposure are lacking. METHODS Eighteen dry cleaning workers and 18 laundry workers (unexposed controls) provided a peripheral blood sample for cytogenetic analysis by whole chromosome painting. Pre-shift exhaled air on these same participants was collected and analyzed for PCE levels. The laundry workers were matched to the dry cleaners on race, age, and smoking status. The relationships between levels of cytological damage and exposures (including PCE levels in the shop and in workers' blood, packyears, cumulative alcohol consumption, and age) were compared with correlation coefficients and t-tests. Multiple linear regressions considered blood PCE, packyears, alcohol, and age. RESULTS There were no significant differences between the PCE-exposed dry cleaners and the laundry workers for chromosome translocation frequencies, but PCE levels were significantly correlated with percentage of cells with acentric fragments (R2 = 0.488, p < 0.026). CONCLUSIONS There does not appear to be a strong effect in these dry cleaning workers of PCE exposure on persistent chromosome damage as measured by translocations. However, the correlation between frequencies of acentric fragments and PCE exposure level suggests that recent exposures to PCE may induce transient genetic damage. More heavily exposed participants and a larger sample size will be needed to determine whether PCE exposure induces significant levels of persistent chromosome damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Tucker
- Department of Biological Sciences, 2117 Biological Sciences Building, 5047 Gullen Mall, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202-3917 USA
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, L-452, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550 USA
| | - Karen J Sorensen
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, L-452, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550 USA
| | - Avima M Ruder
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226 USA
| | - Lauralynn Taylor McKernan
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226 USA
| | - Christy L Forrester
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC, CDCW Bldg PATRI Room 9271, Washington, DC 20201 USA
| | - Mary Ann Butler
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, CDC, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226 USA
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Brown Dzubow R, Makris S, Siegel Scott C, Barone S. Early lifestage exposure and potential developmental susceptibility to tetrachloroethylene. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 89:50-65. [PMID: 20041493 DOI: 10.1002/bdrb.20222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tetrachloroethylene, also known as perchloroethylene or "perc", is a highly volatile and lipophilic solvent widely used in dry cleaning, textile processing, and metal-cleaning operations. The limited epidemiological and toxicological data available for exposure to perc during developmental lifestages, as well as the evidence for critical windows of exposure, highlight early life as a period of potential susceptibility. METHODS A literature search was performed to identify all peer-reviewed epidemiological and toxicologial studies examining outcomes from early lifestage exposure to perc, and reviewed by developmental stage for both exposure and outcome. RESULTS Exposure scenarios to perc unique to early lifestages include transplacental and breast milk intake, along with inhalation, ingestion, or dermal exposure. Toxicokinetics factors that may influence early lifestage susceptibility to perc, along with existing physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models, are described. Adverse outcomes examined include: reproductive outcomes examined prior to conception including reduced fertility, adverse effects on sperm, or altered reproductive hormones; prenatal outcomes examined after exposure prior to conception or prenatally including fetal death, birth defects, and decreased birth weight; postnatal outcomes examined after exposure prior to conception, prenatally, or during childhood including neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity, cancer, hepatotoxicity, congential anomalies and mortality; and adult schizophrenia examined after exposure prior to conception. CONCLUSIONS The limited evidence on early lifestage exposure to perc does not provide sufficient evidence of this sensitive period as being more or less important than exposure at a later lifestage, such as during adulthood. However, there are a number of adverse health effects observed uniquely in early lifestages, and increased sensitivity to visual system deficits is suggested in children. Other outcomes observed in adults may not have been adequately assessed in children to directly compare sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Brown Dzubow
- National Center for Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode 8623-P, Washington, DC 20460, USA.
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Gallagher LG, Webster TF, Aschengrau A, Vieira VM. Using residential history and groundwater modeling to examine drinking water exposure and breast cancer. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2010; 118:749-755. [PMID: 20164002 PMCID: PMC2898849 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.0901547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2009] [Accepted: 02/17/2010] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spatial analyses of case-control data have suggested a possible link between breast cancer and groundwater plumes in upper Cape Cod, Massachusetts. OBJECTIVE We integrated residential histories, public water distribution systems, and groundwater modeling within geographic information systems (GIS) to examine the association between exposure to drinking water that has been contaminated by wastewater effluent and breast cancer. METHODS Exposure was assessed from 1947 to 1993 for 638 breast cancer cases who were diagnosed from 1983 to 1993 and 842 controls; we took into account residential mobility and drinking water source. To estimate the historical impact of effluent on drinking water wells, we modified a modular three-dimensional finite-difference groundwater model (MODFLOW) from the U.S. Geological Survey. The analyses included latency and exposure duration. RESULTS Wastewater effluent impacted the drinking water wells of study participants as early as 1966. For > 0-5 years of exposure (versus no exposure), associations were generally null. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for > 10 years of exposure were slightly increased, assuming latency periods of 0 or 10 years [AOR = 1.3; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.9-1.9 and AOR = 1.6; 95% CI, 0.8-3.2, respectively]. Statistically significant associations were estimated for ever-exposed versus never-exposed women when a 20-year latency period was assumed (AOR = 1.9; 95% CI, 1.0-3.4). A sensitivity analysis that classified exposures assuming lower well-pumping rates showed similar results. CONCLUSION We investigated the hypothesis generated by earlier spatial analyses that exposure to drinking water contaminated by wastewater effluent may be associated with breast cancer. Using a detailed exposure assessment, we found an association with breast cancer that increased with longer latency and greater exposure duration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ann Aschengrau
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Hoffman K, Webster TF, Weinberg JM, Aschengrau A, Janulewicz PA, White RF, Vieira VM. Spatial analysis of learning and developmental disorders in upper Cape Cod, Massachusetts using generalized additive models. Int J Health Geogr 2010; 9:7. [PMID: 20152039 PMCID: PMC2834578 DOI: 10.1186/1476-072x-9-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2009] [Accepted: 02/12/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The spatial variability of three indicators of learning and developmental disability (LDD) was assessed for Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Maternal reports of receiving special education services, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and educational attainment were available for a birth cohort from 1969-1983. Using generalized additive models and residential history, maps of the odds of LDD were produced that also controlled for known risk factors. While results were not statistically significant, they suggest that children living in certain parts of Cape Cod were more likely to have a LDD. The spatial variation may be due to variation in the physical and social environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Hoffman
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Thomas F Webster
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Janice M Weinberg
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Ann Aschengrau
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | | | - Roberta F White
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Verónica M Vieira
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, USA
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Aschengrau A, Weinberg JM, Janulewicz PA, Gallagher LG, Winter MR, Vieira VM, Webster TF, Ozonoff DM. Prenatal exposure to tetrachloroethylene-contaminated drinking water and the risk of congenital anomalies: a retrospective cohort study. Environ Health 2009; 8:44. [PMID: 19778411 PMCID: PMC2761868 DOI: 10.1186/1476-069x-8-44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2009] [Accepted: 09/24/2009] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prior animal and human studies of prenatal exposure to solvents including tetrachloroethylene (PCE) have shown increases in the risk of certain congenital anomalies among exposed offspring. OBJECTIVES This retrospective cohort study examined whether PCE contamination of public drinking water supplies in Massachusetts influenced the occurrence of congenital anomalies among children whose mothers were exposed around the time of conception. METHODS The study included 1,658 children whose mothers were exposed to PCE-contaminated drinking water and a comparable group of 2,999 children of unexposed mothers. Mothers completed a self-administered questionnaire to gather information on all of their prior births, including the presence of anomalies, residential histories and confounding variables. PCE exposure was estimated using EPANET water distribution system modeling software that incorporated a fate and transport model. RESULTS Children whose mothers had high exposure levels around the time of conception had an increased risk of congenital anomalies. The adjusted odds ratio of all anomalies combined among children with prenatal exposure in the uppermost quartile was 1.5 (95% CI: 0.9, 2.5). No meaningful increases in the risk were seen for lower exposure levels. Increases were also observed in the risk of neural tube defects (OR: 3.5, 95% CI: 0.8, 14.0) and oral clefts (OR 3.2, 95% CI: 0.7, 15.0) among offspring with any prenatal exposure. CONCLUSION The results of this study suggest that the risk of certain congenital anomalies is increased among the offspring of women who were exposed to PCE-contaminated drinking water around the time of conception. Because these results are limited by the small number of children with congenital anomalies that were based on maternal reports, a follow-up investigation should be conducted with a larger number of affected children who are identified by independent records.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Aschengrau
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Talbot 3E, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Janice M Weinberg
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Crosstown, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Patricia A Janulewicz
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Talbot 3E, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Lisa G Gallagher
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Talbot 4W, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Michael R Winter
- Data Coordinating Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Crosstown, 715 Albany Street, Boston MA 02118, USA
| | - Veronica M Vieira
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Talbot 4W, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Thomas F Webster
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Talbot 4W, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - David M Ozonoff
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Talbot 4W, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
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Aschengrau A, Weinberg JM, Gallagher LG, Winter MR, Vieira VM, Webster TF, Ozonoff DM. Exposure to Tetrachloroethylene-Contaminated Drinking Water and the Risk of Pregnancy Loss. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 1:23-34. [PMID: 20613966 DOI: 10.1007/s12403-009-0003-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
There is little information on the impact of solvent-contaminated drinking water on pregnancy outcomes. This retrospective cohort study examined whether maternal exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE) - contaminated drinking water in the Cape Cod region of Massachusetts influenced the risk of clinically recognized pregnancy loss. The study identified exposed (n=959) and unexposed (1,087) women who completed a questionnaire on their residential and pregnancy histories, and confounding variables. Exposure was estimated using water distribution system modeling software. No meaningful associations were seen between PCE exposure level and the risk of clinically recognized pregnancy loss at the exposure levels experienced by the study population. Because PCE remains a common water contaminant, it is important to continue monitoring its impact on women and their pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Aschengrau
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston Massachusetts
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