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Mohanto NC, Ito Y, Kato S, Ebara T, Kaneko K, Tsuchiyama T, Sugiura-Ogasawara M, Saitoh S, Kamijima M. Quantitative Measurement of Phthalate Exposure Biomarker Levels in Diaper-Extracted Urine of Japanese Toddlers and Cumulative Risk Assessment: An Adjunct Study of JECS Birth Cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:395-404. [PMID: 36508278 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Phthalate exposure monitoring and risk assessment in non-toilet-trained children are rarely reported. This adjunct study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study assessed cumulative health risks in 1.5-year-old toddlers in the Aichi regional subcohort by biomonitoring 16 urinary metabolites of eight phthalate plasticizers. Overnight urine was extracted from toddlers' diapers (n = 1077), and metabolites were quantified using ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The analyses' quality was assured by running quality control samples. The highest geometric mean concentration was found for mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate, followed by mono-isobutyl phthalate (23 and 21 μg/L, respectively). Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and di-butyl phthalate exhibited higher risks [hazard quotient (HQ) > 1] than the cutoff level in a small proportion of toddlers; 8 and 14% of toddlers were at cumulative risk of multiple phthalates beyond the cutoff level [hazard index, (HI) > 1], based on the tolerable daily intake of the European Food Safety Authority and the United States Environmental Protection Agency Reference Dose. HI > 1 for antiandrogenicity in creatinine-unadjusted and -adjusted estimations were exhibited by 36 and 23% of the children, respectively. Thus, identifying exposure sources and mitigating exposure are necessary for risk management. Additionally, continuous exposure assessment and evaluation of health outcomes, especially antiandrogenic effects, are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayan C Mohanto
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya467-8601, Japan
| | - Yuki Ito
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya467-8601, Japan
| | - Sayaka Kato
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya467-8601, Japan
| | - Takeshi Ebara
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya467-8601, Japan
| | - Kayo Kaneko
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya467-8601, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Tsuchiyama
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya467-8601, Japan
| | - Mayumi Sugiura-Ogasawara
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya467-8601, Japan
| | - Shinji Saitoh
- Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya467-8601, Japan
| | - Michihiro Kamijima
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya467-8601, Japan
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Dong Y, Yin S, Zhang J, Guo F, Aamir M, Liu S, Liu K, Liu W. Exposure patterns, chemical structural signatures, and health risks of pesticides in breast milk: A multicenter study in China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 830:154617. [PMID: 35307419 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
China is the world's largest pesticide user. These chemicals are bioaccumulative in the human body, and eventually could be transferred from the mother to the fetus/infant via placental and breastfeeding transport, which might pose developmental deficiency risks. In this study, human biomonitoring of legacy pesticides was conducted in three Chinese cities using 60 breast milk samples. The patterns, chemical structural signatures, and the estimated daily intake of pesticides were assessed. The median concentration of HCB (57.8 ng g-1 lw, Interquartile range: 28.5-76.9 ng g-1 lw) was the highest among all pesticides, whereas the HCHs, DDXs, TCVP, and heptachlor were also detected. A significantly different pattern of pesticides was found among three sampling cities: the Mianyang cases were mostly DDXs oriented while the Wuhan and Hangzhou cases were under HCB, HCHs, TCVP, and heptachlor influences. Maternal age and pre-pregnancy BMI were found to be the influencing factors for the pesticides in the breast milk, and dietary preferences were an important factor in the exposure scenario. Chemical structural signatures indicated that for HCHs and DDXs the exposure was mostly historical, while the lindane and dicofol exposure may exist among the volunteering mothers. The EF for chiral pesticides did not deviate significantly from the racemic value. The risk from breastfeeding was negligible according to the Chinese and UN standard, while some cases from Hangzhou and Wuhan exceeded the Canadian restrictions. Thus, the adverse health effects of chemical exposure by dietary intake for infants need to be closely monitored in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihan Dong
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Interdisciplinary Research Academy (IRA), Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Shanshan Yin
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Interdisciplinary Research Academy (IRA), Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China.
| | - Jianyun Zhang
- Department of Nutrition and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Fangjie Guo
- Quality and Safety Engineering Institute of Food and Drug, School of Management Engineering and Electronic Commerce, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Muhammad Aamir
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Interdisciplinary Research Academy (IRA), Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Shuren Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Institution of Environmental Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Kecheng Liu
- School of Public Health, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310007, China
| | - Weiping Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Institution of Environmental Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Interdisciplinary Research Academy (IRA), Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China
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LaKind JS, Verner MA, Rogers RD, Goeden H, Naiman DQ, Marchitti SA, Lehmann GM, Hines EP, Fenton SE. Current Breast Milk PFAS Levels in the United States and Canada: After All This Time, Why Don't We Know More? ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:25002. [PMID: 35195447 PMCID: PMC8865090 DOI: 10.1289/ehp10359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite 20 y of biomonitoring studies of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in both serum and urine, we have an extremely limited understanding of PFAS concentrations in breast milk of women from the United States and Canada. The lack of robust information on PFAS concentrations in breast milk and implications for breastfed infants and their families were brought to the forefront by communities impacted by PFAS contamination. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this work are to: a) document published PFAS breast milk concentrations in the United States and Canada; b) estimate breast milk PFAS levels from maternal serum concentrations in national surveys and communities impacted by PFAS; and c) compare measured/estimated milk PFAS concentrations to screening values. METHODS We used three studies reporting breast milk concentrations in the United States and Canada We also estimated breast milk PFAS concentrations by multiplying publicly available serum concentrations by milk:serum partitioning ratios for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). Measured and estimated breast milk concentrations were compared to children's drinking water screening values. DISCUSSION Geometric means of estimated breast milk concentrations ranged over approximately two orders of magnitude for the different surveys/communities. All geometric mean and mean estimated and measured breast milk PFOA and PFOS concentrations exceeded drinking water screening values for children, sometimes by more than two orders of magnitude. For PFHxS and PFNA, all measured breast milk levels were below the drinking water screening values for children; the geometric mean estimated breast milk concentrations were close to-or exceeded-the children's drinking water screening values for certain communities. Exceeding a children's drinking water screening value does not indicate that adverse health effects will occur and should not be interpreted as a reason to not breastfeed; it indicates that the situation should be further evaluated. It is past time to have a better understanding of environmental chemical transfer to-and concentrations in-an exceptional source of infant nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10359.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judy S. LaKind
- LaKind Associates, LLC, Catonsville, Maryland, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Marc-André Verner
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal and CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Rachel D. Rogers
- Office of the Director, National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Helen Goeden
- Environmental Health Division, Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Daniel Q. Naiman
- Department of Applied Mathematics & Statistics, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Geniece M. Lehmann
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research & Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Erin P. Hines
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research & Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Suzanne E. Fenton
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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Guo F, Yin S, Wang H, Zhang J, Liu Y, Aamir M, Liu W. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the colostrum samples from the Yangtze River Region: Exposure profile and risk assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 285:117253. [PMID: 33957509 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may transfer into the neonates through the placental transfer and via breastfeeding after the delivery, thus might be harmful to the infant. Sixty colostrum samples in the Yangtze River Region were collected to investigate the concentration, distribution pattern, and enantiomer characteristic of the PCB exposure. Among all samples, over 90% of pollutants were tetra-to hepta-chlorinated PCBs. The sum concentration of the PCB was 512 (IQR: 322-856) ng g-1 lipid weight. Enantiomer fraction (EF) of PCB 95 and PCB 149 was found lower than the racemic value, while EFs of PCB 45 and PCB 136 were found higher and near-racemic state, respectively. The concentration pattern and enantiomeric properties of the PCBs indicated that the mothers from Mianyang had a recent exposure to PCBs. Among all samples, similar exposure and metabolic pathways of the PCB congeners were observed. PCB exposure showed no significant correlation with the birth outcome of the infants, but 43.3% of the infants have potential health risks via breastfeeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangjie Guo
- Quality and Safety Engineering Institute of Food and Drug, School of Management Engineering and Electronic Commerce, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shanshan Yin
- Interdisciplinary Research Academy (IRA), Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, 310015, China.
| | - Haiyan Wang
- Quality and Safety Engineering Institute of Food and Drug, School of Management Engineering and Electronic Commerce, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianyun Zhang
- Department of Nutrition and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, 311121, China
| | - Yingxue Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, Institution of Environmental Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Muhammad Aamir
- Water-Energy Resilience Research Laboratory, Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, 310024, China
| | - Weiping Liu
- Interdisciplinary Research Academy (IRA), Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, 310015, China
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Dórea JG, Fenton SE. Estimating risk of neurotoxicity from early life exposure: Human milk is an appropriate matrix, but messages should not discourage breastfeeding. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 693:133665. [PMID: 31634993 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- José G Dórea
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidade de Brasilia, 70919-970 Brasilia, DF, Brazil.
| | - Suzanne E Fenton
- Division of the National Toxicology Program (DNTP), NTP Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institute of Health (NIH), Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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Thurston AM, Andrade-Rivas F, Spiegel JM. Results Communication in Breast Milk Biomonitoring Studies: A Scoping Review and Stakeholder Consultation. Health Hum Rights 2019; 21:63-79. [PMID: 31239615 PMCID: PMC6586966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Researchers investigating breast milk contamination face substantive ethical dilemmas regarding how biomonitoring results should be conveyed, with limited guidance available to help them. To identify effective processes for undertaking such research, we sought to critically assess practices being followed in reporting results. To consider how researchers have reported on this and related ethical issues, we searched three English-language databases for articles published between 2010-2016 on measuring presence of pesticides in breast milk. Data on report-back processes and discussed ethical issues were charted from retained articles (n=102). To deepen our understanding of issues, we further consulted authors (n=20) of retained articles through an online survey. Quantitative data from surveys were tabulated and qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Of 102 articles, only two mentioned sharing results with subjects, while 10 out of 20 survey participants confirmed that they had indeed conducted report-back in their studies. Articles discussing ethical considerations were few (n=5), although researchers demonstrated awareness of common ethical debates to inform report-back decisions. Our review suggests that greater explicit attention should be given to practices of engaging study subjects and their communities in contamination studies so that an evidence base on best ethical practices can be more readily available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Mari Thurston
- MSc public health student at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Federico Andrade-Rivas
- PhD student at the Global Health Research Program, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jerry M. Spiegel
- Co-director of the Global Health Research Program at the School of Population and Public Health and professor, University of British Columbia, Canada
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7
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Kordas K. The "Lead Diet": Can Dietary Approaches Prevent or Treat Lead Exposure? J Pediatr 2017; 185:224-231.e1. [PMID: 28283259 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.01.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Revised: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Kordas
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY.
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8
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Zhang H, Yolton K, Webster GM, Sjödin A, Calafat AM, Dietrich KN, Xu Y, Xie C, Braun JM, Lanphear BP, Chen A. Prenatal PBDE and PCB Exposures and Reading, Cognition, and Externalizing Behavior in Children. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2017; 125:746-752. [PMID: 27385187 PMCID: PMC5381998 DOI: 10.1289/ehp478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Revised: 05/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) exposures may influence children's neurodevelopment. OBJECTIVE We examined the association of prenatal PBDE and PCB exposures with children's reading skills at ages 5 and 8 years, Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ), and externalizing behavior problems at age 8 years. METHODS From 239 mother-child pairs recruited (2003-2006) in Cincinnati, Ohio, we measured maternal serum PBDE and PCB concentrations, assessed child's reading skills using the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement III (WJ-III) at age 5 years and the Wide Range Achievement Test-4 (WRAT-4) at age 8 years, tested FSIQ using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV (WISC-IV), and externalizing behavior problems using the Behavioral Assessment System for Children-2 (BASC-2) at age 8 years. We used multiple linear regression to examine the association of prenatal PBDE and PCB concentrations and reading, FSIQ, and externalizing behavior problems after adjusting for covariates. RESULTS An increase of Sum4PBDEs (BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, and BDE-153) by 10 times was not significantly associated with reading scores at age 5 years at the p = 0.05 level but was inversely associated with Reading Composite scores (β: -6.2, 95% CI: -11.7, -0.6) and FSIQ (β: -5.3, 95% CI: -10.6, -0.02) at age 8 years; it was positively associated with the score for externalizing behavior problems (β: 3.5, 95% CI: -0.1, 7.2) at age 8 years. Prenatal Sum4PCBs (PCB-118, -153, -138-158, and -180) was not significantly associated with a child's reading skills, FSIQ, and externalizing behavior problems. CONCLUSION Prenatal PBDE concentration was inversely associated with reading skills and FSIQ and positively associated with externalizing behavior problems at age 8 years. No significant associations were found in prenatal PCB concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Glenys M. Webster
- Child and Family Research Institute, BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Andreas Sjödin
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Antonia M. Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kim N. Dietrich
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Yingying Xu
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Changchun Xie
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Joseph M. Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
| | - Bruce P. Lanphear
- Child and Family Research Institute, BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Dasu K, Nakayama SF, Yoshikane M, Mills MA, Wright JM, Ehrlich S. An ultra-sensitive method for the analysis of perfluorinated alkyl acids in drinking water using a column switching high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 2017; 1494:46-54. [PMID: 28336137 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2017.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Revised: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In epidemiological research, it has become increasingly important to assess subjects' exposure to different classes of chemicals in multiple environmental media. It is a common practice to aliquot limited volumes of samples into smaller quantities for specific trace level chemical analyses. A novel method was developed for the determination of 14 perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs) in small volumes (10mL) of drinking water using off-line solid phase extraction (SPE) pre-treatment followed by on-line pre-concentration on a WAX column before analysis on column-switching high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). In general, large volumes (100-1000mL) have been used for the analysis of PFAAs in drinking water. The current method requires approximately 10mL of drinking water concentrated by using an SPE cartridge and eluted with methanol. A large volume injection of the extract was introduced on to a column-switching HPLC-MS/MS using a mix-mode SPE column for the trace level analysis of PFAAs in water. The recoveries for most of the analytes in the fortified laboratory blanks ranged from 73±14% to 128±5%. The lowest concentration minimum reporting levels (LCMRL) for the 14 PFAAs ranged from 0.59 to 3.4ng/L. The optimized method was applied to a pilot-scale analysis of a subset of drinking water samples from an epidemiological study. These samples were collected directly from the taps in the households of Ohio and Northern Kentucky, United States and the sources of drinking water samples are both surface water and ground water, and supplied by different water distribution facilities. Only five PFAAs, perfluoro-1-butanesulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluoro-1- -hexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluoro-1-octanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluoro-n-heptanoic acid (PFHpA) and perfluoro-n-octanoic acid (PFOA) are detected above the LCMRL values. The median concentrations of these five PFAAs detected in the samples was ≤4.1ng/L with PFOS at 7.6ng/L and PFOA at 10ng/L. Concentrations of perfluoro-1-decanesulfonic acid, PFDS and other perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids were below the LCMRL values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavitha Dasu
- National Research Council, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA; National Risk Management Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Shoji F Nakayama
- Centre for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Mitsuha Yoshikane
- Environmental Risk Research Center, Institute of Environmental Ecology, IDEA Consultants, Inc., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Marc A Mills
- National Risk Management Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - J Michael Wright
- National Center for Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Shelley Ehrlich
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Donauer S, Altaye M, Xu Y, Sucharew H, Succop P, Calafat AM, Khoury JC, Lanphear B, Yolton K. An Observational Study to Evaluate Associations Between Low-Level Gestational Exposure to Organophosphate Pesticides and Cognition During Early Childhood. Am J Epidemiol 2016; 184:410-8. [PMID: 27539379 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwv447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 12/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides, which is ubiquitous, may be detrimental to neurological development. We examined 327 mother/infant pairs in Cincinnati, Ohio, between 2003 and 2006 to determine associations between prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides and neurodevelopment. Twice during pregnancy urinary concentrations of 6 common dialkylphosphates, nonspecific metabolites of organophosphate pesticides, were measured. Aggregate concentrations of diethylphosphates, dimethylphosphates, and total dialkylphosphates were calculated. Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition-Mental and Psychomotor Developmental indices were administered at ages 1, 2, and 3 years, the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Preschool, Second Edition, at age 4, and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence, Third Edition, at age 5. Mothers with higher urinary total dialkylphosphate concentrations reported higher levels of socioeconomic status and increased fresh fruit and vegetable intake. We found no associations between prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides and cognition at 1-5 years of age. In our cohort, exposure to organophosphate pesticides during pregnancy was not associated with cognition during early childhood. It is possible that a higher socioeconomic status and healthier diet may protect the fetus from potential adverse associations with gestational organophosphate pesticide exposure, or that dietary exposure to the metabolites is innocuous and not an ideal measure of exposure to the parent compound.
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11
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Romano ME, Xu Y, Calafat AM, Yolton K, Chen A, Webster GM, Eliot MN, Howard CR, Lanphear BP, Braun JM. Maternal serum perfluoroalkyl substances during pregnancy and duration of breastfeeding. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2016; 149:239-246. [PMID: 27179585 PMCID: PMC4907828 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.04.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Revised: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may affect breast development and decrease duration of breastfeeding, thus interfering with the health benefits of breastfeeding. We investigated the association between maternal PFAS exposure and breastfeeding duration. METHODS We measured PFAS concentrations in maternal serum collected during pregnancy in 2003-2006. After delivery, women (n=336) completed standardized breastfeeding surveys every 3 months until ending breastfeeding or 36 months postpartum. We estimated relative risks (RRs) for ending any breastfeeding within 3-6 months postpartum by Poisson regression, adjusted for relevant confounding factors. RESULTS Women in the 4th quartile of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) serum concentration had 1.77 times the risk of ending any breastfeeding by 3 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23, 2.54; p-trend=0.003) and 1.41 times the risk of ending any breastfeeding by 6 months (95%CI: 1.06, 1.87; p-trend=0.038), compared with women in the first quartile. Women in the 4th quartile of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid serum concentration had a marginally increased risk of discontinuing any breastfeeding by 3 months (RR=1.32; 95%CI: 0.97, 1.79; p-trend=0.065). CONCLUSIONS Maternal serum PFOA concentrations were inversely related to duration of any breastfeeding in this cohort, even after controlling for prior breastfeeding. These findings suggest that PFOA exposure may adversely affect breastfeeding duration and highlight the need to consider the potential adverse effects of maternal environmental chemical exposure on breastfeeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
| | - Yingying Xu
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Aimin Chen
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Glenys M Webster
- Child and Family Research Institute, BC Children's and Women's Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Melissa N Eliot
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Cynthia R Howard
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- Child and Family Research Institute, BC Children's and Women's Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Joseph M Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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12
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Braun JM, Chen A, Romano ME, Calafat AM, Webster GM, Yolton K, Lanphear BP. Prenatal perfluoroalkyl substance exposure and child adiposity at 8 years of age: The HOME study. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2016; 24:231-7. [PMID: 26554535 PMCID: PMC4688224 DOI: 10.1002/oby.21258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 07/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine relationships between prenatal perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure and adiposity in children born to women who lived downstream from a fluoropolymer manufacturing plant. METHODS Data are from a prospective cohort in Cincinnati, Ohio (HOME Study). Perfluorooctanoic (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic (PFOS), perfluorononanoic (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic (PFHxS) acids were measured in prenatal serum samples. Differences were measured in body mass index z-scores (BMI), waist circumference, and body fat at 8 years of age (n = 204) and BMI between 2-8 years of age (n = 285) according to PFAS concentrations. RESULTS Children born to women in the top two PFOA terciles had greater adiposity at 8 years than children in the 1st tercile. For example, waist circumference (cm) was higher among children in the 2nd (4.3; 95% CI: 1.7, 6.9) and 3rd tercile (2.2; 95% CI: -0.5, 4.9) compared to children in the 1st tercile. Children in the top two PFOA terciles also had greater BMI gains from 2 to 8 years compared to children in the 1st tercile (P < 0.05). PFOS, PFNA, and PFHxS were not associated with adiposity. CONCLUSIONS In this cohort, higher prenatal serum PFOA concentrations were associated with greater adiposity at 8 years and a more rapid increase in BMI between 2-8 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M. Braun
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267
| | - Megan E. Romano
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI
| | | | - Glenys M. Webster
- Child and Family Research Institute, BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Bruce P. Lanphear
- Child and Family Research Institute, BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
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13
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Donauer S, Chen A, Xu Y, Calafat AM, Sjodin A, Yolton K. Prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals and infant neurobehavior. J Pediatr 2015; 166:736-42. [PMID: 25524317 PMCID: PMC4344877 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2014.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Revised: 09/29/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs) on early infant neurobehavior. STUDY DESIGN In a cohort of 349 mother/infant pairs, we measured maternal serum concentrations during pregnancy of PBDEs, including BDE-47 and other related congeners, as well as 2 common PFCs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid. When the infants were 5 weeks of age, we measured their neurobehavior by using the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS). RESULTS Neither PBDE nor PFC exposures during gestation were associated with the 11 individual NNNS outcomes included in our study; however, when we used latent profile analysis to categorize infants into neurobehavioral profiles based on performance on the NNNS (social/easygoing, high arousal/difficult, or hypotonic), a 10-fold increase in prenatal PFOA concentrations significantly increased the odds of being categorized as hypotonic compared with social/easygoing (aOR 3.79; 95% CI 1.1-12.8). CONCLUSIONS Infants of mothers with greater serum concentrations of PFOA during pregnancy were more likely to be categorized as hypotonic. No association between PBDE concentrations and hypotonia was found. Additional studies should further investigate possible associations of prenatal PFC exposure and muscle tone in infants and children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Donauer
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
| | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Yingying Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Antonia M. Calafat
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Andreas Sjodin
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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14
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Lehmann GM, Verner MA, Luukinen B, Henning C, Assimon SA, LaKind JS, McLanahan ED, Phillips LJ, Davis MH, Powers CM, Hines EP, Haddad S, Longnecker MP, Poulsen MT, Farrer DG, Marchitti SA, Tan YM, Swartout JC, Sagiv SK, Welsh C, Campbell JL, Foster WG, Yang RS, Fenton SE, Tornero-Velez R, Francis BM, Barnett JB, El-Masri HA, Simmons JE. Improving the risk assessment of lipophilic persistent environmental chemicals in breast milk. Crit Rev Toxicol 2014; 44:600-17. [PMID: 25068490 PMCID: PMC4115797 DOI: 10.3109/10408444.2014.926306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Lipophilic persistent environmental chemicals (LPECs) have the potential to accumulate within a woman's body lipids over the course of many years prior to pregnancy, to partition into human milk, and to transfer to infants upon breastfeeding. As a result of this accumulation and partitioning, a breastfeeding infant's intake of these LPECs may be much greater than his/her mother's average daily exposure. Because the developmental period sets the stage for lifelong health, it is important to be able to accurately assess chemical exposures in early life. In many cases, current human health risk assessment methods do not account for differences between maternal and infant exposures to LPECs or for lifestage-specific effects of exposure to these chemicals. Because of their persistence and accumulation in body lipids and partitioning into breast milk, LPECs present unique challenges for each component of the human health risk assessment process, including hazard identification, dose-response assessment, and exposure assessment. Specific biological modeling approaches are available to support both dose-response and exposure assessment for lactational exposures to LPECs. Yet, lack of data limits the application of these approaches. The goal of this review is to outline the available approaches and to identify key issues that, if addressed, could improve efforts to apply these approaches to risk assessment of lactational exposure to these chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geniece M. Lehmann
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, US
| | - Marc-André Verner
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, US
| | | | - Cara Henning
- ICF International, Research Triangle Park, NC, US
| | - Sue Anne Assimon
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD, US
| | - Judy S. LaKind
- LaKind Associates, LLC, Catonsville, MD, US
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, US
- Department of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, US
| | - Eva D. McLanahan
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, US
| | - Linda J. Phillips
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, US
| | - Matthew H. Davis
- Office of Children’s Health Protection, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, US
| | - Christina M. Powers
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, US
| | - Erin P. Hines
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, US
| | - Sami Haddad
- Department of Environmental Health and Occupational Health, IRSPUM (Université de Montréal Public Health Research Institute), Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Matthew P. Longnecker
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC, US
| | | | | | - Satori A. Marchitti
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA, US
| | - Yu-Mei Tan
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, US
| | - Jeffrey C. Swartout
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, US
| | - Sharon K. Sagiv
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, US
| | - Clement Welsh
- Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, GA, US
| | - Jerry L. Campbell
- The Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, US
| | - Warren G. Foster
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Raymond S.H. Yang
- Quantitative and Computational Toxicology Group, Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, US
| | - Suzanne E. Fenton
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC, US
| | - Rogelio Tornero-Velez
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, US
| | | | - John B. Barnett
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, US
| | - Hisham A. El-Masri
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, US
| | - Jane Ellen Simmons
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, US
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15
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Goodman M, LaKind JS, Mattison DR. Do phthalates act as obesogens in humans? A systematic review of the epidemiological literature. Crit Rev Toxicol 2014; 44:151-75. [DOI: 10.3109/10408444.2013.860076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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16
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Watkins D, Eliot M, Sathyanarayana S, Calafat AM, Yolton K, Lanphear B, Braun JM. Variability and predictors of urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites during early childhood. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2014; 48:8881-90. [PMID: 24977926 PMCID: PMC4123928 DOI: 10.1021/es501744v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2014] [Revised: 06/23/2014] [Accepted: 06/30/2014] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The variability and predictors of urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites in preschool-aged children have not been thoroughly examined. Additionally, the impact of temporal changes in the use and restriction of phthalates in children's products has not been assessed. Our objective was to identify demographic, behavioral, and temporal predictors of urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations in young children. Between 2004 and 2011, we collected up to five urine samples from each of 296 children participating in a prospective birth cohort during annual study visits at ages 1-5 years. We used linear mixed models to calculate intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), a measure of within-individual reproducibility, and identify demographic predictors of urinary phthalate metabolites. We used multivariable linear regression to examine cross-sectional relationships between food packaging or personal care product use and phthalate metabolites measured at age 5 years. Across annual measurements, monoethyl phthalate exhibited the least variation (ICC = 0.38), while di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (ΣDEHP) metabolites exhibited the most variation (ICC = 0.09). Concentrations changed with age, suggesting age-related changes in phthalate exposure and perhaps metabolism. Our findings suggest that fast food consumption may be a source of butylbenzyl phthalate and di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP) exposure, and some personal care products may be sources of diethyl phthalate exposure. Concentrations of ΣDEHP metabolites decreased over the study period; however, concentrations of DiNP metabolites increased. This finding suggests that manufacturer practices and regulations, like the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, may decrease DEHP exposure, but additional work characterizing the nature and toxicity of replacements is critically needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah
J. Watkins
- Department
of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Melissa Eliot
- Department
of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- Department
of Pediatrics, University of Washington,
Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington 98105, United States
- Department
of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Antonia M. Calafat
- Division of Laboratory
Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, United
States
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, United States
| | - Bruce
P. Lanphear
- Department
of Pediatrics, Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, United States
- Child
and
Family Research Institute, BC Children’s Hospital and the Faculty
of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Joseph M. Braun
- Department
of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
- E-mail:
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17
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Yolton K, Xu Y, Sucharew H, Succop P, Altaye M, Popelar A, Montesano MA, Calafat AM, Khoury JC. Impact of low-level gestational exposure to organophosphate pesticides on neurobehavior in early infancy: a prospective study. Environ Health 2013; 12:79. [PMID: 24034442 PMCID: PMC3848803 DOI: 10.1186/1476-069x-12-79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2013] [Accepted: 08/24/2013] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND National data suggest widespread gestational exposure to organophosphate pesticides (OPs) based on the detection of OP metabolites in the urine of pregnant women. Associations with early infant neurobehavior are largely understudied, with only two studies reporting abnormal reflexes in newborns in association with gestational exposure to OPs. Our objective was to utilize biological markers of OP metabolites in pregnant women and a comprehensive assessment of infant neurobehavior to determine the association of gestational exposure to OPs with neurobehavioral outcomes during early infancy. METHODS Among a cohort of 350 mother/infant pairs, we measured six common dialkylphosphate metabolites of OP pesticides in maternal urine, at two times during pregnancy (16 w & 26 w gestation), then calculated aggregate concentrations of diethylphosphate, dimethylphosphate, and total dialkyphosphate metabolites. We measured infant neurobehavior at about five weeks of age using the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS), a comprehensive assessment of neurobehavior in young infants. Analyses of associations between gestational exposure to OPs and neurobehavior at five weeks included multiple linear and logistic regression. RESULTS After adjustment for covariates, higher creatinine-corrected urinary concentrations of diethylphosphate metabolites were associated with improved attention and reduced lethargy and hypotonia in young infants. Higher creatinine-corrected urinary concentrations of total dialkylphosphate metabolites were associated with fewer signs of autonomic stress. Women who were white, married, had advanced education, and reported more frequent consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables had higher concentrations of OP metabolites during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS In this sample of pregnant women whose urinary concentrations of dialkylphosphate metabolites are representative of national exposure levels, we found no detrimental effects of gestational exposure to OPs on neurobehavioral outcomes among young infants. These results are important as they suggest there may be minimal to no detectable adverse impact of low level prenatal OP exposure on the neurobehavior of young infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly Yolton
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Yingying Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Heidi Sucharew
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Paul Succop
- College of Medicine, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Mekibib Altaye
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Ann Popelar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - M Angela Montesano
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jane C Khoury
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
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18
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Cordner A, Brown P. MOMENTS OF UNCERTAINTY: ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND EMERGING CONTAMINANTS. SOCIOLOGICAL FORUM (RANDOLPH, N.J.) 2013; 28:10.1111/socf.12034. [PMID: 24249964 PMCID: PMC3829201 DOI: 10.1111/socf.12034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Science on emerging environmental health threats involves numerous ethical concerns related to scientific uncertainty about conducting, interpreting, communicating, and acting upon research findings, but the connections between ethical decision making and scientific uncertainty are under-studied in sociology. Under conditions of scientific uncertainty, researcher conduct is not fully prescribed by formal ethical codes of conduct, increasing the importance of ethical reflection by researchers, conflicts over research conduct, and reliance on informal ethical standards. This paper draws on in-depth interviews with scientists, regulators, activists, industry representatives, and fire safety experts to explore ethical considerations of moments of uncertainty using a case study of flame retardants, chemicals widely used in consumer products with potential negative health and environmental impacts. We focus on the uncertainty that arises in measuring people's exposure to these chemicals through testing of their personal environments or bodies. We identify four sources of ethical concerns relevant to scientific uncertainty: 1) choosing research questions or methods, 2) interpreting scientific results, 3) communicating results to multiple publics, and 4) applying results for policy-making. This research offers lessons about professional conduct under conditions of uncertainty, ethical research practice, democratization of scientific knowledge, and science's impact on policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alissa Cordner
- 345 Boyer Ave., Whitman College, Department of Sociology
| | - Phil Brown
- Northeastern University, Department of Sociology and Anthropology and Department of Health Sciences, 360 Huntington Avenue, 318INV, Boston, MA 02115,
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19
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Beebe DW, Rausch J, Byars KC, Lanphear B, Yolton K. Persistent snoring in preschool children: predictors and behavioral and developmental correlates. Pediatrics 2012; 130:382-9. [PMID: 22891224 PMCID: PMC3428758 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2012-0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To clarify whether persistent snoring in 2- to 3-year-olds is associated with behavioral and cognitive development, and to identify predictors of transient and persistent snoring. METHODS Two hundred forty-nine mother/child pairs participated in a prospective birth cohort study. Based upon parental report of loud snoring ≥ 2 times weekly at 2 and 3 years of age, children were designated as nonsnorers, transient snorers (snored at 2 or 3 years of age, but not both), or persistent snorers (snored at both ages). We compared groups by using validated measures of behavioral and cognitive functioning. Potential predictors of snoring included child race and gender, socioeconomic status (parent education and income), birth weight, prenatal tobacco exposure (maternal serum cotinine), childhood tobacco exposure (serum cotinine), history and duration of breast milk feeding, and body mass relative to norms. RESULTS In multivariable analyses, persistent snorers had significantly higher reported overall behavior problems, particularly hyperactivity, depression, and inattention. Nonsnorers had significantly stronger cognitive development than transient and persistent snorers in unadjusted analyses, but not after demographic adjustment. The strongest predictors of the presence and persistence of snoring were lower socioeconomic status and the absence or shorter duration of breast milk feeding. Secondary analyses suggested that race may modify the association of childhood tobacco smoke exposure and snoring. CONCLUSIONS Persistent, loud snoring was associated with higher rates of problem behaviors. These results support routine screening and tracking of snoring, especially in children from low socioeconomic backgrounds; referral for follow-up care of persistent snoring in young children; and encouragement and facilitation of infant breastfeeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean W. Beebe
- Divisions of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology,,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Joseph Rausch
- Divisions of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology,,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Kelly C. Byars
- Divisions of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology,,Pulmonary Medicine, and,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University and Child and Family Research Institute, British Columbia Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; and
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; ,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
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20
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Dórea JG, Fenton SE, LaKind JS, Berlin CM. Researching chemicals in human milk can be conducted without discouraging breastfeeding. Bosn J Basic Med Sci 2012; 12:137-8. [PMID: 22642600 DOI: 10.17305/bjbms.2012.2515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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21
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Sucharew H, Khoury JC, Xu Y, Succop P, Yolton K. NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale profiles predict developmental outcomes in a low-risk sample. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2012; 26:344-52. [PMID: 22686386 PMCID: PMC3376022 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3016.2012.01288.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Latent profile analysis (LPA) has been used previously to classify neurobehavioral responses of infants prenatally exposed to cocaine and other drugs of abuse. The objective of this study was to define NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) profile response patterns in a cohort of infants with no known cocaine exposure or other risks for neurobehavior deficits, and determine whether these profiles predict neurobehavioral outcomes in these low-risk infants. METHODS NNNS exams were performed on 355 low-risk infants at approximately 5 weeks after birth. LPA was used to define discrete profiles based on the standard NNNS summary scales. Associations between the infant profiles and neurobehavioral outcomes at one to three years of age were examined. RESULTS Twelve of the 13 summary scales were used and three discrete NNNS profiles identified: social/easy going infants (44%), hypotonic infants (24%), and high arousal/difficult infants (32%). Statistically significant associations between NNNS profiles and later neurobehavioral outcomes were found for psychomotor development and externalizing behaviors. Hypotonic infants had both lower psychomotor development and lower externalizing scores compared to the other two profiles. CONCLUSIONS Three distinct profiles of the NNNS summary scores were identifiable using LPA among infants with no known cocaine exposure. These profile patterns were associated with early childhood neurobehavioral outcome, similar to findings reported in a study of infants with substantial cocaine exposure, demonstrating the utility of this profiling technique in both exposed and unexposed populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Sucharew
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
| | - Jane C. Khoury
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
| | - Yingying Xu
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
| | - Paul Succop
- University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental Health, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
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22
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Byars KC, Yolton K, Rausch J, Lanphear B, Beebe DW. Prevalence, patterns, and persistence of sleep problems in the first 3 years of life. Pediatrics 2012; 129:e276-84. [PMID: 22218837 PMCID: PMC3357046 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2011-0372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Examine the prevalence, patterns, and persistence of parent-reported sleep problems during the first 3 years of life. METHODS Three hundred fifty-nine mother/child pairs participated in a prospective birth cohort study. Sleep questionnaires were administered to mothers when children were 6, 12, 24, and 36 months old. Sleep variables included parent response to a nonspecific query about the presence/absence of a sleep problem and 8 specific sleep outcome domains: sleep onset latency, sleep maintenance, 24-hour sleep duration, daytime sleep/naps, sleep location, restlessness/vocalization, nightmares/night terrors, and snoring. RESULTS Prevalence of a parent-reported sleep problem was 10% at all assessment intervals. Night wakings and shorter sleep duration were associated with a parent-reported sleep problem during infancy and early toddlerhood (6-24 months), whereas nightmares and restless sleep emerged as associations with report of a sleep problem in later developmental periods (24-36 months). Prolonged sleep latency was associated with parent report of a sleep problem throughout the study period. In contrast, napping, sleep location, and snoring were not associated with parent-reported sleep problems. Twenty-one percent of children with sleep problems in infancy (compared with 6% of those without) had sleep problems in the third year of life. CONCLUSIONS Ten percent of children are reported to have a sleep problem at any given point during early childhood, and these problems persist in a significant minority of children throughout early development. Parent response to a single-item nonspecific sleep query may overlook relevant sleep behaviors and symptoms associated with clinical morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly C. Byars
- Divisions of Pulmonary Medicine,Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | | | - Bruce Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University and Child and Family Research Institute, British Columbia Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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23
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Brown P, Cordner A. Lessons learned from flame retardant use and regulation could enhance future control of potentially hazardous chemicals. Health Aff (Millwood) 2011; 30:906-14. [PMID: 21555474 DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2010.1228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Flame retardant chemicals, used in many furniture and electronic products to slow combustion, are an example of science and policy problems related to chemical usage. Drawing on a literature review and interviews with stakeholders, we argue that early warnings of the health hazards some flame retardants pose were not heeded as their use expanded to different products. Continued use of flame retardants coincides with their increased presence in people and adverse human health effects. We recommend policy changes applicable to oversight of chemicals in general: examining classes of chemicals rather than individual ones, assessing alternative methods and materials, product labeling, and stronger regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phil Brown
- Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
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Yolton K, Xu Y, Strauss D, Altaye M, Calafat AM, Khoury J. Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A and phthalates and infant neurobehavior. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2011; 33:558-66. [PMID: 21854843 PMCID: PMC3183357 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2011.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2011] [Revised: 08/05/2011] [Accepted: 08/07/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the association of prenatal exposure to bisphenol A and select common phthalates with infant neurobehavior measured at 5 weeks. METHODS We compared the concentration of maternal urinary metabolites of bisphenol A and phthalates at two distinct time points in pregnancy (16w, 26w) with scores on the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) at 5 weeks of age in a cohort of 350 mother/infant pairs. RESULTS Prenatal exposure to BPA was not significantly associated with neurobehavioral outcomes at 5 weeks. Significant associations between prenatal exposure to measured phthalates and infant neurobehavioral outcomes differed by type of phthalate and were only seen with exposure measured at 26 weeks. Higher total di-butyl phthalate (DBP) metabolites at 26w were associated with improved behavioral organization evidenced by decreased arousal (p=.04), increased self-regulation (p=.052), and decreased handling (p=.02). In males, higher total di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) metabolites at 26w were associated with more nonoptimal reflexes (p=.02). CONCLUSION The association between prenatal phthalate exposure and infant neurobehavior differed by type of phthalate and was evident only with exposure measured at 26w. Prenatal exposure to DBP was associated with improved behavioral organization in 5-week-old infants. Prenatal exposure to DEHP was associated with nonoptimal reflexes in male infants. There was no evidence of an association between prenatal BPA exposure and infant neurobehavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly Yolton
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039, United States.
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Xu Y, Yolton K, Khoury J. Earliest appropriate time for administering neurobehavioral assessment in newborn infants. Pediatrics 2011; 127:e69-75. [PMID: 21172999 PMCID: PMC3375468 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2010-1121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of examination time on newborn neurobehavioral examinations administered within 48 hours of delivery and to identify the earliest appropriate time for performing the assessment. METHODS We analyzed data from neurobehavioral examinations on 324 newborns using the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS). Trends over examination time and cumulative percentage within published normal ranges were analyzed to identify the earliest appropriate time for administering the examination. Ordinal logistic regression and multivariate regression were used for testing and defining the earliest appropriate time for administering the examination without being influenced by acute effects of labor and delivery while controlling for several potential confounding factors. RESULTS The arousal, excitability, lethargy, quality-of-movement, hypotonicity, and nonoptimal-reflexes scales were sensitive to timing of the examination. Results of ordinal logistic regression showed that 20 hours after delivery seemed to be the earliest appropriate time for administering newborn NNNS examinations. The proportion of NNNS scores within the normal range increased with time significantly when the examination was made less than 20 hours after delivery (n = 148) (odds ratio: 1.12 [95% confidence interval: 1.02-1.23]), but there was no longer significant association with time of examination after 20 hours (n = 176) (odds ratio: 1.04 [95% confidence interval: 0.99-1.09]). This result was confirmed by multivariate regression. CONCLUSIONS We recommend 20 hours after delivery as the earliest appropriate time for administering newborn NNNS examinations to obtain results reflecting outcomes that are a representative assessment of newborn neurobehavior and not contaminated by acute effects of labor and delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Xu
- Divisions of General and Community Pediatrics and
| | | | - Jane Khoury
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Dunn RL, Carey GB. Developing a biomonitoring educational pamphlet for potential participants in a breast milk biomonitoring study. J Hum Lact 2010; 26:183-6. [PMID: 20110562 DOI: 10.1177/0890334409354878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decade, biomonitoring research initiatives in the United States have increased because of growing concern over the accumulation of environmental chemicals in the human body. One matrix that has become a viable biological sample for estimating human exposure to environmental chemicals is breast milk. However, breast milk biomonitoring research can induce anxiety and confusion about breastfeeding if communication is lacking between researchers, community partners, and participants. To bridge this communication gap, an informative, reassuring 8-page pamphlet was developed to educate community partners and potential participants about research on 1 class of environmental chemicals-polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Not only did the pamphlet assist in participant recruitment, but it forged positive relationships with valuable community partners.
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Yolton K, Khoury J, Xu Y, Succop P, Lanphear B, Bernert JT, Lester B. Low-level prenatal exposure to nicotine and infant neurobehavior. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2009; 31:356-63. [PMID: 19619640 PMCID: PMC2761996 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2009.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2009] [Revised: 07/09/2009] [Accepted: 07/09/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the association between prenatal exposure to nicotine from tobacco smoke and infant neurobehavior using tobacco biomarkers and a sensitive and comprehensive measure of infant neurobehavior. STUDY DESIGN Participants were 318 infants (206 White, 95 Black, 17 Other) and their mothers. Prenatal tobacco smoke exposure was measured twice during pregnancy and once at delivery using maternal serum cotinine. Infant neurobehavior was assessed with the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale at approximately 5 weeks after birth. RESULTS Prenatal tobacco smoke exposure was significantly associated with infant neurobehavior after controlling for important covariates, but the specific behaviors associated with exposure varied by race. In White infants, higher cotinine was associated with increased arousal (p=.030) and excitability (p=.034), and decreased self-regulation (p=.010). In contrast, among Black infants, higher cotinine was associated with decreased arousal (p=.001), excitability (p=.021), and special handling required to complete the assessment (p=.003), and increased self-regulation (p=.021) and hypotonicity (p=.016). In secondary analyses, we found racial differences in the effects of postnatal exposure to second hand smoke and low-level prenatal exposure. CONCLUSIONS Low-level prenatal tobacco smoke exposure is associated with infant neurobehavior at 5 weeks of age, but the specific effects differ by race. These effects may reflect racial differences in nicotine metabolism that are similar to differences reported in adult and child studies of tobacco.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly Yolton
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039, USA.
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LaKind JS, Fenton SE, Dórea JG. Human milk biomonitoring of phthalates: expanding our understanding of infant exposure is compatible with supporting breastfeeding. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2009; 35:994-5. [PMID: 19395085 PMCID: PMC3458117 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2009.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2009] [Accepted: 03/25/2009] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Judy S. LaKind
- LaKind Associates, LLC, 106 Oakdale Avenue, Catonsville, Maryland, USA, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Suzanne E. Fenton
- Reproductive Toxicology Division, USEPA, Research Triangle, Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - José G. Dórea
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidade de Brasilia, 70919-970 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
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Brody JG, Morello-Frosch R, Brown P, Rudel RA. Reporting individual results for environmental chemicals in breastmilk in a context that supports breastfeeding. Breastfeed Med 2009; 4:121; author reply 123. [PMID: 19500054 PMCID: PMC2932546 DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2009.0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Phil Brown
- School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California
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Geraghty SR, Morrow AL, Lanphear B, Lanphear B. The heart of the matter on breastmilk and environmental chemicals: essential points for healthcare providers and new parents. Breastfeed Med 2009; 4:125-6; author reply 127. [PMID: 19500056 PMCID: PMC2932547 DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2009.0010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sheela R. Geraghty
- Center for Breastfeeding Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Ardythe L. Morrow
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Child & Family Research Institute, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Child & Family Research Institute, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Morello-Frosch R, Brody JG, Brown P, Altman RG, Rudel RA, Pérez C. Toxic ignorance and right-to-know in biomonitoring results communication: a survey of scientists and study participants. Environ Health 2009; 8:6. [PMID: 19250551 PMCID: PMC2654440 DOI: 10.1186/1476-069x-8-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2008] [Accepted: 02/28/2009] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure assessment has shifted from pollutant monitoring in air, soil, and water toward personal exposure measurements and biomonitoring. This trend along with the paucity of health effect data for many of the pollutants studied raise ethical and scientific challenges for reporting results to study participants. METHODS We interviewed 26 individuals involved in biomonitoring studies, including academic scientists, scientists from environmental advocacy organizations, IRB officials, and study participants; observed meetings where stakeholders discussed these issues; and reviewed the relevant literature to assess emerging ethical, scientific, and policy debates about personal exposure assessment and biomonitoring, including public demand for information on the human health effects of chemical body burdens. RESULTS We identify three frameworks for report-back in personal exposure studies: clinical ethics; community-based participatory research; and citizen science 'data judo.' The first approach emphasizes reporting results only when the health significance of exposures is known, while the latter two represent new communication strategies where study participants play a role in interpreting, disseminating, and leveraging results to promote community health. We identify five critical areas to consider in planning future biomonitoring studies. CONCLUSION Public deliberation about communication in personal exposure assessment research suggests that new forms of community-based research ethics and participatory scientific practice are emerging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Morello-Frosch
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management & School of Public Health, 137 Mulford Hall, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3114, USA
| | | | - Phil Brown
- Department of Sociology, Brown University, Box 1916, Providence, RI 02912-1916, USA
- Center for Environmental Studies, Brown University, Box 1943, Providence, RI 02912-1943, USA
| | - Rebecca Gasior Altman
- Center for Environmental Studies, Brown University, Box 1943, Providence, RI 02912-1943, USA
| | - Ruthann A Rudel
- Silent Spring Institute, 29 Crafts Street, Newton, MA 02458, USA
| | - Carla Pérez
- Communities for a Better Environment, 1440 Broadway Suite 701, Oakland, CA 94612, USA
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