Variability and correlations of synthetic chemicals in urine from a New York City-based cohort of pregnant women

Prenatal phthalate exposure and anogenital distance in infants at 12 months

OBJECTIVE

Anogenital distance (AGD) is a postnatal marker of in utero exposure to androgens and anti-androgens, and a predictor of reproductive health. We examined the association between gestational exposure to phthalates and AGD in male and female infants.

METHODS

In 506 mother-infant pairs (276 males, 230 females), we measured urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites at < 18 and 18-25 weeks of gestation and AGD at child age 12.9 months (95 % range 11.4-21.1). Phthalate metabolite concentrations were adjusted for urinary dilution, averaged, and natural log-transformed. We measured anus-clitoris distance (AGDac) and anus-fourchette distance (AGDaf) in females, and anus-scrotum distance, anus-penis distance, and penile width in males. We used linear regression and partial-linear single-index (PLSI) models to examine associations between phthalates and AGD as single pollutants and in mixture.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight percent of mothers were Hispanic, followed by 27 % non-Hispanic White. Higher exposures to ∑di-isononyl(phthalate) (∑DiNP) was associated with longer AGDaf [1.28 mm (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.52, 2.03) and 0.97 mm (95 %CI: 0.25, 1.69), respectively]. Higher exposures to ∑di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (∑DEHP) was associated with longer AGDac [2.80 mm (95 %CI: 1.17, 4.44), and 1.90 mm (95 %CI: 0.76, 3.04), respectively]. No association was observed between phthalate metabolites and AGD in males after multiple testing correction. In mixture analyses, ∑DiNP and ∑DEHP were the main contributors to longer AGD in females. We also detected an interaction between ∑DiNP and ∑DEHP in association with AGD in females.

CONCLUSION

Early pregnancy phthalate exposure was associated with longer AGD in female infants. Biological mechanisms underlying these associations should be further investigated.

Prenatal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure and child growth and adiposity: A longitudinal study

BACKGROUND

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during childhood has been associated with altered growth and adiposity in children. The effects of prenatal exposure to PAHs on developmental programming of growth and adiposity are still unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To study the association of prenatal exposure to PAHs with early childhood growth and adiposity measures.

METHODS

In NYU Children's Health and Environment Study (2016-2019), we studied 880 mother-child pairs for maternal urinary PAH metabolites in early, mid, and late pregnancy and measured child weight, length/height, triceps, and subscapular skinfold thicknesses at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years. We used linear mixed models to investigate associations between average pregnancy exposure to PAHs and the z-scores of child repeated measures. The models were adjusted for sociodemographic and health-related factors.

RESULTS

Children prenatally exposed to higher levels of PAHs had greater weight and length/height z scores. We found an interaction with time-point of child assessment, showing stronger associations at later ages. For instance, PAH exposure was associated with higher weight z-scores at 3 years: coefficient per Ln-unit increase in 2-NAP = 0.25 (95%CI: 0.13, 0.37), 2-PHEN = 0.25 (95%CI: 0.11, 0.39), 1-PYR = 0.13 (95%CI: 0.02, 0.24), and 4-PHEN = 0.09 (95%CI: 0.02, 0.15). Higher concentrations of 2-NAP (coefficient = 0.21, 95%CI: 0.11, 0.31), 2-PHEN (coefficient = 0.24, 95%CI: 0.12, 0.35), 3-PHEN (coefficient = 0.13, 95%CI: 0.02, 0.24]), 4-PHEN (coefficient = 0.09, 95%CI: 0.04, 0.15), and 1-PYR (coefficient = 0.11, 95%CI: 0.02, 0.21) were associated with higher weight z-score at 4 years.

CONCLUSION

Prenatal PAH exposure may contribute to the developmental programming of growth in childhood.

Environmental and dietary factors associated with urinary OH-PAHs in mid-pregnancy in a large multi-site study

BACKGROUND

PAH exposure is associated with adverse health outcomes, but exposure sources in pregnancy are not well-understood.

OBJECTIVES

We examined associations between urinary OH-PAHs during pregnancy and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and short-term ambient air pollution exposure. Participants included 1603 pregnant non-smokers in three cohorts from 7 sites across the USA. We also examined associations with intake of foods typically high in PAHs in one cohort with dietary assessment data (n = 801).

METHODS

Urinary OH-PAHs were measured using LC-MS/MS; urinary cotinine was measured using SPE/UPLC-MS/MS. To accommodate different detection limits by cohort, ETS exposure was represented by modified cotinine quartiles; these combined concentrations below the highest detection limit in the first category (0-0.017 ng/mL), with the rest divided evenly into three categories (0.0171-0.2 ng/mL, 0.21-1.191 ng/mL, 1.192-1465 ng/mL). Air pollution exposure was represented by quartiles of same-day ambient PM2.5 in residential census tracts estimated from EPA's Downscaler Model. We fitted separate Tobit regression models for log-OH-PAH concentrations in association with cotinine or ambient PM2.5 quartile adjusted for specific gravity, site, batch, household income, education, employment status, neighborhood deprivation index, season, and year. For the food model, PAH dietary intakes were estimated using food frequency questionnaire data and standard portion weights from a national database.

RESULTS

In adjusted models, the highest modified cotinine quartile vs. the lowest was associated with 48% (95% CI: 13%, 94%) higher urinary 1-hydroxynaphthalene, 36% (15%, 61%) higher 2-hydroxynaphthalene, 41% (23%, 63%) higher 3-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 70% (28%, 127%) higher 1-hydroxypyrene. Second and third quartile cotinine concentrations were associated with higher OH-PAHs, although not consistently. Same-day ambient PM2.5 was not associated with any OH-PAH, nor was self-reported dietary intake.

CONCLUSIONS

ETS is a major source of PAH exposure for pregnant people in the USA while ambient PM2.5 and diet measured via usual intakes appear less influential. Our findings underscore the importance of policies/actions to reduce environmental tobacco smoke exposure among pregnant people.

Prenatal exposure to phthalates and phthalate replacements in relation to chorionic plate surface vasculature at delivery

Pregnant people are ubiquitously exposed to endocrine-disrupting phthalates through consumer products and food. The placenta may be particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of phthalates, with evidence from animal models suggesting impacts on placental development and vascularization. We translate this research to humans, examining gestational exposure to phthalates and phthalate replacements in relation to novel markers of chorionic plate surface vascularization. Phthalate and phthalate replacement metabolites were measured in first trimester urine from pregnant participants in the Understanding Pregnancy Signals and Infant Development (UPSIDE) cohort (n = 154). At delivery, placentae underwent specialized 2D and 3D digital imaging to quantify chorionic plate surface vasculature. Using weighted quantile g-computation mixtures methods as well as multivariable linear regression models examining individual metabolites, we evaluated associations with overall chorionic plate surface area and five chorionic plate surface vascular measures, adjusting for covariates. We additionally examined interactions with placental sex. Exposure to a phthalate mixture was associated with longer total arterial arc length (β = 9.64 cm; 95%CI: 1.68, 17.59), shorter mean arterial arc length (β = -0.07 cm; 95%CI: -0.14, -0.01), and more arterial branch points (β = 5.77; 95%CI: 1.56, 9.98), but not chorionic plate surface area. In models considering individual metabolites and their molar sums, results were strongest for the metabolites of Di-isobutyl phthalate (DiBP), Di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP), and Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Associations with metabolites of phthalate replacements tended to be in the same direction but weaker. Few sex differences were observed. Gestational phthalate exposure may be associated with alterations in placental chorionic plate surface vasculature characterized by more branching and shorter segments. These alterations may have implications for placental perfusion and suggest a placental mechanism by which phthalates may impact fetal development.

Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites in Chinese pregnant women: Concentrations, variability, predictors, and association with oxidative stress biomarkers

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of pervasive contaminants having adverse health effects. Urinary monohydroxylated PAHs (OH-PAHs) are commonly employed as biomarkers to estimate PAH exposure levels in humans. However, little is understood about the variability in OH-PAHs among pregnant women across trimesters and their relationship with oxidative stress biomarkers (OSBs). Based on a prospective birth cohort study conducted in Wuhan, China, we selected 644 women who donated (spot) urine samples across different trimesters and measured the urinary concentrations of eight OH-PAHs and three selected OSBs (8-OHG, 8-OHdG, and HNEMA) to explore the relationship between the OH-PAHs and OSBs. Pregnant women were found to be ubiquitously exposed to the PAHs, with detection rates of the OH-PAHs ranging from 86.3% to 100%. 2-Hydroxynaphthalene (2-OH-Nap) had the highest urinary concentrations among the OH-PAHs during the three trimesters (specific gravity-adjusted median values for the first, second, and third trimesters: 1.86, 2.39, and 2.20 ng/mL, respectively). However, low reproducibility of the OH-PAHs was observed across the three trimesters with intraclass correlation coefficients ranged between 0.02 and 0.22. Most urinary OH-PAHs had the highest concentrations at the first trimester and the lowest at the third trimester. Some OH-PAH concentrations were higher in pregnant women with lower educational level [2-hydroxyphenanthrene (2-OH-Phen) and 3-hydroxyphenanthrene (3-OH-Phen)], those who were overweight [2-OH-Nap, 2/3-hydroxyfluorene (2/3-OH-Fluo), 2-OH-Phen, and 4-hydroxyphenanthrene (4-OH-Phen)], those who were unemployed during pregnancy [1-hydroxynaphthalene, 1/9-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 4-OH-Phen], and the samples donated in summer (most OH-PAHs, except for 2-OH-Nap). In multivariable linear mixed-effects model analyses, every OH-PAH was found to be significantly associated with increased levels of the three OSBs. For example, each interquartile range-fold increase in 2/3-OH-Fluo concentration was associated with the largest increase in 8-OHdG (65.4%) and 8-OHG (49.1%), while each interquartile range-fold increase in 3-OH-Phen concentration was associated with the largest increase in HNEMA (76.3%). Weighted quantile sum regression models, which were used to examine the joint effect of OH-PAH mixture on the OSBs, revealed positive associations between the OH-PAH mixture exposure and the OSBs. Specifically, 2/3-OH-Fluo and 2-OH-Nap were the major contributors in the association with oxidative damage of nucleic acids (8-OHdG and 8-OHG), while hydroxyphenanthrenes and 1-hydroxypyrene were the major contributors in the association with oxidative damage of lipid (HNEMA). Further work is required to examine the potential mediating role of oxidative stress in the relationship of adverse health outcomes with elevated PAH exposure among pregnant women.

Evaluating associations of bisphenol and phthalate exposure with time to pregnancy and subfecundity in a New York City pregnancy cohort

It is important to understand the impact of consumer chemical exposure and fecundity, a couple's measure of probability of successful conception, given approximately 15% of couples experience infertility. Prior research has generally found null associations between bisphenol and phthalate exposure and fecundability, measured via time to pregnancy (TTP). However, this research has not been updated with current chemical exposures and have often lacked diversity in their study populations. We evaluated the associations between common bisphenol and phthalate chemical exposure groups and TTP as well as subfecundity (TTP>12 months) in the New York University Children's Health Study, a diverse pregnancy cohort from 2016 onward. Using first-trimester spot-urine samples to measure chemical exposure and self-reported TTP from first-trimester questionnaires, we observed a significant adverse association between total bisphenol exposure and certain phthalate groups on TTP and odds of subfecundity. Furthermore, in a mixtures analysis to explore the joint effects of the chemical groups on the outcomes, we found evidence of a potential interaction between total bisphenol exposure and low-molecular weight phthalates on TTP. Future research should continue to update our knowledge regarding the complex and potentially interacting effects of these chemicals on reproductive health.

Prenatal phthalate exposure and fetal penile length and width

BACKGROUND

Phthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals with anti-androgenic qualities and studies reported associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and infant genitalia. This study investigated whether increased prenatal phthalate exposure is associated with decreased fetal penile measures.

METHODS

Data was from the New York University Children's Health and Environment Study (2016-2019). Maternal urinary concentrations of 16 phthalate metabolites were quantified at <18 weeks gestation as a proxy for fetal exposure (n = 334 male pregnancies). We retrospectively measured penile length and width using ultrasounds conducted 18-24 weeks gestation (n = 173 fetuses). Associations of maternal urinary levels of phthalates with fetal penile length and width were determined using linear regression models.

RESULTS

57.2% of women were Hispanic, 31.8% Non-Hispanic White, 6.4% Asian, 2.3% Non-Hispanic Black, and 2.3% multiple races. Mean maternal age was 32 years (standard deviation [SD] = 5.7). Mean penile length was 7.13 mm (SD = 1.47) and width was 6.16 mm (SD = 0.87). An inverse relationship was observed between maternal levels of mono-ethyl phthalate and fetal penile length, and mono-(7-carboxy-n-heptyl) phthalate and penile width, though estimates were small and not significant when considering correction for multiple comparisons.

CONCLUSIONS

In our cohort we found no clinically meaningful associations between early pregnancy phthalate exposure and fetal penile length or width.

IMPACT

First-trimester phthalate metabolites were assessed in pregnant women in New York City. Penile length and width were retrospectively measured on clinically assessed ultrasounds conducted ≥18 weeks and <24 weeks of gestation. In this cohort, no clinically meaningful associations were observed between first-trimester prenatal phthalate exposure and fetal penile length. This study contributes to the limited but growing research on the impact of prenatal phthalate exposure on male fetal genital development. The results emphasize that there may not be a clear association between prenatal phthalate exposure and fetal penile length and width, and further research on this topic may be required.

Fetal bisphenol and phthalate exposure and early childhood growth in a New York City birth cohort

BACKGROUND

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as bisphenols and phthalates during pregnancy may disrupt fetal developmental programming and influence early-life growth. We hypothesized that prenatal bisphenol and phthalate exposure was associated with alterations in adiposity through 4 years. This associations might change over time.

METHODS

Among 1091 mother-child pairs in a New York City birth cohort study, we measured maternal urinary concentrations of bisphenols and phthalates at three time points in pregnancy and child weight, height, and triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness at ages 1, 2, 3, and 4 years. We used linear mixed models to assess associations of prenatal individual and grouped bisphenols and phthalates with overall and time-point-specific adiposity outcomes from birth to 4 years.

RESULTS

We observed associations of higher maternal urinary second trimester total bisphenol and bisphenol A concentrations in pregnancy and overall child weight between birth and 4 years only (Beta 0.10 (95 % confidence interval 0.04, 0.16) and 0.07 (0.02, 0.12) standard deviation score (SDS) change in weight per natural log increase in exposure), We reported an interaction of the exposures with time, and analysis showed associations of higher pregnancy-averaged mono-(2-carboxymethyl) phthalate with higher child weight at 3 years (0.14 (0.06, 0.22)), and of higher high-molecular-weight phthalate, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate, mono-(2-carboxymethyl) phthalate, and mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate with higher child weight at 4 years (0.16 (0.04, 0.28), 0.15 (0.03, 0.27), 0.19 (0.07, 0.31), 0.16 (0.07, 0.24), 0.11 (0.03, 0.19)). Higher pregnancy-averaged high-molecular-weight phthalate, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate, mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate, and mono-2(ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate concentrations were associated with higher child BMI at 4 years (0.20 (0.05, 0.35), 0.20 (0.05, 0.35), 0.22 (0.06, 0.37), 0.20 (0.05, 0.34), 0.20 (0.05, 0.34)). For skinfold thicknesses, we observed no associations.

DISCUSSION

This study contributes to the evidence suggesting associations of prenatal exposure to bisphenols and high-molecular-weight phthalates on childhood weight and BMI.

Prenatal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and asthma at age 8-9 years in a multi-site longitudinal study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Studies suggest prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may influence wheezing or asthma in preschool-aged children. However, the impact of prenatal PAH exposure on asthma and wheeze in middle childhood remain unclear. We investigated these associations in socio-demographically diverse participants from the ECHO PATHWAYS multi-cohort consortium.

METHODS

We included 1,081 birth parent-child dyads across five U.S. cities. Maternal urinary mono-hydroxylated PAH metabolite concentrations (OH-PAH) were measured during mid-pregnancy. Asthma at age 8-9 years and wheezing trajectory across childhood were characterized by caregiver reported asthma diagnosis and asthma/wheeze symptoms. We used logistic and multinomial regression to estimate odds ratios of asthma and childhood wheezing trajectories associated with five individual OH-PAHs, adjusting for urine specific gravity, various maternal and child characteristics, study site, prenatal and postnatal smoke exposure, and birth year and season in single metabolite and mutually adjusted models. We used multiplicative interaction terms to evaluate effect modification by child sex and explored OH-PAH mixture effects through Weighted Quantile Sum regression.

RESULTS

The prevalence of asthma in the study population was 10%. We found limited evidence of adverse associations between pregnancy OH-PAH concentrations and asthma or wheezing trajectories. We observed adverse associations between 1/9-hydroxyphenanthrene and asthma and persistent wheeze among girls, and evidence of inverse associations with asthma for 1-hydroxynathpthalene, which was stronger among boys, though tests for effect modification by child sex were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

In a large, multi-site cohort, we did not find strong evidence of an association between prenatal exposure to PAHs and child asthma at age 8-9 years, though some adverse associations were observed among girls.

Subpopulations of children with multiple chronic health outcomes in relation to chemical exposures in the ECHO-PATHWAYS consortium

A multimorbidity-focused approach may reflect common etiologic mechanisms and lead to better targeting of etiologic agents for broadly impactful public health interventions. Our aim was to identify clusters of chronic obesity-related, neurodevelopmental, and respiratory outcomes in children, and to examine associations between cluster membership and widely prevalent chemical exposures to demonstrate our epidemiologic approach. Early to middle childhood outcome data collected 2011-2022 for 1092 children were harmonized across the ECHO-PATHWAYS consortium of 3 prospective pregnancy cohorts in six U.S. cities. 15 outcomes included age 4-9 BMI, cognitive and behavioral assessment scores, speech problems, and learning disabilities, asthma, wheeze, and rhinitis. To form generalizable clusters across study sites, we performed k-means clustering on scaled residuals of each variable regressed on study site. Outcomes and demographic variables were summarized between resulting clusters. Logistic weighted quantile sum regressions with permutation test p-values associated odds of cluster membership with a mixture of 15 prenatal urinary phthalate metabolites in full-sample and sex-stratified models. Three clusters emerged, including a healthier Cluster 1 (n = 734) with low morbidity across outcomes; Cluster 2 (n = 192) with low IQ and higher levels of all outcomes, especially 0.4-1.8-standard deviation higher mean neurobehavioral outcomes; and Cluster 3 (n = 179) with the highest asthma (92 %), wheeze (53 %), and rhinitis (57 %) frequencies. We observed a significant positive, male-specific stratified association (odds ratio = 1.6; p = 0.01) between a phthalate mixture with high weights for MEP and MHPP and odds of membership in Cluster 3 versus Cluster 1. These results identified subpopulations of children with co-occurring elevated levels of BMI, neurodevelopmental, and respiratory outcomes that may reflect shared etiologic pathways. The observed association between phthalates and respiratory outcome cluster membership could inform policy efforts towards children with respiratory disease. Similar cluster-based epidemiology may identify environmental factors that impact multi-outcome prevalence and efficiently direct public policy efforts.

Prenatal exposure to common plasticizers: a longitudinal study on phthalates, brain volumetric measures, and IQ in youth

Exposure to phthalates, used as plasticizers and solvents in consumer products, is ubiquitous. Despite growing concerns regarding their neurotoxicity, brain differences associated with gestational exposure to phthalates are understudied. We included 775 mother-child pairs from Generation R, a population-based pediatric neuroimaging study with prenatal recruitment, who had data on maternal gestational phthalate levels and T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in children at age 10 years. Maternal urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites were measured at early, mid-, and late pregnancy. Child IQ was assessed at age 14 years. We investigated the extent to which prenatal exposure to phthalates is associated with brain volumetric measures and whether brain structural measures mediate the association of prenatal phthalate exposure with IQ. We found that higher maternal concentrations of monoethyl phthalate (mEP, averaged across pregnancy) were associated with smaller total gray matter volumes in offspring at age 10 years (β per log10 increase in creatinine adjusted mEP = -10.7, 95%CI: -18.12, -3.28). Total gray matter volumes partially mediated the association between higher maternal mEP and lower child IQ (β for mediated path =-0.31, 95%CI: -0.62, 0.01, p = 0.05, proportion mediated = 18%). An association of higher monoisobutyl phthalate (mIBP) and smaller cerebral white matter volumes was present only in girls, with cerebral white matter volumes mediating the association between higher maternal mIBP and lower IQ in girls. Our findings suggest the global impact of prenatal phthalate exposure on brain volumetric measures that extends into adolescence and underlies less optimal cognitive development.

Prenatal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and asthma at age 8-9 years in a multi-site longitudinal study

Background and aim

Studies suggest prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may influence wheezing or asthma in preschool-aged children. However, the impact of prenatal PAH exposure on asthma and wheeze in middle childhood remain unclear. We investigated these associations in diverse participants from the ECHO PATHWAYS multi-cohort consortium.

Methods

We included 1,081 birth parent-child dyads across five U.S. cities. Maternal urinary mono-hydroxylated PAH metabolite concentrations (OH-PAH) were measured during mid-pregnancy. Asthma at age 8-9 years and wheezing trajectory across childhood were characterized by caregiver reported asthma diagnosis and asthma/wheeze symptoms. We used logistic and multinomial regression to estimate odds ratios of asthma and childhood wheezing trajectories associated with five individual OH-PAHs, adjusting for urine specific gravity, various maternal and child characteristics, study site, prenatal and postnatal smoke exposure, and birth year and season in single metabolite and mutually adjusted models. We used multiplicative interaction terms to evaluate effect modification by child sex and explored OH-PAH mixture effects through Weighted Quantile Sum regression.

Results

The prevalence of asthma in the study population was 10%. We found limited evidence of adverse associations between pregnancy OH-PAH concentrations and asthma or wheezing trajectories. We observed adverse associations between 1/9-hydroxyphenanthrene and asthma and persistent wheeze among girls, and evidence of inverse associations with asthma for 1-hydroxynathpthalene, which was stronger among boys, though tests for effect modification by child sex were not statistically.

Conclusions

In a large, multi-site cohort, we did not find strong evidence of an association between prenatal exposure to PAHs and child asthma at age 8-9 years, though some adverse associations were observed among girls.

Maternal urinary bisphenols and phthalates in relation to estimated fetal weight across mid to late pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Bisphenols and phthalates are high production volume chemicals used as additives in a variety of plastic consumer products leading to near ubiquitous human exposure. These chemicals have established endocrine disrupting properties and have been linked to a range of adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes. Here, we investigated exposure in relation to fetal growth.

METHODS

Participants included 855 mother-fetal pairs enrolled in the population-based New York University Children's Health and Environment Study (NYU CHES). Bisphenols and phthalates were measured in maternal urine collected repeatedly during pregnancy. Analyses included 15 phthalate metabolites and 2 bisphenols that were detected in 50 % of participants or more. Fetal biometry data were extracted from electronic ultrasonography records and estimated fetal weight (EFW) was predicted for all fetuses at 20, 30, and 36 weeks gestation. We used quantile regression adjusted for covariates to model exposure-outcome relations across percentiles of fetal weight at each gestational timepoint. We examined sex differences using stratified models.

RESULTS

Few statistically significant associations were observed across chemicals, gestational time periods, percentiles, and sexes. However, within gestational timepoints, we found that among females, the molar sums of the phthalates DiNP and DnOP were generally associated with decreases in EFW among smaller babies and increases in EFW among larger babies. Among males, the opposite trend was observed. However, confidence intervals were generally wide at the tails of the distribution.

CONCLUSION

In this sample, exposure to bisphenols and phthalates was associated with small sex-specific shifts in fetal growth; however, few associations were observed at the median of fetal weight and confidence intervals in the tails were wide. Findings were strongest for DiNP and DnOP, which are increasingly used as replacements for DEHP, supporting the need for future research on these contaminants.

Placental transcriptomic signatures of prenatal exposure to Hydroxy-Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

BACKGROUND

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous pollutants originating from petrogenic and pyrogenic sources. PAH compounds can cross the placenta, and prenatal PAH exposure is linked to adverse infant and childhood health outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

In this first human transcriptomic assessment of PAHs in the placenta, we examined associations between prenatal PAH exposure and placental gene expression to gain insight into mechanisms by which PAHs may disrupt placental function.

METHODS

The ECHO PATHWAYS Consortium quantified prenatal PAH exposure and the placental transcriptome from 629 pregnant participants enrolled in the CANDLE study. Concentrations of 12 monohydroxy-PAH (OH-PAH) metabolites were measured in mid-pregnancy urine using high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Placental transcriptomic data were obtained using paired-end RNA sequencing. Linear models were fitted to estimate covariate-adjusted associations between maternal urinary OH-PAHs and placental gene expression. We performed sex-stratified analyses to evaluate whether associations varied by fetal sex. Selected PAH/gene expression analyses were validated by treating HTR-8/SVneo cells with phenanthrene, and quantifying expression via qPCR.

RESULTS

Urinary concentrations of 6 OH-PAHs were associated with placental expression of 8 genes. Three biological pathways were associated with 4 OH-PAHs. Placental expression of SGF29 and TRIP13 as well as the vitamin digestion and absorption pathway were positively associated with multiple metabolites. HTR-8/SVneo cells treated with phenanthrene also exhibited 23 % increased TRIP13 expression compared to vehicle controls (p = 0.04). Fetal sex may modify the relationship between prenatal OH-PAHs and placental gene expression, as more associations were identified in females than males (45 vs 28 associations).

DISCUSSION

Our study highlights novel genes whose placental expression may be disrupted by OH-PAHs. Increased expression of DNA damage repair gene TRIP13 may represent a response to double-stranded DNA breaks. Increased expression of genes involved in vitamin digestion and metabolism may reflect dietary exposures or represent a compensatory mechanism to combat damage related to OH-PAH toxicity. Further work is needed to study the role of these genes in placental function and their links to perinatal outcomes and lifelong health.