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Gustavsson P, Lissåker C, Albin M, Alfredsson L, Wiebert P, Tinnerberg H, Grahn K, Rylander L, Selander J. Risk of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes after occupational exposure to chemicals during pregnancy-A cohort study of births in Sweden 1994-2014. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2025; 279:121802. [PMID: 40345419 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.121802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2025] [Revised: 04/24/2025] [Accepted: 05/06/2025] [Indexed: 05/11/2025]
Abstract
Many women are occupationally active during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between exposure to chemicals during pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes or preeclampsia. The cohort included singleton births in Sweden between 1994 and 2014. The cohort was limited to low-educated mothers to reduce potential confounding from unidentified life-style associated factors. Information on occupation (full-time employed) at beginning of pregnancy, demographic data, education, personal risk factors and medical diagnoses were obtained from national records. Occupational exposure to 20 chemicals/particles was assessed by a time-specific job exposure matrix (SweJEM). Relative risks (RR) were adjusted for birth year of the child and mother's age, parity, country of birth, smoking, BMI, and occupational exposure to physical strain, low decision authority, noise, and whole-body vibrations. There were 307,985 births in the cohort. The risk of preeclampsia was elevated after exposure to diesel engine exhaust (RR 1.19; 95 % CI 1.03-1.37), gasoline engine exhaust (RR 1.26; 1.05-1.52) or to carbon monoxide (RR 1.21; 1.03-1.42). Exposure to lead was associated with an elevated risk of gestational diabetes, (RR 2.41; 1.05-5.55), based on six cases only, though. An elevated risk of preeclampsia in association with combustion products is corroborated by studies of traffic-related urban air pollution and of smoke from wildfires. Exposure to motor exhaust during pregnancy should be minimised. Exposure to lead during pregnancy should be avoided also because of serious neurodevelopmental effects for the child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Per Gustavsson
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Claudia Lissåker
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Albin
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Sweden; Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Lars Alfredsson
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pernilla Wiebert
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Håkan Tinnerberg
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Karin Grahn
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Rylander
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jenny Selander
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Holme JA, Myhre O, Øvrevik J. Adverse neurodevelopment in children associated with prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) - Possible roles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and mechanisms involved. Reprod Toxicol 2024; 130:108718. [PMID: 39276806 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2024.108718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2024] [Revised: 09/11/2024] [Accepted: 09/11/2024] [Indexed: 09/17/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to ambient fine particles (PM2.5) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been associated with adverse birth outcomes including neurodevelopmental effects with cognitive and/or behavioral implications in early childhood. As a background we first briefly summarize human studies on PM2.5 and PAHs associated with adverse birth outcomes and modified neurodevelopment. Next, we add more specific information from animal studies and in vitro studies and elucidate possible biological mechanisms. More specifically we focus on the potential role of PAHs attached to PM2.5 and explore whether effects of these compounds may arise from disturbance of placental function or more directly by interfering with neurodevelopmental processes in the fetal brain. Possible molecular initiating events (MIEs) include interactions with cellular receptors such as the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), beta-adrenergic receptors (βAR) and transient receptor potential (TRP)-channels resulting in altered gene expression. MIE linked to the binding of PAHs to cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and formation of reactive electrophilic metabolites are likely less important. The experimental animal and in vitro studies support the epidemiological findings and suggest steps involved in mechanistic pathways explaining the associations. An overall evaluation of the doses/concentrations used in experimental studies combined with the mechanistic understanding further supports the hypothesis that prenatal PAHs exposure may cause adverse outcomes (AOs) linked to human neurodevelopment. Several MIEs will likely occur simultaneously in various cells/tissues involving several key events (KEs) which relative importance will depend on dose, time, tissue, genetics, other environmental factors, and neurodevelopmental endpoint in study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jørn A Holme
- Department of Air quality and Noise, Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box PO Box 222 Skøyen, Oslo 0213, Norway.
| | - Oddvar Myhre
- Department of Chemical Toxicology, Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222 Skøyen, Oslo 0213, Norway
| | - Johan Øvrevik
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, Oslo 0316, Norway; Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222 Skøyen, Oslo 0213, Norway
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Sewor C, Eliason S, Jaakkola JJ, Amegah AK. Dietary Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Consumption and Risk of Adverse Birth Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:16002. [PMID: 38241191 PMCID: PMC10798428 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is suggestive epidemiological evidence that maternal dietary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) may increase the risk of adverse birth outcomes. We sought to summarize the available evidence on the effect of dietary PAH exposure on birth outcomes. METHODS PubMed and Scopus databases were systematically searched from inception up to November 2022. Studies were included if they were original articles, were conducted in a human population, assessed dietary PAH consumption, and investigated the relationship between dietary PAH consumption and any adverse birth outcomes. Risk of bias in the included studies was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. A random effects model was used to compute summary effect estimates in the meta-analysis. RESULTS Six observational studies (five prospective cohort studies, and one prevalence case-control study) were included. The included studies assessed dietary PAH exposure using dietary questionnaires. Information on the outcomes of interest was obtained from medical records. Three of the included studies were rated as good quality with the remaining three studies rated as fair quality. One study was considered as having low risk of bias for selection, information and confounding bias. Dietary PAH consumption was associated with 5.65 g [95% confidence interval (CI): - 16.36 , 5.06] and 0.04 cm (95% CI: - 0.08 , 0.01) reductions in birth weight and birth length, respectively, and an increase in head circumference [effect size ( ES ) = 0.001 ; 95% CI: - 0.003 , 0.005]. The CI of all the summary effect estimates, however, included the null value. In the sensitivity analysis that included only studies that assessed dietary PAH exposure as the primary exposure of interest, dietary PAH consumption was associated with much higher reductions in birth weight (ES = - 14.61 ; 95% CI: - 21.07 , - 8.15 ) and birth length (ES = - 0.06 ; 95% CI: - 0.1 , - 0.03 ). High statistical heterogeneity was observed in the birth weight and birth length analysis and in the head circumference sensitivity analysis. DISCUSSION The body of epidemiological evidence suggests that maternal dietary PAH exposure is associated with reduced fetal growth, measured as birth weight and length. There was considerable heterogeneity in the measurement of PAH exposure among the included studies. Also, nonstandardized and validated dietary questionnaires were employed by a majority of the included studies with potential exposure misclassification. These issues are likely to impact the summary effect estimates computed and underscores the need for high-quality epidemiological studies with improved exposure assessment and adequate confounding control to strengthen the evidence base. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12922.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Sewor
- Public Health Research Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Sebastian Eliason
- Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Jouni J.K. Jaakkola
- Center for Environmental and Respiratory Health Research, Population Health, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - A. Kofi Amegah
- Public Health Research Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
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Papadopoulos KI, Papadopoulou A, Aw TC. Live to die another day: novel insights may explain the pathophysiology behind smoker's paradox in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Mol Cell Biochem 2023; 478:2517-2526. [PMID: 36867341 PMCID: PMC9983545 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-023-04681-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection demonstrates a highly variable and unpredictable course. Several reports have claimed a smoker's paradox in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in line with previous suggestions that smoking is associated with better survival after acute myocardial infarction and appears protective in preeclampsia. Several plausible physiological explanations exist accounting for the paradoxical observation of smoking engendering protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this review, we delineate novel mechanisms whereby smoking habits and smokers' genetic polymorphism status affecting various nitric oxide (NO) pathways (endothelial NO synthase, cytochrome P450 (CYP450), erythropoietin receptor (EPOR); β-common receptor (βcR)), along with tobacco smoke modulation of microRNA-155 and aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) effects, may be important determinators of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 course. While transient NO bioavailability increase and beneficial immunoregulatory modulations through the above-mentioned pathways using exogenous, endogenous, genetic and/or therapeutic modalities may have direct and specific, viricidal SARS-CoV-2 effects, employing tobacco smoke inhalation to achieve protection equals self-harm. Tobacco smoking remains the leading cause of death, illness, and impoverishment.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. I. Papadopoulos
- THAI StemLife, 566/3 Soi Ramkhamhaeng 39 (Thepleela 1), Prachaouthit Rd., Wangthonglang, Wangthonglang, 10310 Bangkok Thailand
| | - A. Papadopoulou
- Occupational and Environmental Health Services, Feelgood Lund, Ideon Science Park, Scheelevägen 17, 223 63 Lund, Sweden
| | - T. C. Aw
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Changi General Hospital, 2 Simei Street 3, Singapore, 529889 Singapore
- Department of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119228 Singapore
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Xodo S, Londero AP, Orsaria M, Marzinotto S, Colussi G, Cagnacci A, Mariuzzi L, Gri G. Examining the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Network in the Placental Tissues of Pregnancies Complicated by Pre-Eclampsia: An Explorative Case-Control Analysis. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:2122. [PMID: 38004262 PMCID: PMC10672047 DOI: 10.3390/life13112122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality associated with pre-eclampsia, which are caused partly by premature delivery, affect a factual proportion of pregnancies. Despite its prevalence, the underlying causes of pre-eclampsia remain elusive, with emerging evidence implicating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in its pathogenesis. This study sought to elucidate the involvement of the AhR and its associated pathway in pre-eclampsia by comparing placental components of the AhR pathway in pregnant individuals with and without pre-eclampsia. This case-control investigation was conducted at the University Hospital of Udine from May 2021 to February 2023. The AhR was assessed using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, and its mRNA was evaluated using a Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR. Levels of mRNA expression were also estimated for other components of the AhR pathway (CYP1B1, IDO1, ARNT, TIPARP, S100A4, and AHRR). Our findings show decreased levels of expression of AhR, IDO1, ARNT, TiPARP, and S100A4 in the placental tissues of individuals with pre-eclampsia compared to controls (p < 0.05). The AhR exhibited a distinct localization within the syncytiotrophoblast (nuclei and cytoplasm) and CD45-positive cells (nuclei and cytoplasm). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation between the AhR and S100A4 (rho = 0.81) was observed in normal placentas, while CYP1B1 displayed a significant negative correlation with the AhR (rho = -0.72), within addition to its negative correlation with TiPARP (rho = -0.83). This study illuminates pre-eclampsia's molecular aberrations, suggesting new diagnostic, therapeutic, and mechanistic approaches. This study emphasizes the need for more research to validate and broaden these findings to improve the management of this complex pregnancy condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Xodo
- Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Udine”, DAME, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Ambrogio P. Londero
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Infant Health, University of Genoa, 16132 Genova, Italy;
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Maria Orsaria
- Institute of Pathology, “Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Udine”, DAME, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; (M.O.)
| | - Stefania Marzinotto
- Institute of Pathology, “Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Udine”, DAME, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; (M.O.)
| | - Gianluca Colussi
- Hypertension Unit, Department of Medicine, ASFO “Santa Maria degli Angeli” Hospital of Pordenone, 33170 Pordenone, Italy;
| | - Angelo Cagnacci
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Infant Health, University of Genoa, 16132 Genova, Italy;
- Academic Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Laura Mariuzzi
- Institute of Pathology, “Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata di Udine”, DAME, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy; (M.O.)
| | - Giorgia Gri
- DIMEC—Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
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Brinchmann BC, Vist GE, Becher R, Grimsrud TK, Elvsaas IKØ, Underland V, Holme JA, Carlsen KCL, Kreyberg I, Nordhagen LS, Bains KES, Carlsen KH, Alexander J, Valen H. Use of Swedish smokeless tobacco during pregnancy: A systematic review of pregnancy and early life health risk. Addiction 2022; 118:789-803. [PMID: 36524899 DOI: 10.1111/add.16114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Smokeless tobacco is a heterogeneous product group with diverse composition and prevalence globally. Tobacco use during pregnancy is concerning due to the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and effects on child health. Nicotine may mediate several of these effects. This systematic review measured health outcomes from Swedish smokeless tobacco (snus) use during pregnancy. METHOD Literature search was conducted by an information specialist in May 2022. We included human studies of snus use during pregnancy compared with no tobacco use, assessed risk of bias, conducted a meta-analysis and assessed confidence in effect-estimates using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE). RESULTS We included 18 cohort studies (42 to 1 006 398 participants). Snus use during pregnancy probably (moderate confidence in risk estimates) increase the risk of neonatal apnea, adjusted odds ratio 95% confidence interval [aOR (95% CI)] 1.96 (1.30 to 2.96). Snus use during pregnancy possibly (low confidence in risk estimates) increase the risk of stillbirths aOR 1.43 (1.02 to 1.99), extremely premature births aOR 1.69 (1.17 to 2.45), moderately premature birth aOR 1.26 (1.15 to 1.38), SGA aOR 1.26 (1.09 to 1.46), reduced birth weight mean difference of 72.47 g (110.58 g to 34.35 g reduction) and oral cleft malformations aOR 1.48 (1.00 to 2.21). It is uncertain (low confidence in risk estimates, CI crossing 1) whether snus use during pregnancy affects risk of preeclampsia aOR 1.11 (0.97 to 1.28), antenatal bleeding aOR 1.15 (0.92 to 1.44) and very premature birth aOR 1.26 (0.95 to 1.66). Risk of early neonatal mortality and altered heart rate variability is uncertain, very low confidence. Snus using mothers had increased prevalence of caesarean sections, low confidence. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review reveals that use of smokeless tobacco (snus) during pregnancy may adversely impact the developing child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bendik C Brinchmann
- Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gunn E Vist
- Division for Health Services, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rune Becher
- Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Vigdis Underland
- Division for Health Services, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jørn A Holme
- Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Karin C Lødrup Carlsen
- Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ina Kreyberg
- Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Dermatology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Karen Eline Stensby Bains
- Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kai-Håkon Carlsen
- Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jan Alexander
- Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Håkon Valen
- Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.,Nordic Institute of Dental Materials, Oslo, Norway
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