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Liu J, Gao D, Wang H, Li Y, Chen M, Ma Q, Wang X, Cui M, Chen L, Zhang Y, Guo T, Yuan W, Ma T, Jiang J, Dong Y, Zou Z, Ma J. Long-term exposure to exogenous phthalate, masculinity and femininity trait, and gender identity in children: a Chinese 3-year longitudinal cohort study. Environ Health 2023; 22:81. [PMID: 38012654 PMCID: PMC10683128 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-023-01031-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phthalate esters (PAEs) are known to have hormone-like properties, and there is a growing trend of children expressing a gender identity different from assigned sex. However, there has been limited research in the potential links between PAEs exposure and gender identity. METHODS A total of 571 children (278 boys) completed the follow-up from Oct 2017 to Oct 2020 in Childhood Blood Pressure and Environmental Factors (CBPEF) cohort in Xiamen, China. Urinary PAE metabolites were measured at three time of visits using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The Children's Sex Role Inventory scale was used to assess gender identity (masculinity, femininity, androgyny and undifferentiated), and Tanner definition was used to define puberty timing. Generalized linear models and log-binomial regression were used to assess the relationships between PAEs exposure, gender trait scores and gender identity. RESULTS Overall, the concentration of most PAEs in more than 90% of participants was above the limit of detection values. In visit 1, there were 10.1% boys with femininity and 11.3% girls with masculinity; while these figures increased to 10.8% and 12.3% during follow-up, respectively. Early puberty onset accounted for 24.8% and 25.6% among boys and girls. Long-term exposure to mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) (β = 1.20, 95%CI = 0.13, 2.28), mono-2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl phthalate (MEHHP) (β = 1.25, 95%CI = 0.22, 2.28) and mono-2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl phthalate (MEOHP) (β = 1.40, 95%CI = 0.24, 2.56) was associated with the increased differences of femininity trait scores in boys who enter puberty earlier, prolonged exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) might also have such a positive impact (β = 1.38, 95%CI = 0.36, 2.41). For gender identity, persistent exposure to low molecular weight phthalates (LMWP) was negatively associated with undifferentiated type among boys entering puberty earlier (RR = 0.18, 95%CI = 0.05, 0.75, P < 0.05), and most of the PAE metabolites exposures showed risk ratios > 1 for their femininity. CONCLUSION Long-term exposure to PAEs increase the femininity trait scores in boys with early onset of puberty. Although the mechanisms remain to be determined, environmental pollution might have subtle, yet measurable effects on childhood gender identity. Reducing these chemicals exposure has important public implications on gender development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieyu Liu
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University, Xueyuan Road 38, Beijing, China
| | - Di Gao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Huan Wang
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University, Xueyuan Road 38, Beijing, China
| | - Yanhui Li
- School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Manman Chen
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University, Xueyuan Road 38, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Ma
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University, Xueyuan Road 38, Beijing, China
| | - Xinxin Wang
- School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Mengjie Cui
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University, Xueyuan Road 38, Beijing, China
| | - Li Chen
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University, Xueyuan Road 38, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University, Xueyuan Road 38, Beijing, China
| | - Tongjun Guo
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University, Xueyuan Road 38, Beijing, China
| | - Wen Yuan
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University, Xueyuan Road 38, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Ma
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University, Xueyuan Road 38, Beijing, China
| | - Jianuo Jiang
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University, Xueyuan Road 38, Beijing, China
| | - Yanhui Dong
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University, Xueyuan Road 38, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhiyong Zou
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University, Xueyuan Road 38, Beijing, China.
| | - Jun Ma
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University, Xueyuan Road 38, Beijing, China
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Sethuram S, Raymond S, Wang C, Barrett ES, Bush NR, Nguyen R, Sathyanarayana S, Swan SH, Evans SF. Early prenatal sex steroids and sex-typed play behavior at 4 years of age. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 156:106288. [PMID: 37480735 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
During pregnancy, estrogens and testosterone influence brain development, resulting in sex-typical behavioral phenotypes. Prenatal testosterone exposure is associated with more male-typical behaviors in rodents, monkeys, and humans; however, few studies have examined the relationship between maternal sex hormones within the normal range and sex-dimorphic behaviors. In this study, we examined associations between prenatal estrogens and testosterone and sex-typical play in The Infant Development and the Environment Study (TIDES), a multicenter pregnancy cohort. We collected prenatal serum during the first trimester (mean=11.1 ± 2.6 weeks) and assessed child play behavior using the maternally completed Pre-School Activities Inventory (PSAI) at a mean age of 4.5 ± 0.3 years. This analysis includes mother-child pairs with complete data on hormones, play behavior, and covariates (n = 192 boys and 207 girls). No associations were seen between testosterone and PSAI scores in boys or girls or between estrogens and PSAI scores in boys. In girls, we observed an inverse relationship between feminine PSAI scores and both estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3) in multivariable linear regression analyses (E2: -0.11 [95% CI -0.20, -0.02]; E3: -0.44 [95% CI -0.83,-0.04]). Because the relationship between sex hormones and PSAI scores appeared nonlinear, we fit piecewise regression models to better fit the data and identify inflection points (point at which there is a significant change in slope). Piecewise regression analyses yielded inverse associations between masculine PSAI scores and estrone (E1) at values of E1 > 1340 pg/mL and E2 at values of E2 > 2870 pg/mL in girls. Further studies are needed to better understand the role of prenatal sex steroids on sexually dimorphic behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swathi Sethuram
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Samantha Raymond
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christina Wang
- Clinical and Translational Science Institute, The Lundquist Institute and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Emily S Barrett
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Nicole R Bush
- Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Center for Health and Community, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ruby Nguyen
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Shanna H Swan
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sarah Felice Evans
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Mustieles V, Rolland M, Pin I, Thomsen C, Sakhi AK, Sabaredzovic A, Muckle G, Guichardet K, Slama R, Philippat C. Early-Life Exposure to a Mixture of Phenols and Phthalates in Relation to Child Social Behavior: Applying an Evidence-Based Prioritization to a Cohort with Improved Exposure Assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:87006. [PMID: 37556305 PMCID: PMC10411634 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies aiming at relating exposure to phenols and phthalates with child social behavior characterized exposure using one or a few spot urine samples, resulting in substantial exposure misclassification. Moreover, early infancy exposure was rarely studied. OBJECTIVES We aimed to examine the associations of phthalates and phenols with child social behavior in a cohort with improved exposure assessment and to a priori identify the chemicals supported by a higher weight of evidence. METHODS Among 406 mother-child pairs from the French Assessment of Air Pollution exposure during Pregnancy and Effect on Health (SEPAGES) cohort, 25 phenols/phthalate metabolites were measured in within-subject pools of repeated urine samples collected at the second and third pregnancy trimesters (∼ 21 samples/trimester) and at 2 months and 1-year of age (∼ 7 samples/period). Social behavior was parent-reported at 3 years of age of the child using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). A structured literature review of the animal and human evidence was performed to prioritize the measured phthalates/phenols based on their likelihood to affect social behavior. Both adjusted linear regression and Bayesian Weighted Quantile Sum (BWQS) regression models were fitted. False discovery rate (FDR) correction was applied only to nonprioritized chemicals. RESULTS Prioritized compounds included bisphenol A, bisphenol S, triclosan (TCS), diethyl-hexyl phthalate (Σ DEHP ), mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-n -butyl phthalate (MnBP), and mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP). With the exception of bisphenols, which showed a mixed pattern of positive and negative associations in pregnant mothers and neonates, few prenatal associations were observed. Most associations were observed with prioritized chemicals measured in 1-y-old infants: Each doubling in urinary TCS (β = 0.78 ; 95% CI: 0.00, 1.55) and MEP (β = 0.92 ; 95% CI: - 0.11 , 1.96) concentrations were associated with worse total SRS scores, whereas MnBP and Σ DEHP were associated with worse Social Awareness (β = 0.25 ; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.50) and Social Communication (β = 0.43 ; 95% CI: - 0.02 , 0.89) scores, respectively. BWQS also suggested worse total SRS [Beta 1 = 1.38 ; 95% credible interval (CrI): - 0.18 , 2.97], Social Awareness (Beta 1 = 0.37 ; 95% CrI: 0.06, 0.70), and Social Communication (Beta 1 = 0.91 ; 95% CrI: 0.31, 1.53) scores per quartile increase in the mixture of prioritized compounds assessed in 1-y-old infants. The few associations observed with nonprioritized chemicals did not remain after FDR correction, with the exception of benzophenone-3 exposure in 1-y-old infants, which was suggestively associated with worse Social Communication scores (corrected p = 0.07 ). DISCUSSION The literature search allowed us to adapt our statistical analysis according to the weight of evidence and create a corpus of experimental and epidemiological knowledge to better interpret our findings. Early infancy appears to be a sensitive exposure window that should be further investigated. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11798.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicente Mustieles
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Matthieu Rolland
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Isabelle Pin
- Pediatric Department, Grenoble Alpes University Hospital, La Tronche, France
| | | | | | | | - Gina Muckle
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec - Université Laval Research Center, Québec City, Canada
| | - Karine Guichardet
- Pediatric Department, Grenoble Alpes University Hospital, La Tronche, France
| | - Rémy Slama
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
| | - Claire Philippat
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Grenoble, France
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Özel F, Stratmann M, Lindh C, Gennings C, Bornehag CG, Rüegg J. Prenatal exposure to phthalates and gender-specific play behavior at seven years of age in the SELMA study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108029. [PMID: 37331180 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A growing body of evidence shows that prenatal exposure to phthalates affects child development. Since many phthalates have been shown to alter endocrine signaling, they may influence reproductive development, neurodevelopment, and child behavior. Indeed, a few studies reported associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and gender-specific play behavior. However, evidence for this relationship is limited, and previous findings are based on single phthalates, while human exposure entails mixtures of chemicals. OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate the associations between prenatal exposure to single phthalates, as well as a phthalate mixture, and gender-specific play behavior. METHODS A total of 715 mother-child pairs from the Swedish Environmental Longitudinal, Mother and Child, Asthma and Allergy (SELMA) study were included. In the median week 10 of pregnancy, phthalate metabolites were measured in urine. Gender-specific play behavior was measured with Preschool Activities Inventory at the age of seven years. Linear and weighted quantile sum regressions were used; data was stratified by sex. Models were adjusted for child and maternal age, maternal education, parental attitudes toward play behavior, and urinary creatinine concentration. RESULTS For boys, single compound analyses revealed negative associations of prenatal exposure to di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) concentrations with masculine (β = -1.44; 95% CI = -2.72, -0.16) and composite (β = -1.43; 95% CI = -2.72, -0.13) scores. Suggestive associations were also observed with a mixture approach identifying DINP as the main contributor of the association of decreased masculine play. Among girls, higher urinary concentrations of 2,4-methyl-7-oxyooctyl-oxycarbonyl-cyclohexane carboxylic acid (MOiNCH) was associated with decreased feminine (β = -1.59; 95% CI = -2.62, -0.57) and masculine scores (β = -1.22; 95% CI = -2.14, -0.29), whereas the mixture analyses did not yield conclusive results for girls. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest associations of prenatal exposure to DINP with decreased masculine play behavior in boys while the results for girls were not fully conclusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatih Özel
- Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Centre for Women's Mental Health during the Reproductive Lifespan - Womher, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden.
| | - Marlene Stratmann
- Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
| | - Christian Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Chris Gennings
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carl-Gustaf Bornehag
- Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden; Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joëlle Rüegg
- Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
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Landrigan PJ, Raps H, Cropper M, Bald C, Brunner M, Canonizado EM, Charles D, Chiles TC, Donohue MJ, Enck J, Fenichel P, Fleming LE, Ferrier-Pages C, Fordham R, Gozt A, Griffin C, Hahn ME, Haryanto B, Hixson R, Ianelli H, James BD, Kumar P, Laborde A, Law KL, Martin K, Mu J, Mulders Y, Mustapha A, Niu J, Pahl S, Park Y, Pedrotti ML, Pitt JA, Ruchirawat M, Seewoo BJ, Spring M, Stegeman JJ, Suk W, Symeonides C, Takada H, Thompson RC, Vicini A, Wang Z, Whitman E, Wirth D, Wolff M, Yousuf AK, Dunlop S. The Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health. Ann Glob Health 2023; 89:23. [PMID: 36969097 PMCID: PMC10038118 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.4056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Plastics have conveyed great benefits to humanity and made possible some of the most significant advances of modern civilization in fields as diverse as medicine, electronics, aerospace, construction, food packaging, and sports. It is now clear, however, that plastics are also responsible for significant harms to human health, the economy, and the earth's environment. These harms occur at every stage of the plastic life cycle, from extraction of the coal, oil, and gas that are its main feedstocks through to ultimate disposal into the environment. The extent of these harms not been systematically assessed, their magnitude not fully quantified, and their economic costs not comprehensively counted. Goals The goals of this Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health are to comprehensively examine plastics' impacts across their life cycle on: (1) human health and well-being; (2) the global environment, especially the ocean; (3) the economy; and (4) vulnerable populations-the poor, minorities, and the world's children. On the basis of this examination, the Commission offers science-based recommendations designed to support development of a Global Plastics Treaty, protect human health, and save lives. Report Structure This Commission report contains seven Sections. Following an Introduction, Section 2 presents a narrative review of the processes involved in plastic production, use, and disposal and notes the hazards to human health and the environment associated with each of these stages. Section 3 describes plastics' impacts on the ocean and notes the potential for plastic in the ocean to enter the marine food web and result in human exposure. Section 4 details plastics' impacts on human health. Section 5 presents a first-order estimate of plastics' health-related economic costs. Section 6 examines the intersection between plastic, social inequity, and environmental injustice. Section 7 presents the Commission's findings and recommendations. Plastics Plastics are complex, highly heterogeneous, synthetic chemical materials. Over 98% of plastics are produced from fossil carbon- coal, oil and gas. Plastics are comprised of a carbon-based polymer backbone and thousands of additional chemicals that are incorporated into polymers to convey specific properties such as color, flexibility, stability, water repellence, flame retardation, and ultraviolet resistance. Many of these added chemicals are highly toxic. They include carcinogens, neurotoxicants and endocrine disruptors such as phthalates, bisphenols, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), brominated flame retardants, and organophosphate flame retardants. They are integral components of plastic and are responsible for many of plastics' harms to human health and the environment.Global plastic production has increased almost exponentially since World War II, and in this time more than 8,300 megatons (Mt) of plastic have been manufactured. Annual production volume has grown from under 2 Mt in 1950 to 460 Mt in 2019, a 230-fold increase, and is on track to triple by 2060. More than half of all plastic ever made has been produced since 2002. Single-use plastics account for 35-40% of current plastic production and represent the most rapidly growing segment of plastic manufacture.Explosive recent growth in plastics production reflects a deliberate pivot by the integrated multinational fossil-carbon corporations that produce coal, oil and gas and that also manufacture plastics. These corporations are reducing their production of fossil fuels and increasing plastics manufacture. The two principal factors responsible for this pivot are decreasing global demand for carbon-based fuels due to increases in 'green' energy, and massive expansion of oil and gas production due to fracking.Plastic manufacture is energy-intensive and contributes significantly to climate change. At present, plastic production is responsible for an estimated 3.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than the contribution of Brazil. This fraction is projected to increase to 4.5% by 2060 if current trends continue unchecked. Plastic Life Cycle The plastic life cycle has three phases: production, use, and disposal. In production, carbon feedstocks-coal, gas, and oil-are transformed through energy-intensive, catalytic processes into a vast array of products. Plastic use occurs in every aspect of modern life and results in widespread human exposure to the chemicals contained in plastic. Single-use plastics constitute the largest portion of current use, followed by synthetic fibers and construction.Plastic disposal is highly inefficient, with recovery and recycling rates below 10% globally. The result is that an estimated 22 Mt of plastic waste enters the environment each year, much of it single-use plastic and are added to the more than 6 gigatons of plastic waste that have accumulated since 1950. Strategies for disposal of plastic waste include controlled and uncontrolled landfilling, open burning, thermal conversion, and export. Vast quantities of plastic waste are exported each year from high-income to low-income countries, where it accumulates in landfills, pollutes air and water, degrades vital ecosystems, befouls beaches and estuaries, and harms human health-environmental injustice on a global scale. Plastic-laden e-waste is particularly problematic. Environmental Findings Plastics and plastic-associated chemicals are responsible for widespread pollution. They contaminate aquatic (marine and freshwater), terrestrial, and atmospheric environments globally. The ocean is the ultimate destination for much plastic, and plastics are found throughout the ocean, including coastal regions, the sea surface, the deep sea, and polar sea ice. Many plastics appear to resist breakdown in the ocean and could persist in the global environment for decades. Macro- and micro-plastic particles have been identified in hundreds of marine species in all major taxa, including species consumed by humans. Trophic transfer of microplastic particles and the chemicals within them has been demonstrated. Although microplastic particles themselves (>10 µm) appear not to undergo biomagnification, hydrophobic plastic-associated chemicals bioaccumulate in marine animals and biomagnify in marine food webs. The amounts and fates of smaller microplastic and nanoplastic particles (MNPs <10 µm) in aquatic environments are poorly understood, but the potential for harm is worrying given their mobility in biological systems. Adverse environmental impacts of plastic pollution occur at multiple levels from molecular and biochemical to population and ecosystem. MNP contamination of seafood results in direct, though not well quantified, human exposure to plastics and plastic-associated chemicals. Marine plastic pollution endangers the ocean ecosystems upon which all humanity depends for food, oxygen, livelihood, and well-being. Human Health Findings Coal miners, oil workers and gas field workers who extract fossil carbon feedstocks for plastic production suffer increased mortality from traumatic injury, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, silicosis, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer. Plastic production workers are at increased risk of leukemia, lymphoma, hepatic angiosarcoma, brain cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, neurotoxic injury, and decreased fertility. Workers producing plastic textiles die of bladder cancer, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and interstitial lung disease at increased rates. Plastic recycling workers have increased rates of cardiovascular disease, toxic metal poisoning, neuropathy, and lung cancer. Residents of "fenceline" communities adjacent to plastic production and waste disposal sites experience increased risks of premature birth, low birth weight, asthma, childhood leukemia, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer.During use and also in disposal, plastics release toxic chemicals including additives and residual monomers into the environment and into people. National biomonitoring surveys in the USA document population-wide exposures to these chemicals. Plastic additives disrupt endocrine function and increase risk for premature births, neurodevelopmental disorders, male reproductive birth defects, infertility, obesity, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and cancers. Chemical-laden MNPs formed through the environmental degradation of plastic waste can enter living organisms, including humans. Emerging, albeit still incomplete evidence indicates that MNPs may cause toxicity due to their physical and toxicological effects as well as by acting as vectors that transport toxic chemicals and bacterial pathogens into tissues and cells.Infants in the womb and young children are two populations at particularly high risk of plastic-related health effects. Because of the exquisite sensitivity of early development to hazardous chemicals and children's unique patterns of exposure, plastic-associated exposures are linked to increased risks of prematurity, stillbirth, low birth weight, birth defects of the reproductive organs, neurodevelopmental impairment, impaired lung growth, and childhood cancer. Early-life exposures to plastic-associated chemicals also increase the risk of multiple non-communicable diseases later in life. Economic Findings Plastic's harms to human health result in significant economic costs. We estimate that in 2015 the health-related costs of plastic production exceeded $250 billion (2015 Int$) globally, and that in the USA alone the health costs of disease and disability caused by the plastic-associated chemicals PBDE, BPA and DEHP exceeded $920 billion (2015 Int$). Plastic production results in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions equivalent to 1.96 gigatons of carbon dioxide (CO2e) annually. Using the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) social cost of carbon metric, we estimate the annual costs of these GHG emissions to be $341 billion (2015 Int$).These costs, large as they are, almost certainly underestimate the full economic losses resulting from plastics' negative impacts on human health and the global environment. All of plastics' economic costs-and also its social costs-are externalized by the petrochemical and plastic manufacturing industry and are borne by citizens, taxpayers, and governments in countries around the world without compensation. Social Justice Findings The adverse effects of plastics and plastic pollution on human health, the economy and the environment are not evenly distributed. They disproportionately affect poor, disempowered, and marginalized populations such as workers, racial and ethnic minorities, "fenceline" communities, Indigenous groups, women, and children, all of whom had little to do with creating the current plastics crisis and lack the political influence or the resources to address it. Plastics' harmful impacts across its life cycle are most keenly felt in the Global South, in small island states, and in disenfranchised areas in the Global North. Social and environmental justice (SEJ) principles require reversal of these inequitable burdens to ensure that no group bears a disproportionate share of plastics' negative impacts and that those who benefit economically from plastic bear their fair share of its currently externalized costs. Conclusions It is now clear that current patterns of plastic production, use, and disposal are not sustainable and are responsible for significant harms to human health, the environment, and the economy as well as for deep societal injustices.The main driver of these worsening harms is an almost exponential and still accelerating increase in global plastic production. Plastics' harms are further magnified by low rates of recovery and recycling and by the long persistence of plastic waste in the environment.The thousands of chemicals in plastics-monomers, additives, processing agents, and non-intentionally added substances-include amongst their number known human carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxicants, and persistent organic pollutants. These chemicals are responsible for many of plastics' known harms to human and planetary health. The chemicals leach out of plastics, enter the environment, cause pollution, and result in human exposure and disease. All efforts to reduce plastics' hazards must address the hazards of plastic-associated chemicals. Recommendations To protect human and planetary health, especially the health of vulnerable and at-risk populations, and put the world on track to end plastic pollution by 2040, this Commission supports urgent adoption by the world's nations of a strong and comprehensive Global Plastics Treaty in accord with the mandate set forth in the March 2022 resolution of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).International measures such as a Global Plastics Treaty are needed to curb plastic production and pollution, because the harms to human health and the environment caused by plastics, plastic-associated chemicals and plastic waste transcend national boundaries, are planetary in their scale, and have disproportionate impacts on the health and well-being of people in the world's poorest nations. Effective implementation of the Global Plastics Treaty will require that international action be coordinated and complemented by interventions at the national, regional, and local levels.This Commission urges that a cap on global plastic production with targets, timetables, and national contributions be a central provision of the Global Plastics Treaty. We recommend inclusion of the following additional provisions:The Treaty needs to extend beyond microplastics and marine litter to include all of the many thousands of chemicals incorporated into plastics.The Treaty needs to include a provision banning or severely restricting manufacture and use of unnecessary, avoidable, and problematic plastic items, especially single-use items such as manufactured plastic microbeads.The Treaty needs to include requirements on extended producer responsibility (EPR) that make fossil carbon producers, plastic producers, and the manufacturers of plastic products legally and financially responsible for the safety and end-of-life management of all the materials they produce and sell.The Treaty needs to mandate reductions in the chemical complexity of plastic products; health-protective standards for plastics and plastic additives; a requirement for use of sustainable non-toxic materials; full disclosure of all components; and traceability of components. International cooperation will be essential to implementing and enforcing these standards.The Treaty needs to include SEJ remedies at each stage of the plastic life cycle designed to fill gaps in community knowledge and advance both distributional and procedural equity.This Commission encourages inclusion in the Global Plastic Treaty of a provision calling for exploration of listing at least some plastic polymers as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention.This Commission encourages a strong interface between the Global Plastics Treaty and the Basel and London Conventions to enhance management of hazardous plastic waste and slow current massive exports of plastic waste into the world's least-developed countries.This Commission recommends the creation of a Permanent Science Policy Advisory Body to guide the Treaty's implementation. The main priorities of this Body would be to guide Member States and other stakeholders in evaluating which solutions are most effective in reducing plastic consumption, enhancing plastic waste recovery and recycling, and curbing the generation of plastic waste. This Body could also assess trade-offs among these solutions and evaluate safer alternatives to current plastics. It could monitor the transnational export of plastic waste. It could coordinate robust oceanic-, land-, and air-based MNP monitoring programs.This Commission recommends urgent investment by national governments in research into solutions to the global plastic crisis. This research will need to determine which solutions are most effective and cost-effective in the context of particular countries and assess the risks and benefits of proposed solutions. Oceanographic and environmental research is needed to better measure concentrations and impacts of plastics <10 µm and understand their distribution and fate in the global environment. Biomedical research is needed to elucidate the human health impacts of plastics, especially MNPs. Summary This Commission finds that plastics are both a boon to humanity and a stealth threat to human and planetary health. Plastics convey enormous benefits, but current linear patterns of plastic production, use, and disposal that pay little attention to sustainable design or safe materials and a near absence of recovery, reuse, and recycling are responsible for grave harms to health, widespread environmental damage, great economic costs, and deep societal injustices. These harms are rapidly worsening.While there remain gaps in knowledge about plastics' harms and uncertainties about their full magnitude, the evidence available today demonstrates unequivocally that these impacts are great and that they will increase in severity in the absence of urgent and effective intervention at global scale. Manufacture and use of essential plastics may continue. However, reckless increases in plastic production, and especially increases in the manufacture of an ever-increasing array of unnecessary single-use plastic products, need to be curbed.Global intervention against the plastic crisis is needed now because the costs of failure to act will be immense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J. Landrigan
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Medical Biology Department, MC
| | - Hervé Raps
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Medical Biology Department, MC
| | - Maureen Cropper
- Economics Department, University of Maryland, College Park, US
| | - Caroline Bald
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Patrick Fenichel
- Université Côte d’Azur
- Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Nice, FR
| | - Lora E. Fleming
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, UK
| | | | | | | | - Carly Griffin
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | - Mark E. Hahn
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, US
- Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health, US
| | - Budi Haryanto
- Department of Environmental Health, Universitas Indonesia, ID
- Research Center for Climate Change, Universitas Indonesia, ID
| | - Richard Hixson
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, UK
| | - Hannah Ianelli
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | - Bryan D. James
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, US
| | | | - Amalia Laborde
- Department of Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of the Republic, UY
| | | | - Keith Martin
- Consortium of Universities for Global Health, US
| | - Jenna Mu
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | | | - Adetoun Mustapha
- Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, Nigeria
- Lead City University, NG
| | - Jia Niu
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, US
| | - Sabine Pahl
- University of Vienna, Austria
- University of Plymouth, UK
| | | | - Maria-Luiza Pedrotti
- Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche sur mer (LOV), Sorbonne Université, FR
| | | | | | - Bhedita Jaya Seewoo
- Minderoo Foundation, AU
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, AU
| | | | - John J. Stegeman
- Biology Department and Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, US
| | - William Suk
- Superfund Research Program, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, US
| | | | - Hideshige Takada
- Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry (LOG), Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, JP
| | | | | | - Zhanyun Wang
- Technology and Society Laboratory, WEmpa-Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials and Technology, CH
| | - Ella Whitman
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | | | | | - Aroub K. Yousuf
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | - Sarah Dunlop
- Minderoo Foundation, AU
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, AU
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Maffini MV, Geueke B, Groh K, Carney Almroth B, Muncke J. Role of epidemiology in risk assessment: a case study of five ortho-phthalates. Environ Health 2021; 20:114. [PMID: 34775973 PMCID: PMC8591894 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00799-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The association between environmental chemical exposures and chronic diseases is of increasing concern. Chemical risk assessment relies heavily on pre-market toxicity testing to identify safe levels of exposure, often known as reference doses (RfD), expected to be protective of human health. Although some RfDs have been reassessed in light of new hazard information, it is not a common practice. Continuous surveillance of animal and human data, both in terms of exposures and associated health outcomes, could provide valuable information to risk assessors and regulators. Using ortho-phthalates as case study, we asked whether RfDs deduced from male reproductive toxicity studies and set by traditional regulatory toxicology approaches sufficiently protect the population for other health outcomes. METHODS We searched for epidemiological studies on benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP), and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). Data were extracted from studies where any of the five chemicals or their metabolites were measured and showed a statistically significant association with a health outcome; 38 studies met the criteria. We estimated intake for each phthalate from urinary metabolite concentration and compared estimated intake ranges associated with health endpoints to each phthalate's RfD. RESULT For DBP, DIBP, and BBP, the estimated intake ranges significantly associated with health endpoints were all below their individual RfDs. For DEHP, the intake range included associations at levels both below and above its RfD. For DCHP, no relevant studies could be identified. The significantly affected endpoints revealed by our analysis include metabolic, neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders, obesity, and changes in hormone levels. Most of these conditions are not routinely evaluated in animal testing employed in regulatory toxicology. CONCLUSION We conclude that for DBP, DIBP, BBP, and DEHP current RfDs estimated based on male reproductive toxicity may not be sufficiently protective of other health effects. Thus, a new approach is needed where post-market exposures, epidemiological and clinical data are systematically reviewed to ensure adequate health protection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Birgit Geueke
- Food Packaging Forum Foundation, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ksenia Groh
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Bethanie Carney Almroth
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jane Muncke
- Food Packaging Forum Foundation, Zurich, Switzerland
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Lifestyle Habits and Exposure to BPA and Phthalates in Women of Childbearing Age from Northern Italy: A Pilot Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18189710. [PMID: 34574636 PMCID: PMC8469822 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18189710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are compounds that interfere with aspects of hormonal signaling. Considerable attention has been paid to their biological effects especially in women of childbearing age or during pregnancy as EDCs have been reported to cross the placenta becoming concentrated in the fetus' circulation. Lifestyle habits, daily consumption of packaged foods and use of healthcare/cosmetic products are associated with increased EDCs levels. This cross-sectional research examined the EDCs levels and the lifestyle determinants of EDC exposure in a cohort of reproductive-age women from Northern Italy. Methods: Forty-five women (median age: 36, IQR: 30-38) were evaluated for urinary bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates levels and also studied for EDCs' major determinants of daily exposure; food frequency/dietary, physical activity, smoking habits and weight status. Results: Although 100% of women seemed to have been exposed to common sources of EDCs, they reported a healthy lifestyle. The multivariable model described a positive and significant association between consumption of sauces/dressings in plastic containers and monoethyl phthalate exposure (p = 0.037). Conclusions: Since reproductive age encompasses a critical window for future health and functioning of the "mothers-to-be" and their children, future studies on prenatal dietary BPA and phthalate exposure and the role of consumer product choices in reducing such exposure are recommended.
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Nidens N, Vogel M, Körner A, Kiess W. Prenatal exposure to phthalate esters and its impact on child development. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 35:101478. [PMID: 33608224 DOI: 10.1016/j.beem.2020.101478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Endocrine disruptive chemicals (EDCs) cause adverse health effects through interaction with endocrine systems. They are classified by chemical structure, effects on specific endocrine systems, their bioaccumulation and/or persistence in the environment, and/or clinically observable effects. In industrial nations, people are exposed to complex mixtures of many different substances all of which may have multiple and deleterious effects upon the individual. The clinical importance of epigenetic changes caused by the action of EDCs during vulnerable phases of development is currently unclear but of particular relevance. Epidemiological studies are criticized because reproducibility is not always guaranteed. Nevertheless, they remain the method of choice for the development and analysis of suitable model systems. Positive associations, despite of sometimes conflicting results, are the key in the selection of factors that can then be analyzed in model systems in an unbiased way. This article reports EDC-caused effects in the fields of growth and metabolism, neurocognitive development and sexual development and reproduction focusing mainly on phthalates and their metabolites. However, research will have to focus on the interactions of different EDCs and their consequences of prenatal and early life exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Nidens
- Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases (LIFE), LIFE Child, University of Leipzig, Faculty of Medicine, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 27, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany; Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Center for Paediatric Research, Liebigstraße 20a, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Mandy Vogel
- Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases (LIFE), LIFE Child, University of Leipzig, Faculty of Medicine, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 27, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany; Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Center for Paediatric Research, Liebigstraße 20a, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Antje Körner
- Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases (LIFE), LIFE Child, University of Leipzig, Faculty of Medicine, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 27, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany; Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Center for Paediatric Research, Liebigstraße 20a, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wieland Kiess
- Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases (LIFE), LIFE Child, University of Leipzig, Faculty of Medicine, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 27, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany; Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Center for Paediatric Research, Liebigstraße 20a, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany.
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9
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Nowinski CJ, DeWalt DA, Carter AS, Chacko A, Gross HE, Perrin EM, Krug CW, Holl JL, Gershon RC. Recommendations for Assessment of Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Health for the National Children's Study. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:624524. [PMID: 34017804 PMCID: PMC8129017 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.624524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The Social Emotional Behavioral (SEB) Team of the National Children's Study (NCS) was tasked with making recommendations for assessment of important aspects of social-emotional health and function in children. This paper describes the constructs recommended for assessment along with the rationale for their assessment. These constructs, representing aspects of Social Relationships, Social Capital, Temperament, Negative Affect, Externalizing Behavior, Social Competence, Self-efficacy, Self-image, Psychological well-being, Ethnic/racial Socialization, Perceived Discrimination, Sexual Orientation, Religiosity, and Perceived Stress and Resilience were identified as being critical to the understanding of children's health and development from birth to age 21.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy J. Nowinski
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Darren A. DeWalt
- Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Alice S. Carter
- Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Anil Chacko
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Heather E. Gross
- Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Eliana M. Perrin
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Chelsea Weaver Krug
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Jane L. Holl
- Department of Neurology, Center for Healthcare Delivery Science and Innovation, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Richard C. Gershon
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
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10
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Hunter D, Heng K, Mann N, Anand-Ivell R, Ivell R. Maternal Exposure to Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) or Diethylstilbestrol (DES) Leads to Long-Term Changes in Hypothalamic Gene Expression and Sexual Behavior. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22084163. [PMID: 33920546 PMCID: PMC8073651 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Xenobiotic exposure during pregnancy and lactation has been linked to perinatal changes in male reproductive outcomes and other endocrine parameters. This pilot study wished to assess whether brief maternal exposure of rats to xenobiotics dibutyl phthalate (DBP) or diethylstilbestrol (DES) might also cause long-term changes in hypothalamic gene expression or in reproductive behavior of the resulting offspring. Time-mated female Sprague Dawley rats were given either DBP (500 mg/kg body weight, every second day from GD14.5 to PND6), DES (125 µg/kg body weight at GD14.5 and GD16.5 only), or vehicle (n = 8–12 per group) and mild endocrine disruption was confirmed by monitoring postnatal anogenital distance. Hypothalamic RNA from male and female offspring at PND10, PND24 and PND90 was analyzed by qRT-PCR for expression of aromatase, oxytocin, vasopressin, ER-alpha, ER-beta, kisspeptin, and GnRH genes. Reproductive behavior was monitored in male and female offspring from PND60 to PND90. Particularly, DES treatment led to significant changes in hypothalamic gene expression, which for the oxytocin gene was still evident at PND90, as well as in sexual behavior. In conclusion, maternal xenobiotic exposure may not only alter endocrine systems in offspring but, by impacting on brain development at a critical time, can have long-term effects on male or female sexual behavior.
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11
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Geary DC. Now you see them, and now you don't: An evolutionarily informed model of environmental influences on human sex differences. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 125:26-32. [PMID: 33609571 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The contributions of evolutionary processes to human sex differences are vigorously debated. One counterargument is that the magnitude of many sex differences fluctuates from one context to the next, implying an environment origin. Sexual selection provides a framework for integrating evolutionary processes and environmental influences on the origin and magnitude of sex differences. The dynamics of sexual selection involve competition for mates and discriminative mate choices. The associated traits are typically exaggerated and condition-dependent, that is, their development and expression are very sensitive to social and ecological conditions. The magnitude of sex differences in sexually selected traits should then be largest under optimal social and ecological conditions and shrink as conditions deteriorate. The basics of this framework are described, and its utility is illustrated with discussion of fluctuations in the magnitude of human physical, behavioral, and cognitive sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Geary
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211-2500, United States.
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12
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Martínez-Ibarra A, Martínez-Razo LD, MacDonald-Ramos K, Morales-Pacheco M, Vázquez-Martínez ER, López-López M, Rodríguez Dorantes M, Cerbón M. Multisystemic alterations in humans induced by bisphenol A and phthalates: Experimental, epidemiological and clinical studies reveal the need to change health policies. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 271:116380. [PMID: 33387779 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A vast amount of evidence indicates that bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates are widely distributed in the environment since these compounds are mass-produced for the manufacture of plastics and plasticizers. These compounds belong to a large group of substances termed endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC). It is well known that humans and living organisms are unavoidably and unintentionally exposed to BPA and phthalates from food packaging materials and many other everyday products. BPA and phthalates exert their effect by interfering with hormone synthesis, bioavailability, and action, thereby altering cellular proliferation and differentiation, tissue development, and the regulation of several physiological processes. In fact, these EDC can alter fetal programming at an epigenetic level, which can be transgenerational transmitted and may be involved in the development of various chronic pathologies later in the adulthood, including metabolic, reproductive and degenerative diseases, and certain types of cancer. In this review, we describe the most recent proposed mechanisms of action of these EDC and offer a compelling selection of experimental, epidemiological and clinical studies, which show evidence of how exposure to these pollutants affects our health during development, and their association with a wide range of reproductive, metabolic and neurological diseases, as well as hormone-related cancers. We stress the importance of concern in the general population and the urgent need for the medical health care system to closely monitor EDC levels in the population due to unavoidable and involuntary exposure to these pollutants and their impact on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Martínez-Ibarra
- Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Ciudad de México 04960, Mexico; Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología "Isidro Espinosa de Los Reyes" - Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 11000, Mexico
| | - L D Martínez-Razo
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología "Isidro Espinosa de Los Reyes" - Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 11000, Mexico
| | - K MacDonald-Ramos
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología "Isidro Espinosa de Los Reyes" - Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 11000, Mexico
| | - M Morales-Pacheco
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología "Isidro Espinosa de Los Reyes" - Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 11000, Mexico
| | - E R Vázquez-Martínez
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología "Isidro Espinosa de Los Reyes" - Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 11000, Mexico
| | - M López-López
- Departamento de Sistemas Biológicos, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Ciudad de México 04960, Mexico
| | | | - M Cerbón
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología "Isidro Espinosa de Los Reyes" - Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 11000, Mexico.
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13
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Nadeem A, Ahmad SF, Al-Harbi NO, Attia SM, Bakheet SA, Alsanea S, Ali N, Albekairi TH, Alsaleh NB. Aggravation of autism-like behavior in BTBR T+tf/J mice by environmental pollutant, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate: Role of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and oxidative enzymes in innate immune cells and cerebellum. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 91:107323. [PMID: 33385713 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.107323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder which manifests itself in early childhood and is distinguished by recurring behavioral patterns, and dysfunction in social/communication skills. Ubiquitous environmental pollutant, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is one of the most frequently used plasticizers in various industrial products, e.g. vinyl flooring, plastic toys, and medical appliances. DEHP gets easily released into the environment and leads to human exposure through various routes. DEHP has been described to be linked with oxidative stress in various organs in animal/human studies. Increased concentration of DEHP has also been detected in ASD children which indicates an association between phthalates exposure and ASD. However, effect of DEHP on autism-like behavior has not been investigated previously. Therefore, this study probed the effect of DEHP on autism-like behavior (marble burying, self-grooming and sociability) and innate immune cells (dendritic cells/neutrophils)/cerebellar oxidant-antioxidant balance (NFkB, iNOS, NADPH oxidase, nitrotyrosine, lipid peroxides, Nrf2, SOD, GPx) in BTBR and C57 mice. Our data show that DEHP treatment causes worsening of autism-like behavior in BTBR mice which is associated with enhancement of oxidative stress in innate immune cells and cerebellum with concomitant lack of antioxidant protection. DEHP also causes oxidative stress in C57 mice in both innate immune cells and cerebellar compartment, however there is Nrf2-mediated induction of enzymatic antioxidants which protects them from upregulated oxidative stress. This proposes the notion that ubiquitous environmental pollutants such as DEHP may be involved in the pathogenesis/progression of ASD through dysregulation of antioxidant-antioxidant balance in innate immune cells and cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Nadeem
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Sheikh F Ahmad
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naif O Al-Harbi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sabry M Attia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh A Bakheet
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sary Alsanea
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nemat Ali
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Thamer H Albekairi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nasser B Alsaleh
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Hlisníková H, Petrovičová I, Kolena B, Šidlovská M, Sirotkin A. Effects and mechanisms of phthalates’ action on neurological processes and neural health: a literature review. Pharmacol Rep 2021; 73:386-404. [DOI: 10.1007/s43440-021-00215-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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15
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Swaab DF, Wolff SEC, Bao AM. Sexual differentiation of the human hypothalamus: Relationship to gender identity and sexual orientation. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2021; 181:427-443. [PMID: 34238476 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-820683-6.00031-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Gender identity (an individual's perception of being male or female) and sexual orientation (heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality) are programmed into our brain during early development. During the intrauterine period in the second half of pregnancy, a testosterone surge masculinizes the fetal male brain. If such a testosterone surge does not occur, this will result in a feminine brain. As sexual differentiation of the brain takes place at a much later stage in development than sexual differentiation of the genitals, these two processes can be influenced independently of each other and can result in gender dysphoria. Nature produces a great variability for all aspects of sexual differentiation of the brain. Mechanisms involved in sexual differentiation of the brain include hormones, genetics, epigenetics, endocrine disruptors, immune response, and self-organization. Furthermore, structural and functional differences in the hypothalamus relating to gender dysphoria and sexual orientation are described in this review. All the genetic, postmortem, and in vivo scanning observations support the neurobiological theory about the origin of gender dysphoria, i.e., it is the sizes of brain structures, the neuron numbers, the molecular composition, functions, and connectivity of brain structures that determine our gender identity or sexual orientation. There is no evidence that one's postnatal social environment plays a crucial role in the development of gender identity or sexual orientation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dick F Swaab
- Department Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, An Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Samantha E C Wolff
- Department Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, An Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ai-Min Bao
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
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Evans SF, Raymond S, Sethuram S, Barrett ES, Bush NR, Nguyen R, Sathyanarayana S, Swan SH. Associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and sex-typed play behavior in preschool age boys and girls. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 192:110264. [PMID: 32997969 PMCID: PMC9941894 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Phthalates, a class of chemicals found widely in consumer products including plastic toys, food contaminants and food packaging, personal care products, cosmetics, air fresheners, and some medications, have been shown to be anti-androgenic in numerous laboratory and epidemiological studies. In a prior cohort enrolled in 2000-2002, we observed associations between prenatal urinary concentrations of di-ethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) metabolites and less male-typed play behavior in preschool age boys. The aim of this study was to examine phthalate exposure in pregnancy in relation to play behavior at age 4 years in a larger cohort of pregnant women enrolled in The Infant Development and the Environment Study (TIDES) between 2010 and 2012 at four study sites (Minneapolis, MN; Rochester, NY; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA). Maternal urinary metabolites of DEHP, DiBP, DnBP, BBzP, and DEP were measured during the first (n=498) and third trimester (n=468) and mothers completed the Preschool Activities Inventory (PSAI), a validated maternal questionnaire designed to assess child toy preference and sex-typed play behavior when children were 4-5 years of age. After adjusting for child age, maternal education, race, urine dilution, parental attitudes about opposite sex-typed play behavior, and presence of a same sex older sibling, we observed associations between first trimester (mean 10.7±2.1 weeks gestation) (log10) SpG-adjusted MnBP, MiBP, and MBzP and lower masculine scores in boys (β-coefficient [95% confidence intervals]: MnBP -2.18, [-4.16, -0.20]), MiBP -2.1[-4.3,0.1], and MBzP -2.42 [-4.12, -0.71]). In girls, first trimester maternal urinary MBzP was associated with lower masculine scores (-2.12 [-3.98,-0.25]), while third trimester (mean 32.8±3.0 weeks gestation) maternal urinary MiBP was associated with higher masculine scores (2.69 [0.68,4.70]). Third trimester maternal urinary phthalate levels were not associated with play behavior in boys. These findings in boys are largely consistent with previous studies that report that prenatal phthalate exposure is associated with less masculine play behavior. No associations in girls have been previously reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Felice Evans
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Samantha Raymond
- Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Swathi Sethuram
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Emily S Barrett
- Department of Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Nicole R Bush
- Department of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Center for Health and Community, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - Ruby Nguyen
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | | | - Shanna H Swan
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Digit ratio, a proposed marker of the prenatal hormone environment, is not associated with prenatal sex steroids, anogenital distance, or gender-typed play behavior in preschool age children. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2020; 12:923-932. [PMID: 33336644 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174420001270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal hormones have been proposed as key factors impacting child development as well as long-term health and disease. Digit ratio (the ratio of the lengths of the second to fourth digits; 2D:4D) has been proposed as a sexually dimorphic, noninvasive marker of prenatal androgen exposure that can be reliably measured in children and adults. To date, few longitudinal pregnancy cohort studies have examined childhood digit ratio in relation to other relevant measures including prenatal hormones and androgen-sensitive outcomes. To augment the current literature on this topic, we measured right-hand digit ratio in 4-year-old children participating in The Infant Development and the Environment Study, a multicenter longitudinal cohort study that has been following mother-child dyads since the first trimester of pregnancy (n = 321). We assessed sex differences in digit ratio and fit multivariable linear regression models to examine digit ratio in relation to: (1) child sex; (2) maternal sex steroid hormone concentrations in early pregnancy; (3) newborn anogenital distance, another proposed measure of sensitivity to prenatal androgens; and (4) gender-typical play behavior as measured by the Preschool Activities Inventory (PSAI) at age 4. We observed no sex difference in digit ratio; the mean 2D:4D was 0.97 ± 0.05 mm in both sexes. Furthermore, digit ratio was not associated with maternal sex steroid concentrations in early pregnancy, anogenital distance in either sex, or PSAI scores in either sex in covariate-adjusted models. In conclusion, we observed no evidence that early childhood digit ratio was associated with child sex or hormone-sensitive measures in this cohort.
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18
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Sex-biased impact of endocrine disrupting chemicals on behavioral development and vulnerability to disease: Of mice and children. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 121:29-46. [PMID: 33248148 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sex is a fundamental biological characteristic that influences many aspects of an organism's phenotype, including neurobiological functions and behavior as a result of species-specific evolutionary pressures. Sex differences have strong implications for vulnerability to disease and susceptibility to environmental perturbations. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have the potential to interfere with sex hormones functioning and influence development in a sex specific manner. Here we present an updated descriptive review of findings from animal models and human studies regarding the current evidence for altered sex-differences in behavioral development in response to early exposure to EDCs, with a focus on bisphenol A and phthalates. Overall, we show that animal and human studies have a good degree of consistency and that there is strong evidence demonstrating that EDCs exposure during critical periods of development affect sex differences in emotional and cognitive behaviors. Results are more heterogeneous when social, sexual and parental behaviors are considered. In order to pinpoint sex differences in environmentally-driven disease vulnerabilities, researchers need to consider sex-biased developmental effects of EDCs.
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Cordier S, Forget-Dubois N, Desrochers-Couture M, Rouget F, Michineau L, Monfort C, Thome JP, Kadhel P, Multigner L, Muckle G. Prenatal and childhood exposure to chlordecone and sex-typed toy preference of 7-year-old Guadeloupean children. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:40971-40979. [PMID: 31264154 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-05686-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Chlordecone was used intensively as an insecticide in the French West Indies. Because of its high persistence, the resulting contamination of food and water has led to chronic exposure of the general population as evidenced by its presence in the blood of people of Guadeloupe, in particular in pregnant women and newborns, and in maternal breast milk. Chlordecone is recognized as a reproductive and developmental toxicant, is neurotoxic and carcinogenic in rodents, and is considered as an endocrine-disrupting compound with well-established estrogenic and progestogenic properties both in vitro and in vivo. The question arises of its potential consequences on child neurodevelopment following prenatal and childhood exposure, in particular on behavioral sexual dimorphism in childhood. We followed 116 children from the TIMOUN mother-child cohort study in Guadeloupe, who were examined at age 7. These children were invited to participate in a 7-min structured play session in which they could choose between different toys considered as feminine, masculine, or neutral. The play session was video recorded, and the percentage of the time spent playing with feminine or masculine toys was calculated. We estimated associations between playtime and prenatal exposure to chlordecone (assessed by concentration in cord blood) or childhood exposure (determined from concentrations in child blood obtained at the 7-year follow-up), taking into account confounders and co-exposures to other environmental chemicals. We used a two-group regression model to take into account sex differences in play behavior. Our results do not indicate any modification in sex-typed toy preference among 7-year-old children in relation with either prenatal or childhood exposure to chlordecone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvaine Cordier
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Nadine Forget-Dubois
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval and École de psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Mireille Desrochers-Couture
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval and École de psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Florence Rouget
- CHU de Rennes, Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Leah Michineau
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Christine Monfort
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Jean Pierre Thome
- LEAE-CART (Laboratoire d'Ecologie Animale et d'Ecotoxicologie-Centre de Recherche Analytique et Technologique), Université de Liège, B-4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - Philippe Kadhel
- CHU de Pointe-à-Pitre, Univ Antilles, Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-97110, Pointe-à-Pitre, France
| | - Luc Multigner
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Gina Muckle
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval and École de psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
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20
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Daniel S, Balalian AA, Insel BJ, Liu X, Whyatt RM, Calafat AM, Rauh VA, Perera FP, Hoepner LA, Herbstman J, Factor-Litvak P. Prenatal and early childhood exposure to phthalates and childhood behavior at age 7 years. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 143:105894. [PMID: 32679391 PMCID: PMC7867029 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence suggests that phthalate exposure may be associated with behavior problems in children and that these associations may be sex specific. METHODS In a follow up study of 411 inner-city minority mothers and their children, mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), monoisobutyl phthalate (MiBP), monethyl phthalate (MEP) and four di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate metabolites (DEHP) were quantified in maternal urine samples collected during the third trimester and in child urine samples at ages 3 and 5 years. The Conners' Parent Rating Scale-Revised: Long Form (CPRS) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were administered to the mothers to assess children's behavior problems at 7 years of age. The analysis included children with available measures of CBCL, CPRS and phthalates measured in maternal urine. We performed both Quasi-Poisson regression and a mixture analysis using Weighted Quantile Sum(WQS) regression to assess the risk for CPRS scores and for internalizing and externalizing behaviors (from the CBCL) following intra-uterine exposure to the phthalate metabolites for boys and girls separately. RESULTS Among boys, increases in in anxious-shy behaviors were associated with prenatal exposure to MBzP (Mean Ratio [MR] = 1.20, 95%CI 1.05-1.36) and MiBP (Mean Ratio (MR) = 1.22, 95%CI 1.02-1.47). Among girls, increases in perfectionism were associated with MBzP (MR = 1.15, 95%CI 1.01-1.30). In both boys and girls, increases in psychosomatic problems were associated with MiBP (MR = 1.28, 95%CI 1.02-1.60), and MnBP (MR = 1.28, 95%CI 1.02-1.59), respectively. Among girls, decreased hyperactivity was associated with two DEHP metabolites, mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MR = 0.83, 95%CI 0.71-0.98) and mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MR = 0.85, 95%CI 0.72-0.99). Using weighted Quantile Sum logistic regression, no associations were found between the Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) of phthalate metabolites and CPRS scores or externalizing and internalizing behaviors. Nonetheless, when the analysis was performed separately for DEHP and non-DEHP metabolites significant associations were found between the WQS of DEHP metabolites and social problems in boys (OR = 2.15, 95%CI 1.13-4.06, p-value = 0.02) anxious-shy problems in girls (OR = 2.19, 95%CI 1.15-4.16, p = 0.02), and emotional lability problems in all children (OR = 0.61, 95%CI 0.38-0.97, p = 0.04). MEHP and MEOHP were the most highly weighted DEHP metabolites in WQS mixture. The analysis performed with CBCL scale corroborated these associations. CONCLUSION Concentration of non-DEHP metabolites was associated with anxious-shy behaviors among boys. DEHP phthalate metabolites were associated with decreased hyperactivity and impulsivity among girls on CPRS scores. These findings lend further support to the adverse associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and childhood outcomes, and clearly suggest that such associations are sex and mixture specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Daniel
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Clalit Health Services, Southern District, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Arin A Balalian
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Beverly J Insel
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xinhua Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robin M Whyatt
- Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Virginia A Rauh
- Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Frederica P Perera
- Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lori A Hoepner
- Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Julie Herbstman
- Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Pam Factor-Litvak
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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21
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Wang JQ, Hu YB, Gao H, Sheng J, Huang K, Zhang YW, Mao LJ, Zhou SS, Cai XX, Zhang LJ, Wang SF, Hao JH, Yang LQ, Tao FB. Sex-specific difference in placental inflammatory transcriptional biomarkers of maternal phthalate exposure: a prospective cohort study. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2020; 30:835-844. [PMID: 32015430 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-020-0200-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 11/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Previous epidemiologic research has shown that phthalate exposure in pregnant women is related to birth outcomes in a sex-specific manner. These outcomes may be mediated by placental inflammation, which is the proposed biological mechanism. This is the first study to address the relationship between phthalate exposure and gene expression in placental inflammation in a sex-specific manner. We performed quantitative PCR to measure placental inflammatory mRNAs (CRP, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1, IL-8, CD68, and CD206) in 2469 placentae that were sampled at birth. We estimated the associations between mRNA and urinary phthalate monoesters using multiple linear regression models. Mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP) was correlated with higher IL-1β, IL-6, and CRP expression in placentae of male fetuses and with higher IL-6, CRP, MCP-1, IL-8, IL-10, and CD68 expression in placentae of female fetuses. Mono benzyl phthalate (MBzP) increased the expression of TNF-α, MCP-1, and CD68 only in placentae of male fetuses. Mono (2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) was negatively correlated with CRP, MCP-1, and CD68 in placentae of female fetuses. Maternal phthalate exposure was associated with inflammatory variations in placental tissues. The associations were stronger in placentae of male than of female fetuses. Compared with the other metabolites, MBP plays a strong role in these associations. The placenta is worth being further investigated as a potential mediator of maternal exposure-induced disease risk in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Qing Wang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Ya-Bin Hu
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hui Gao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Jie Sheng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Kun Huang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Yun-Wei Zhang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Lei-Jing Mao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Shan-Shan Zhou
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiu-Xiu Cai
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Liang-Jian Zhang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Su-Fang Wang
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Jia-Hu Hao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Li-Qi Yang
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
| | - Fang-Biao Tao
- Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- MOE Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Population Health and Aristogenics, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
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22
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van den Dries MA, Guxens M, Spaan S, Ferguson KK, Philips E, Santos S, Jaddoe VW, Ghassabian A, Trasande L, Tiemeier H, Pronk A. Phthalate and Bisphenol Exposure during Pregnancy and Offspring Nonverbal IQ. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2020; 128:77009. [PMID: 32716663 PMCID: PMC7384796 DOI: 10.1289/ehp6047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposures to phthalates and bisphenols are associated with impaired brain development in animals. However, epidemiological studies investigating the association between prenatal phthalate or bisphenol exposure and cognition have produced mixed findings and mostly had modest sample sizes and measured the exposure during the third trimester. OBJECTIVE We examined the association between pregnancy maternal urinary biomarkers of phthalate or bisphenol exposure and nonverbal intelligence quotient (IQ) in children 6 years of age. METHOD The study sample consisted of 1,282 mother-child pairs participating in the Generation R Study, a population-based birth cohort in Rotterdam, Netherlands (enrollment 2002-2006). We measured maternal urinary concentrations of 18 phthalate metabolites and 8 bisphenols at < 18 , 18-25, and > 25 wks of gestation. Child nonverbal IQ was measured at 6 years of age using the Snijders-Oomen Nonverbal Intelligence Test-Revised. Linear regression models were fit for each of the three collection phases separately, the three collection phases jointly, and for the averaged prenatal exposure across pregnancy. RESULTS Higher urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites during early pregnancy were associated with lower child nonverbal IQ score [e.g., B per 10-fold increase in summed low-molecular weight phthalates = - 1.7 (95% CI: - 3.1 , - 0.3 )]. This association remained unchanged when adjusted for mid and late pregnancy exposures. We also observed an inverse association between late pregnancy di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP) exposure and nonverbal IQ. Maternal urinary concentrations of bisphenols were not associated with child nonverbal IQ. There was no effect estimate modification by sex. CONCLUSIONS We did not observe that maternal biomarkers of bisphenol exposure are associated with nonverbal IQ. We found that phthalate exposure in early pregnancy and DNOP exposure in late pregnancy are associated with lower nonverbal IQ scores in children. Our results might suggest that particularly early pregnancy is a sensitive window of phthalate exposure, but future studies are needed to replicate our findings. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6047.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiel A. van den Dries
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mònica Guxens
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain
| | - Suzanne Spaan
- Department of Risk Analysis for Products in Development, TNO, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Kelly K. Ferguson
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Elise Philips
- Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Susana Santos
- Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Vincent W.V. Jaddoe
- Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Akhgar Ghassabian
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Leonardo Trasande
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- New York University Wagner School of Public Service, New York, New York, USA
- New York University College of Global Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Anjoeka Pronk
- Department of Risk Analysis for Products in Development, TNO, Utrecht, Netherlands
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23
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Xu S, Zhang H, Pao PC, Lee A, Wang J, Suen Chan Y, Manno Iii FAM, Wan Chan S, Han Cheng S, Chen X. Exposure to phthalates impaired neurodevelopment through estrogenic effects and induced DNA damage in neurons. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2020; 222:105469. [PMID: 32179334 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2020.105469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Phthalates are commonly used in plastic products in daily life. The endocrine-disrupting effects of phthalates have been widely reported. Accumulating evidence from human cohorts and lab animals indicate exposure to phthalates might impair neurodevelopment. However, the direct causal relationship and mechanism between phthalates with neurodevelopment and neurotoxicity have not been firmly established. We found that phthalates (i.e. DBP, DINP, BBP) disrupted the expression of estrogen receptors (esr1, esr2a, esr2b), and impaired neurogenesis in the brain of zebrafish during embryonic development. Moreover, the abnormal expression of estrogen receptors, especially esr2a, was partly rescued in zebrafish which exposed to phthalates, with the estrogen receptor antagonist tamoxifen. Hence, impaired neurogenesis of zebrafish exposed to phthalates was partly reversed by tamoxifen treatment. Moreover, our results show that induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived human neurons exposed to phthalates triggered double-strand DNA breaks in vitro. Overall, this study demonstrates that exposure to phthalates affects neurodevelopment in zebrafish embryos and induces neurotoxicity in human neurons partly through disrupting the expression of estrogen receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shisan Xu
- Vitargent (International) Biotechnology Limited, Unit 516, 5/F. Biotech Centre 2, No. 11 Science Park West Avenue, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China; Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Huan Zhang
- Vitargent (International) Biotechnology Limited, Unit 516, 5/F. Biotech Centre 2, No. 11 Science Park West Avenue, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China; Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping-Chieh Pao
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Building 46 Room 4223 43, Vassar Street Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Audrey Lee
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Building 46 Room 4223 43, Vassar Street Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jun Wang
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Building 46 Room 4223 43, Vassar Street Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Yu Suen Chan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Francis A M Manno Iii
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Shun Wan Chan
- Department of Food and Health Sciences, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuk Han Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xueping Chen
- Vitargent (International) Biotechnology Limited, Unit 516, 5/F. Biotech Centre 2, No. 11 Science Park West Avenue, Hong Kong Science Park, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
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Lee SM, Jeon S, Jeong HJ, Kim BN, Kim Y. Dibutyl phthalate exposure during gestation and lactation in C57BL/6 mice: Maternal behavior and neurodevelopment in pups. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 182:109025. [PMID: 31841868 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.109025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Neurotoxic effects of phthalate during pregnancy on immature brain of the offspring or mature brains of the mothers remain unclear. We examined the effect of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) exposure during gestation and lactation on the maternal behavior of mother mice and neurodevelopment in pups. METHODS Pregnant mice were treated orally with DBP (0, 50 and 100 mg/kg/day, N = 20 per group) from gestational day 13 to postnatal day (PND) 15. Maternal behavior was measured using pup retrieval and nest shape test at postpartum day 4. For the pups, the neurodevelopment was measured using negative geotaxis, cliff avoidance at PND 7, swimming test and olfactory orientation at PND 14. RNA and protein expressions in the brain cortex of 50 mg/kg/day and control group (0 mg/kg/day) were analyzed using microarray and Western blot analysis. Nissl-stained sections at the coronal level of interaural 2.56 mm, bregma -1,23 mm, were used for counting of dark cortical neurons in mother and pup mice. RESULTS DBP treated mother mice (50 and 100 mg/kg/day) showed poor maternal behavior, poor nesting and retrieval behavior compared to the control group (0 mg/kg/day). In brain cortex, DBP-treated mothers showed decrease in protein expression of Nr4a3, Egr1, Arc, BDNF and phosphorylation of AKT and CREB, were also decreased in cortex of DBP-treated mothers. Pups exposed to DBP showed significantly decreased scores in negative geotaxis at PND 7 and swimming scores and olfactory orientation tests at PND 14. The cortex of the DBP exposed pups showed increase in expression of dopamine receptor D2 gene. Nissl staining showed that the dark neurons were increased in cortex of DBP treated mothers and DBP exposed pups. Suggesting that phthalate may delay pup development indirectly through inadequate mothering as well as direct phthalate exposure on the brain. CONCLUSION DBP exposure during gestation and lactation cause impairment in maternal behaviors and downregulation of neuronal plasticity and survival signals. Pups of mothers with exposed to DBP, showed delayed neurodevelopment and dark neurons increase in brain cortex, suggesting that phthalate may delay pup development indirectly through inadequate mothering as well as direct phthalate exposure on the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong Mi Lee
- Department of Mental Health Research, National Center for Mental Health, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Songhee Jeon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Center for Creative Biomedical Scientists at Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Ha Jin Jeong
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Center for Creative Biomedical Scientists at Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Bung-Nyun Kim
- Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Institute of Human Behavioral Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeni Kim
- Department of Mental Health Research, National Center for Mental Health, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychiatry, Dongguk University International Hospital, Dongguk University Medical School, Goyang, Republic of Korea.
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Gao CJ, Wang F, Shen HM, Kannan K, Guo Y. Feminine Hygiene Products-A Neglected Source of Phthalate Exposure in Women. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:930-937. [PMID: 31859481 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b03927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Phthalates have been associated with reproductive toxicity and precocious puberty in females, but the occurrence of these toxicants in feminine hygiene products is rarely reported. In this study, eight phthalates were determined in 120 feminine hygiene products (56 feminine care products and 64 sanitary napkins) collected from China. Phthalates were found in 86% and 98% of feminine care products and sanitary napkins, respectively, with the total concentrations varying between not detectable and 813 μg/g (median: 0.26 μg/g) and 0.25 and 8.76 μg/g (1.43 μg/g), respectively. Diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate were the major compounds, accounting for >60% of the total concentrations. The plastic materials used on the top and bottom layers and the hot melt adhesive used during the manufacturing process are the potential sources of phthalates in sanitary napkins. The range of daily exposure doses of phthalates in women from the use of feminine care products and sanitary napkins was <0.001-0.156 μg/kg-bw/day and <0.001-0.731 μg/kg-bw/day, respectively. Sanitary napkins contributed to 8.2% of the total exposure, and the levels of exposure to several phthalates from sanitary napkins were much higher than those reported from indoor dust ingestion but were lower than those of dietary intakes. Our study confirmed a new source of women's exposure to phthalates, sanitary napkins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong-Jing Gao
- School of Environment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510632 , China
| | - Fei Wang
- School of Environment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510632 , China
| | - Hui-Min Shen
- School of Environment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510632 , China
| | - Kurunthachalam Kannan
- Departments of Pediatrics , University School of Medicine , New York , New York , USA
| | - Ying Guo
- School of Environment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health , Jinan University , Guangzhou 510632 , China
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Varshavsky JR, Morello-Frosch R, Harwani S, Snider M, Petropoulou SSE, Park JS, Petreas M, Reynolds P, Nguyen T, Quach T. A Pilot Biomonitoring Study of Cumulative Phthalates Exposure among Vietnamese American Nail Salon Workers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E325. [PMID: 31906553 PMCID: PMC6981895 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17010325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Many California nail salon workers are low-income Vietnamese women of reproductive age who use nail products daily that contain androgen-disrupting phthalates, which may increase risk of male reproductive tract abnormalities during pregnancy. Yet, few studies have characterized phthalate exposures among this workforce. To characterize individual metabolites and cumulative phthalates exposure among a potentially vulnerable occupational group of nail salon workers, we collected 17 post-shift urine samples from Vietnamese workers at six San Francisco Bay Area nail salons in 2011, which were analyzed for four primary phthalate metabolites: mono-n-butyl-, mono-isobutyl-, mono(2-Ethylhexyl)-, and monoethyl phthalates (MnBP, MiBP, MEHP, and MEP, respectively; μg/L). Phthalate metabolite concentrations and a potency-weighted sum of parent compound daily intake (Σandrogen-disruptor, μg/kg/day) were compared to 203 Asian Americans from the 2011-2012 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) using Student's t-test and Wilcoxin signed rank test. Creatinine-corrected MnBP, MiBP, MEHP (μg/g), and cumulative phthalates exposure (Σandrogen-disruptor, μg/kg/day) levels were 2.9 (p < 0.0001), 1.6 (p = 0.015), 2.6 (p < 0.0001), and 2.0 (p < 0.0001) times higher, respectively, in our nail salon worker population compared to NHANES Asian Americans. Levels exceeded the NHANES 95th or 75th percentiles among some workers. This pilot study suggests that nail salon workers are disproportionately exposed to multiple phthalates, a finding that warrants further investigation to assess their potential health significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia R. Varshavsky
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA;
- Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, University of California, Mailstop 0132, 550 16th Street, 7th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Rachel Morello-Frosch
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA;
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Suhash Harwani
- Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; (S.H.); (M.S.); (S.-S.E.P.); (J.-S.P.); (M.P.)
| | - Martin Snider
- Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; (S.H.); (M.S.); (S.-S.E.P.); (J.-S.P.); (M.P.)
| | - Syrago-Styliani E. Petropoulou
- Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; (S.H.); (M.S.); (S.-S.E.P.); (J.-S.P.); (M.P.)
| | - June-Soo Park
- Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; (S.H.); (M.S.); (S.-S.E.P.); (J.-S.P.); (M.P.)
| | - Myrto Petreas
- Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; (S.H.); (M.S.); (S.-S.E.P.); (J.-S.P.); (M.P.)
| | - Peggy Reynolds
- Cancer Prevention Institute of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; (P.R.); (T.Q.)
- Department of Health Research and Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 92705, USA
| | - Tuan Nguyen
- State Compensation Insurance Fund, Safety and Health Services, Santa Ana, CA 92705, USA;
| | - Thu Quach
- Cancer Prevention Institute of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; (P.R.); (T.Q.)
- Department of Health Research and Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 92705, USA
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Neubert da Silva G, Zauer Curi T, Lima Tolouei SE, Tapias Passoni M, Sari Hey GB, Marino Romano R, Martino-Andrade AJ, Dalsenter PR. Effects of diisopentyl phthalate exposure during gestation and lactation on hormone-dependent behaviours and hormone receptor expression in rats. J Neuroendocrinol 2019; 31:e12816. [PMID: 31758603 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Phthalates are found in different plastic materials, such as packaging, toys and medical devices. Some of these compounds are endocrine disruptors, comprising substances that are able to induce multiple hormonal disturbances and downstream developmental effects, including the disruption of androgen-dependent differentiation of the male reproductive tract and changes in pathways that regulate hormone-dependent behaviours. In a previous study, metabolites of diisopentyl phthalate (DiPeP), a potent anti-androgenic phthalate, were found in the urine of Brazilian pregnant women. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of DiPeP exposure during critical developmental periods on behaviours controlled by sex hormones in rats. Pregnant Wistar rats were treated with DiPeP (1, 10 or 100 mg kg day-1 ) or canola oil by oral gavage between gestational day 10 and post-natal day (PND) 21. Male offspring were tested in a behavioural battery, including the elevated plus maze task, play behaviour, partner preference and sexual behaviour. After the behavioural tests, the hypothalamus and pituitary of these animals were removed on PND 60-65 and PND 145-160 to quantify gene expression for aromatase, androgen receptor (Ar) and oestrogen receptors α (Esr1) and β (Esr2). Male rats exposed to 1 and 10 mg kg day-1 DiPeP displayed no preference for the female stimulus rat in the partner preference test and 1 mg kg day-1 DiPeP rats also showed a significant increase in mount and penetration latencies when mated with receptive females. A decrease in pituitary Esr1 expression was observed in all DiPeP treated groups regardless of age. A reduction in hypothalamic Esr1 expression in rats exposed to 10 mg kg day-1 DiPeP was also observed. No significant changes were found with respect to Ar, Esr2 and aromatase expression in the hypothalamus. These results suggest that DiPeP exposure during critical windows of development in rats may induce changes in behaviours related to mating and the sexual motivation of males.
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Li J, Xia W, Wu C, Zhao H, Zhou Y, Wei J, Ji F, Luan H, Xu S, Cai Z. Variations of phthalate exposure and metabolism over three trimesters. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 251:137-145. [PMID: 31078085 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.04.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Maternal exposure to phthalates may cause some adverse health effects on both mother and fetus, but variations of phthalate exposure and metabolism during pregnancy have not been thoroughly characterized. A total of 946 participants were selected from a cohort study conducted in Wuhan between 2014 and 2015 through which they had provided a complete set of urine samples at three trimesters. Eight phthalate metabolites were analyzed in 2838 urine samples. Based on urinary concentrations, various parameters (i.e. phthalate metabolite concentrations, ratios of metabolites of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in DEHP, and percentages of individual metabolites in total phthalates) were compared over three visits. We observed that levels of phthalate metabolites showed a U-shaped trend across three trimesters. The significant variations in the ratios of DEHP metabolites indicated that the efficiency in metabolizing DEHP declined during pregnancy and less recent exposure occurred in mid-pregnancy. The changes of percentages of individual compound in total phthalates suggested the inconsistent pattern over trimesters. This longitudinal study found that the exposure pattern, exposure timing and metabolic susceptibility varied by trimesters, which suggests that urine samples should be collected at multiple time points and mothers should be especially careful in the early pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiufeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wei Xia
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chuansha Wu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongzhi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yanqiu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Juntong Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Fenfen Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hemi Luan
- SUSTech Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088, Xueyuan Rd, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shunqing Xu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubation), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zongwei Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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Bartsch PW, Edwards TM, Brock JW. Prevalence of Eight Phthalate Monoesters in Water from the Okavango Delta, Northern Botswana. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2019; 103:274-279. [PMID: 31101930 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-019-02630-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Phthalate diesters are used in personal care products, plastics, and pesticides, resulting in widespread human and wildlife exposure. Phthalate diesters leach out of these products and ultimately enter biological systems where they are quickly metabolized to phthalate monoesters and glucuronides. As such, phthalate monoesters can serve as indicators of anthropogenic activity in wilderness areas. The Okavango Delta, an inland seasonal wetland covering 5000-12,000 km2 in Botswana, provides fresh water to many species of birds, fish, reptiles, and large mammals. Water samples (N = 46) were taken from across the Okavango water system, extracted, and analyzed for eight different phthalate monoesters using liquid chromatography and isotope dilution mass spectrometry. Seven of eight phthalate monoesters were detected from the low ng/L to low µg/L levels. Phthalate monoesters were found in samples from all five sampling regions. Sources of these contaminants are unknown, but their presence indicates encroachment of human activity on the Okavango Delta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perry W Bartsch
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina At Asheville, One University Heights, Asheville, NC, 28804, USA
| | - Thea M Edwards
- Department of Biology, University of the South, 735 University Ave., Sewanee, TN, 37383, USA
| | - John W Brock
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina At Asheville, One University Heights, Asheville, NC, 28804, USA.
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30
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Zhang Q, Chen XZ, Huang X, Wang M, Wu J. The association between prenatal exposure to phthalates and cognition and neurobehavior of children-evidence from birth cohorts. Neurotoxicology 2019; 73:199-212. [PMID: 31004626 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2019.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Phthalate have been detected widely in the environment; while several studies have indicated that prenatal phthalate exposure has adverse effects on neurodevelopment, the results were inconsistent. OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine the current research status of the relationship between prenatal exposure to different types of phthalate and cognition and behavioral development in children. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the current state of knowledge. METHODS We systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE electronic databases up to May 2018 with manual searches of the references of retrieved publications and relevant reviews. Only birth cohort studies that reported on the association between phthalate exposure and cognitive or behavioral development were included in this review. We evaluated the risk of bias for each of the included studies using a modified instrument based on the Cochrane Collaboration's "Risk of Bias" tool. RESULT Twenty-six birth cohort studies met our inclusion criteria, nine of which investigated the impact of phthalate exposure during pregnancy on cognition, 13 on neurobehavior, and 4 on both cognition and neurobehavior. However, ten articles reported that the effect of prenatal exposure to phthalates on cognitive development was statistically significant, 15 articles reported that the effect of prenatal exposure to phthalates on neurobehavior was statistically significant. The effect of prenatal phthalate exposure on neurodevelopment differed according to sex, but the results are inconsistent, for instance, among the five studies investigating the association between mental development index (MDI) and Mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), two of them showed a significantly decreasing MDI scores with increasing concentrations of MnBP among girls, but among boys one study showed the inverse association, another showed the positive association. CONCLUSION Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, butyl-benzyl phthalate and di-ethyl phthalate exposure during pregnancy was associated with lower cognitive scores and worse behavior in offspring, and sex-specific effects on cognitive, psychomotor, and behavioral development were identified, especially the impact of phthalate exposure on neurobehavior in boys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin-Zhen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Huang
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Wu
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
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31
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Perinatal Exposure to Environmental Endocrine Disruptors in the Emergence of Neurodevelopmental Psychiatric Diseases: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16081318. [PMID: 31013727 PMCID: PMC6517937 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16081318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background: Exposure to endocrine disruptors is on the rise, with new compounds regularly incriminated. In animals and humans, this exposure during critical developmental windows has been associated with various developmental abnormalities, including the emergence of psychiatric disorders. We aimed to review the association between perinatal endocrine disruptor exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders in humans, focusing on cognitive and psychiatric disorders. Methods: We performed a systematic review with key words referring to the fields of neurodevelopment and endocrine disruptors. We reviewed 896 titles, choosing studies on the basis of titles and abstracts. We searched through the methodology sections to find perinatal exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders, following the categories indicated in the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition). References in some studies brought us to a total of 47 studies included here. Results: Convergent studies report an association between exposure to endocrine disruptors and autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, global developmental delay, intellectual disability, communication disorders and unspecified neurodevelopmental disorders. Conclusion: Sufficient data exist to report that exposure to some endocrine disruptors is a risk factor for the emergence of neurodevelopmental disorders. Studying endocrine disruptor exposure in humans is still associated with some limits that are difficult to overcome.
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Balalian AA, Whyatt RM, Liu X, Insel BJ, Rauh VA, Herbstman J, Factor-Litvak P. Prenatal and childhood exposure to phthalates and motor skills at age 11 years. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 171:416-427. [PMID: 30731329 PMCID: PMC6814270 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.01.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous reports suggest that prenatal phthalate exposure is associated with lower scores on measures of motor skills in infants and toddlers. Whether these associations persist into later childhood or preadolescence has not been studied. METHODS In a follow up study of 209 inner-city mothers and their children the concentrations of mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), monoisobutyl phthalate (MiBP), monomethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-carboxy-isooctyl phthalate (MCOP), and four di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate metabolites (ΣDEHP) were measured in spot urine sample collected from the women in late pregnancy and from their children at ages 3, 5, and 7 years. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency short form (BOT-2) was administered at child age 11 to assess gross and fine motor skills. RESULTS The total number of children included in the study was 209. Of the 209 children, 116(55.5%) were girls and 93 were (45%) boys. Among girls, prenatal MnBP(b=-2.09; 95%CI: [-3.43, -0.75]), MBzP (b=-1.14; [95%CI: -2.13, -0.14]), and MiBP(b=-1.36; 95%CI: [-2.51, -0.21] and MEP(b=-1.23 [95%CI: -2.36, -0.11]) were associated with lower total BOT-2 composite score. MnBP (b= -1.43; 95% CI: [-2.44, -0.42]) was associated with lower fine motor scores and MiBP(b = -0.56; 95% CI: [-1.12, -0.01]) and MEP (b = -0.60; 95% CI: [-1.14, -0.06])was associated with lower gross motor scores. Among boys, prenatal MBzP (b = -0.79; 95% CI: [-1.40, -0.19]) was associated with lower fine motor composite score. The associations between MEP measured at age 3 and the BOT-2 gross motor, fine motor and total motor score differed by sex. In boys, there was an inverse association between ΣDEHP metabolites measured in childhood at ages 3 (b = -1.30; 95% CI: [-2.34, -0.26]) and 7 years (b = -0.96; 95% CI: [-1.79, -0.13]), and BOT-2 fine motor composite scores. CONCLUSIONS Higher prenatal exposure to specific phthalates was associated with lower motor function among 11- year old girls while higher postnatal exposure to ΣDEHP metabolites was associated with lower scores among boys. As lower scores on measures of motor development have been associated with more problems in cognitive, socioemotional functioning and behavior, the findings of this study have implications related to overall child development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arin A Balalian
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - Robin M Whyatt
- Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - Xinhua Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - Beverly J Insel
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th street, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Virginia A Rauh
- Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - Julie Herbstman
- Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th street, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Pam Factor-Litvak
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th street, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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Davis AN, Carlo G, Gulseven Z, Palermo F, Lin CH, Nagel SC, Vu DC, Vo PH, Ho TL, McElroy JA. Exposure to environmental toxicants and young children's cognitive and social development. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2019; 34:35-56. [PMID: 30844763 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2018-0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Background Understanding the role of environmental toxicant exposure on children's development is an important area of inquiry in order to better understand contextual factors that shape development and ultimately school readiness among young children. There is evidence suggesting negative links between exposure to environmental toxicants and negative physical health outcomes (i.e. asthma, allergies) in children. However, research on children's exposure to environmental toxicants and other developmental outcomes (cognitive, socioemotional) is limited. Objectives The goal of the current review was to assess the existing literature on the links between environmental toxicants (excluding heavy metals) and children's cognitive, socioemotional, and behavioral development among young children. Methods This literature review highlights research on environmental toxicants (i.e. pesticide exposure, bisphenol A, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, tobacco smoke, polychlorinated biphenyls, flame retardants, phthalates and gas pollutions) and children's development across multiple domains. Results The results highlight the potential risk of exposure to multiple environmental toxicants for young children's cognitive and socioemotional development. Discussion Discussion will focus on the role of environmental toxicants in the cognitive and socioemotional development of young children, while highlighting gaps in the existing literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra N Davis
- Individual, Family, and Community Education, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA, Phone: +816-294-6950
| | - Gustavo Carlo
- Human Development and Family Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Zehra Gulseven
- Human Development and Family Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Francisco Palermo
- Human Development and Family Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Chung-Ho Lin
- Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Susan C Nagel
- Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Danh C Vu
- Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Phuc H Vo
- Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Thi L Ho
- Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute, Can Tho, Vietnam
| | - Jane A McElroy
- Family and Community Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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Moody L, Kougias D, Jung PM, Digan I, Hong A, Gorski A, Chen H, Juraska J, Pan YX. Perinatal phthalate and high-fat diet exposure induce sex-specific changes in adipocyte size and DNA methylation. J Nutr Biochem 2019; 65:15-25. [PMID: 30599393 DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2018.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2017] [Revised: 11/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Environmental factors such as diet and endocrine-disrupting chemicals have individually been shown to mediate metabolic function. However, the underlying mechanism by which the combination disrupts adipocyte morphology and fat storage remains unknown. The current study evaluated early-life programming by diet and phthalate exposure. During gestation and lactation, pregnant Long-Evans hooded rat dams were fed either a control (C) or high-fat (HF) diet and were orally administered one of three phthalate dosages (0, 200 or 1000 μg/kg/day), yielding six groups of offspring: C-0, C-200, C-1000, HF-0, HF-200 and HF-1000. On postnatal day (PND) 90, gonadal fat pads were collected and analyzed for histology, gene expression and DNA methylation. Differences in body weight were observed only in males. Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed larger adipocyte size in HF-0 vs. C-0 females. Exposure to 200 or 1000 μg/kg/day phthalates modulated diet-induced changes in adipose morphology. Compared to C-0 females, HF-0 females also had higher expression of the adipogenesis gene Wnt receptor, frizzled 1 (Fzd1) and the triglyceride cleaving enzyme lipoprotein lipase (Lpl). These increases in gene expression were accompanied by lower DNA methylation surrounding the transcription start sites of the two genes. Diet-driven effects were observed in unexposed females but not in phthalate-treated rats. Results suggest a sex-specific association between perinatal HF diet and body weight, adipocyte size and DNA methylation. Perinatal phthalate exposure appears to produce a phenotype that more closely resembles HF-fed animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Paul M Jung
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition.
| | | | - Aaron Hong
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology.
| | | | - Hong Chen
- Division of Nutritional Sciences; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition.
| | | | - Yuan-Xiang Pan
- Division of Nutritional Sciences; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition.
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Ruszkiewicz JA, Miranda-Vizuete A, Tinkov AA, Skalnaya MG, Skalny AV, Tsatsakis A, Aschner M. Sex-Specific Differences in Redox Homeostasis in Brain Norm and Disease. J Mol Neurosci 2019; 67:312-342. [DOI: 10.1007/s12031-018-1241-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Bagher SM, Sabbagh HJ, Aldajani M, Al-Ghamdi N, Zaatari G. Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Restorative, Orthodontic, and Pediatric Departments' Members toward Bisphenol A Dental Exposures. J Int Soc Prev Community Dent 2019; 9:83-88. [PMID: 30923699 PMCID: PMC6402252 DOI: 10.4103/jispcd.jispcd_338_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM AND OBJECTIVES The aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of Restorative, Orthodontic, and Pediatric Dentistry Departments' members at King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, toward bisphenol A (BPA) dental exposure. MATERIALS AND METHODS A survey was pretested for face and content validity. It included ten knowledge-, four attitude-, and five behavior-based items. The collected data were analyzed using Windows SPSS software version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Significant levels were set at 0.05. RESULTS A total of 109 members participated in this study. Most of them (80 [73.4]) had never attended a lecture or read an article on BPA dental exposure previously. The restorative department members showed the highest (mean ± standard deviation score) in knowledge-based questions (3.32 ± 3.323), and those who reported that they had heard of BPA previously, read an article, or attended a lecture on BPA received significantly higher mean knowledge scores (P < 0.0001). The pediatric dentistry departments' members showed significantly higher agreements to attitude questions. Only ten participants (9.2%) followed the recommended guidelines to reduce patients' exposure to BPA during the application of BPA-containing dental materials. CONCLUSIONS Reading an article or attending a lecture on BPA significantly improves the knowledge scores. Therefore, there is a need to increase the awareness on BPA dental exposure among different departments' members in KAU to ensure that BPA exposure to patients is minimized and to ensure the spread of this knowledge to the dental students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M. Bagher
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,Address for correspondence: Dr. Sara M. Bagher, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. E-mail:
| | - Heba J. Sabbagh
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mariam Aldajani
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nouf Al-Ghamdi
- Dentist at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Abstract
BACKGROUND There is growing awareness and exposure in both the medical community and the lay media about the characteristics and complex needs of individuals who believe that their gender identity does not match their birth sex. Despite research and lay publications about teens with gender dysphoria and those who identify as transgender, little guidance is available regarding young (prepubertal) children with questions about their gender identity. Although many terms are used to describe these children, we have chosen to describe them as "gender nonconforming" (GNC). OBJECTIVE Primary care and developmental-behavioral pediatric providers are often the first professionals with whom young gender nonconforming children and their families discuss their concerns about their emerging gender identity. It is important, therefore, that pediatric providers be knowledgeable about the dilemmas, conflicts, and choices that are typical of these children and their families to guide them appropriately. OVERVIEW In this special article, we present observations, informed by clinical experience, an emerging body of research, and a developmental-behavioral pediatric framework, of the complex needs of prepubertal gender nonconforming children and their families and an approach to their care. The article begins by outlining the cognitive and biological bases for gender identity development, as well as the natural history of gender nonconforming preferences and behaviors. It then sets the context for understanding the care of GNC children as an area in which developmentally sophisticated providers can play a crucial role in support of the complex developmental patterns and need for advocacy in multiple settings among these children.
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Shu H, Jönsson BAG, Gennings C, Lindh CH, Nånberg E, Bornehag CG. PVC flooring at home and uptake of phthalates in pregnant women. INDOOR AIR 2019; 29:43-54. [PMID: 30240038 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Phthalates are used as plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials and it is known that phthalates may migrate into the surrounding environment and then become a source for human uptake. The aim of the study was to investigate whether residential PVC flooring was related to the urinary levels of phthalate metabolites determined in pregnant women. The data were from the Swedish SELMA study where sampling was conducted during the time period 2007-2010. Spot urine samples from 1674 women at the end of the first trimester were analyzed for 14 metabolites from seven phthalates and one phthalate alternative. Data on flooring material in the kitchen and the parents' bedrooms as well as potential confounders were collected by postal questionnaires at the same time as the urine samples were taken. Multiple regression modeling by least square geometric mean and weighted quantile sum regression was applied to log-transformed and creatinine-adjusted phthalate metabolite concentrations adjusted for potential confounders from questionnaire data. This study has found significantly higher urinary levels of the BBzP metabolite (MBzP) in pregnant women living in homes with PVC flooring as compared to homes with other flooring materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Shu
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bo A G Jönsson
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Chris Gennings
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York
| | - Christian H Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Eewa Nånberg
- Department of Health Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Carl-Gustaf Bornehag
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York
- Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
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Shin HM, Schmidt RJ, Tancredi D, Barkoski J, Ozonoff S, Bennett DH, Hertz-Picciotto I. Prenatal exposure to phthalates and autism spectrum disorder in the MARBLES study. Environ Health 2018; 17:85. [PMID: 30518373 PMCID: PMC6280477 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-018-0428-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence from experimental and observational studies suggests that prenatal phthalate exposures may be associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We examined whether prenatal phthalate exposures were associated with an increased risk of ASD. METHODS We quantified 14 metabolites of eight phthalates in 636 multiple maternal urine samples collected during 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy from 201 mother-child pairs in MARBLES (Markers of Autism Risk in Babies - Learning Early Signs), a high-risk ASD longitudinal cohort. At 3 years old, children were clinically assessed for ASD and classified into three diagnostic categories: ASD (n = 46), non-typical development (Non-TD, n = 55), and typical development (TD, n = 100). We used multinomial logistic regression to evaluate the association of phthalate metabolite concentrations with ASD and Non-TD. RESULTS Most associations of phthalate biomarkers with both ASD and Non-TD were null, with the exception that monoethyl phthalate (MEP) was significantly associated with an increased risk of Non-TD (per 2.72-fold relative increase in concentration: Relative risk ratio (RRR) = 1.38; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.90). When stratified by prenatal vitamin use during the first month of pregnancy, among mothers who took vitamins, ASD risk was inversely associated with mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP, RRR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.21, 0.88), mono(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate (MCPP, RRR = 0.41; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.83) and mono-carboxyisooctyl phthalate (MCOP, RRR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.27, 0.88), but among mothers who did not take prenatal vitamins, Non-TD risk was positively associated with MCPP (RRR = 5.09; 95% CI: 2.05, 12.6), MCOP (RRR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.01, 3.39), and mono-carboxyisononyl phthalate (MCNP, RRR = 3.67; 95% CI: 1.80, 7.48). When stratified by sex, among boys, MEP, monobenzyl phthalate, MCPP, MCNP, and sum of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites (ΣDEHP) were positively associated with Non-TD risk, but associations with ASD were null. Among girls, associations with both ASD and Non-TD were null. CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that phthalate exposures in mid- to late pregnancy were not associated with ASD in children from this high-risk ASD cohort. Further studies should be conducted in the general population without high-risk genes to confirm our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeong-Moo Shin
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas, Arlington, TX, USA.
| | - Rebecca J Schmidt
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, USA
- UC Davis MIND (Medical Investigations of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Daniel Tancredi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Jacqueline Barkoski
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Sally Ozonoff
- UC Davis MIND (Medical Investigations of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute, Sacramento, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Deborah H Bennett
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Irva Hertz-Picciotto
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, USA
- UC Davis MIND (Medical Investigations of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute, Sacramento, California, USA
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Araki A, Itoh S, Miyashita C, Minatoya M, Kishi R. [Environmental Chemical Exposure and Its Effects on Infants' Reproductive Hormones]. Nihon Eiseigaku Zasshi 2018; 73:313-321. [PMID: 30270299 DOI: 10.1265/jjh.73.313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, the birthrate has been continuously declining in Japan. The main causes of the decline are social factors. On the other hand, there is increasing evidence that many environmental chemicals show endocrine disrupting properties. Thus, we hypothesized that exposure to these chemicals would also be a causal for the fertility crisis. In this review, we examined current evidence that focused on environmental chemical exposure in utero and its association with reproductive hormones in children. We have included the findings from a prospective birth cohorts, the Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children's Health Sapporo cohort. According to the literature, environmental chemical levels in utero, such as polychlorinated biphenyl, dioxins, perfluorinated chemical substances, phthalates, and bisphenol A were somewhat associated with the levels of reproductive hormones, such as testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, inhibin B, and insulin-like factor-3 in cord blood, in early childhood and adolescence. The literature also suggests the association between exposure to these chemicals and brain-sexual differentiation or the anogenital distance, which suggests the disruption of androgen shower during the developmental stage in the fetal period. There are still knowledge gaps on whether these hormones at an early stage affect the pubertal development and reproductive functions in later life. In addition, alternative chemicals are produced after banning one type. The health effects of alternative chemicals should be evaluated. Effects of exposure to a mixture of the chemicals should also be examined in future studies. In conclusion, the prevention of environmental chemical hazards in relation to human reproductive function is important. It would be one of the countermeasures to the falling birthrate caused by fertility issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsuko Araki
- Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences
| | - Sachiko Itoh
- Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences
| | | | - Machiko Minatoya
- Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences
| | - Reiko Kishi
- Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences
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Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigates if and why audience gender ratios vary between museum YouTube channels, including for museums of the same type.
Design/methodology/approach
Gender ratios were examined for public comments on YouTube videos from 50 popular museums in English-speaking nations. Terms that were more frequently used by males or females in comments were also examined for gender differences.
Findings
The ratio of female to male YouTube commenters varies almost a hundredfold between museums. Some of the difference could be explained by gendered interests in museum themes (e.g. military, art) but others were due to the topics chosen for online content and could address a gender minority audience.
Practical implications
Museums can attract new audiences online with YouTube videos that target outside their expected demographics.
Originality/value
This is the first analysis of YouTube audience gender for museums.
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Perinatal Exposure to an Environmentally Relevant Mixture of Phthalates Results in a Lower Number of Neurons and Synapses in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex and Decreased Cognitive Flexibility in Adult Male and Female Rats. J Neurosci 2018; 38:6864-6872. [PMID: 30012688 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0607-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The growth and organization of the developing brain are known to be influenced by hormones, but little is known about whether disruption of hormones affects cortical regions, such as mPFC. This region is particularly important given its involvement in executive functions and implication in the pathology of many neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we examine the long-term effects of perinatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds, the phthalates, on the mPFC and associated behavior. This investigation is pertinent as humans are ubiquitously exposed to phthalates through a variety of consumer products and phthalates can readily cross the placenta and be delivered to offspring via lactation. Pregnant dams orally consumed an environmentally relevant mixture of phthalates at 0, 200, or 1000 μg/kg/d through pregnancy and for 10 d while lactating. As adults, offspring were tested in an attentional set-shifting task, which assesses cognitive flexibility. Brains were also examined in adulthood for stereological quantification of the number of neurons, glia, and synapses within the mPFC. We found that, independent of sex, perinatal phthalate exposure at either dose resulted in a reduction in neuron number, synapse number, and size of the mPFC and a deficit in cognitive flexibility. Interestingly, the number of synapses was correlated with cognitive flexibility, such that rats with fewer synapses were less cognitively flexible than those with more synapses. These results demonstrate that perinatal phthalate exposure can have long-term effects on the cortex and behavior of both male and female rats.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Humans globally are exposed on a daily basis to a variety of phthalates, which are endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The effects of phthalate exposure on the developing brain, especially on cognitively relevant regions, such as the mPFC, are not known. Here, we use a rat model of human prenatal exposure to an environmentally relevant mixture of phthalates and find that there is an appreciable reduction in neuron number, synapse number, and size of the mPFC and a deficit in cognitive flexibility. These results may have serious implications for humans given that the mPFC is involved in executive functions and is implicated in the pathology of many neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Wang W, Leung AOW, Chu LH, Wong MH. Phthalates contamination in China: Status, trends and human exposure-with an emphasis on oral intake. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 238:771-782. [PMID: 29625301 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.02.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Despite the extensive production and use of phthalates in Asian countries, especially China, limited information is available about the current situation of human exposure in this region, and thus identification of further research needs is warranted. This review summarized the current trends of phthalates related to industrial production and human exposure by conducting a comprehensive assessment of phthalates contaminations in air, indoor dust, personal care products (PCPs), foodstuff and internal exposure in China, with comparisons with other countries. The concentrations of phthalates in indoor dust and PCPs in China were moderate, while concentrations in foods and air were among the highest worldwide. Dietary intake of phthalates varied with location, with hotspots in the southern and eastern coastal regions of China which correlated with the extensive industrial production recorded in these regions. This review firstly revealed the significantly differentiated food-type contribution profiles for phthalates in China and in other countries, which were affected by dietary habits and food contamination. The internal exposure for the Chinese population was found to be moderate, however there is a paucity of data available. Knowledge gaps identified concerning phthalates in China include trends in phthalates exposure, sources (e.g. PCPs, pharmaceuticals and medical treatment), and internal exposure derived from biomonitoring, warranting phthalates a research priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Consortium on Health, Environment, Education and Research (CHEER), Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China; Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, Empire State Plaza, P.O. Box 509, Albany, NY, 12201-0509, United States
| | - Anna Oi Wah Leung
- Department of Biology, and Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lam Hang Chu
- Consortium on Health, Environment, Education and Research (CHEER), Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ming Hung Wong
- Consortium on Health, Environment, Education and Research (CHEER), Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
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Holahan MR, Smith CA, Luu BE, Storey KB. Preadolescent Phthalate (DEHP) Exposure Is Associated With Elevated Locomotor Activity and Reward-Related Behavior and a Reduced Number of Tyrosine Hydroxylase Positive Neurons in Post-Adolescent Male and Female Rats. Toxicol Sci 2018; 165:512-530. [DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bryan E Luu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Kenneth B Storey
- Institute of Biochemistry and Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
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Kishi R, Araki A, Miyashita C, Itoh S, Minatoya M, Kobayashi S, Yamazaki K, Ait Bamai Y, Miura R, Tamura N. [Importance of Two Birth Cohorts (n=20,926 and n=514): 15 Years' Experience of the Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children's Health: Malformation, Development and Allergy]. Nihon Eiseigaku Zasshi 2018; 73:164-177. [PMID: 29848869 DOI: 10.1265/jjh.73.164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Since "Our Stolen Future" by Theo Colborn was published in 1996, global interest on the impact of chemical substances, such as the endocrine-disrupting action of chemicals, has increased. In Japan, "The Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children's Health: Malformation, Development and Allergy" was launched in 2001. It was a model of Japan Environment and Children's Study of the Ministry of the Environment. In a large-scale, Hokkaido cohort, we obtained the consent of 20,926 mothers at the organogenesis stage with the cooperation of 37 obstetrics clinics in Hokkaido. We tracked the effects of endocrine disruptors on developmental disorders. In a small-scale Sapporo cohort, we observed in detail the neuropsychiatric development of children with the consent of 514 mothers in their late pregnancy. We examined how prenatal exposure to low concentrations of environmental chemicals affect the development of organs and the postnatal development of children. Maternal exposure to POPs, such as PCB/dioxins and perfluorinated alkyl substances, has affected not only children's birth size, thyroid functions, and sex hormone levels, but also postnatal neurodevelopment, infection, and allergy among others. The associations of short-half-life substances, such as DEHP and BPA, with obesity, ASD, and ADHD have been investigated. Gene-environment interactions have been found for smoking, caffeine, folic acid, and PCB/dioxin. In 2015, our center was officially designated as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health and Prevention of Chemical Hazards, and we continue to the contribute to the global perspectives of child health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reiko Kishi
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences,Hokkaido University.,WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health and Prevention of Chemical Hazards
| | - Atsuko Araki
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences,Hokkaido University.,WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health and Prevention of Chemical Hazards
| | - Chihiro Miyashita
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences,Hokkaido University.,WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health and Prevention of Chemical Hazards
| | - Sachiko Itoh
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences,Hokkaido University.,WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health and Prevention of Chemical Hazards
| | - Machiko Minatoya
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences,Hokkaido University.,WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health and Prevention of Chemical Hazards
| | - Sumitaka Kobayashi
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences,Hokkaido University.,WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health and Prevention of Chemical Hazards
| | - Keiko Yamazaki
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences,Hokkaido University.,WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health and Prevention of Chemical Hazards
| | - Yu Ait Bamai
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences,Hokkaido University.,WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health and Prevention of Chemical Hazards
| | - Ryu Miura
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences,Hokkaido University.,WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health and Prevention of Chemical Hazards
| | - Naomi Tamura
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences,Hokkaido University.,WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health and Prevention of Chemical Hazards
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46
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Kim S, Eom S, Kim HJ, Lee JJ, Choi G, Choi S, Kim S, Kim SY, Cho G, Kim YD, Suh E, Kim SK, Kim S, Kim GH, Moon HB, Park J, Kim S, Choi K, Eun SH. Association between maternal exposure to major phthalates, heavy metals, and persistent organic pollutants, and the neurodevelopmental performances of their children at 1 to 2years of age- CHECK cohort study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 624:377-384. [PMID: 29258038 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.12.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2017] [Revised: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Exposure of the developing fetus and infants to toxic substances can cause serious lifelong health consequences. Several chemicals have been associated with adverse neurodevelopmental disorders in the early life stages of humans. However, most epidemiological studies have focused on a limited number of chemicals, and hence may exclude important chemicals from consideration or result in conclusions built on associations by chance. In the present study, we investigated the chemical exposure profile of the women, and associated these with the early neurodevelopmental performance of their offspring at 13-24months of age. The chemicals assessed include four phthalates, bisphenol A, three heavy metals, 19 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 19 organochlorine pesticides, and 19 polybrominated diphenyl ethers, which were measured from urine, whole blood, serum, and/or breastmilk of the pregnant or lactating women. For neurodevelopmental performance, the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II (BSID-II), Social Maturity Scale (SMS), and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were measured from a total of 140 toddlers. Among the measured chemicals, monoethyl phthalate (MEP) in maternal urine was significantly associated with early mental, psychomotor, and social development. In addition, breast milk di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) metabolite and blood lead concentrations were inversely associated with mental and psychomotor development indices, respectively. Maternal blood PCB153, heavy metals, and urinary MEP levels were also higher among the children with behavioral problems, as indicated by the CBCL range. Taken together, maternal exposure to several EDCs such as PCBs and DEHP was associated with adverse neurodevelopmental performances among the children aged 1-2years. Confirmation of these association in larger populations, as well as longer-term consequences of such exposure warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunmi Kim
- School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Soyong Eom
- College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 26493, Republic of Korea
| | - Hai-Joong Kim
- College of Medicine, Korea University, Ansan 15355, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Jae Lee
- College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Seoul 04401, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyuyeon Choi
- College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Seoul 04401, Republic of Korea
| | - Sooran Choi
- College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon 22332, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungjoo Kim
- College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul 07226, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Young Kim
- College of Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 63241, Republic of Korea
| | - Geumjoon Cho
- College of Medicine, Korea University, Ansan 15355, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Don Kim
- Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon 51353, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunsook Suh
- College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Seoul 04401, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Koo Kim
- College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul 07226, Republic of Korea
| | - Seunghyo Kim
- College of Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 63241, Republic of Korea
| | - Gun-Ha Kim
- College of Medicine, Korea University, Ansan 15355, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo-Bang Moon
- Department of Marine Sciences and Convergent Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan 15588, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongim Park
- College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Asan 31538, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungkyoon Kim
- School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungho Choi
- School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - So-Hee Eun
- College of Medicine, Korea University, Ansan 15355, Republic of Korea.
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47
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Mughal BB, Fini JB, Demeneix BA. Thyroid-disrupting chemicals and brain development: an update. Endocr Connect 2018; 7:R160-R186. [PMID: 29572405 PMCID: PMC5890081 DOI: 10.1530/ec-18-0029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This review covers recent findings on the main categories of thyroid hormone-disrupting chemicals and their effects on brain development. We draw mostly on epidemiological and experimental data published in the last decade. For each chemical class considered, we deal with not only the thyroid hormone-disrupting effects but also briefly mention the main mechanisms by which the same chemicals could modify estrogen and/or androgen signalling, thereby exacerbating adverse effects on endocrine-dependent developmental programmes. Further, we emphasize recent data showing how maternal thyroid hormone signalling during early pregnancy affects not only offspring IQ, but also neurodevelopmental disease risk. These recent findings add to established knowledge on the crucial importance of iodine and thyroid hormone for optimal brain development. We propose that prenatal exposure to mixtures of thyroid hormone-disrupting chemicals provides a plausible biological mechanism contributing to current increases in the incidence of neurodevelopmental disease and IQ loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal B Mughal
- CNRS/UMR7221Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Fini
- CNRS/UMR7221Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
| | - Barbara A Demeneix
- CNRS/UMR7221Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
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48
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Sedtasiriphokin N, Supornsilchai V, Jantarat C, Nosoongnoen W. Phthalate exposure in Thai children and adolescents. ASIAN BIOMED 2018. [DOI: 10.1515/abm-2018-0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Phthalates are found in products made of plastic. Because of concerns regarding the hazards of phthalate exposure, including endocrine disruption, many countries have regulations to restrict their use in products used by children. However, in Thailand, no such restrictions exist, and data relating to phthalate exposure are scarce.
Objectives
To determine the level of exposure of Thai children and adolescents to phthalates, and study its associations with sociodemographic data and the exposure to potential sources of phthalates.
Methods
Healthy children aged 2–18 y were enrolled into the present cross-sectional study between January 2016 and December 2016 inclusive. Their anthropometric indices and Tanner staging were determined. Urinary concentrations of the phthalate metabolites, monomethyl phthalate (MMP) and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), were determined in spot samples by high-performance liquid chromatography to estimate the level of phthalate exposure. Associations between sociodemographic data, exposure to potential sources of phthalates, and phthalate metabolite concentrations were analyzed.
Results
We included 103 boys and 118 girls with a mean age of 9.4 ± 3.64 (range 2.8–17.1) y and detected MMP in 28.5% and MBP in 88.6%. The geometric means (interquartile range) of urinary MMP and MBP were 3400 (2489, 4642) and 214.4 (164, 279) μg/g creatinine (Cr), respectively. Significant associations were found between exposure to floor cleaning products and Cr-adjusted urinary MMP level (P < 0.05), and paint and Cr-adjusted urinary MMP and MBP levels (P < 0.05). Prepuberty was significantly associated with urinary Cr-adjusted MMP level.
Conclusion
Urinary phthalate metabolite levels were high in a proportion of Thai children and adolescents. Exposure to floor cleaning products and paint is associated with phthalate exposure, and advanced Tanner stage is negatively associated with urinary Cr-adjusted MBP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuttanun Sedtasiriphokin
- Department of Paediatrics , Faculty of Medicine , Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok 10330 , Thailand
| | - Vichit Supornsilchai
- Division of Endocrinology , Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine , Chulalongkorn University , Bangkok 10330 , Thailand
| | - Chutima Jantarat
- School of Pharmacy , Walailak University , Nakhon Si Thammarat , 80161 , Thailand
| | - Wichit Nosoongnoen
- Department of Pharmacy , Faculty of Pharmacy , Mahidol University , Bangkok , 10400 , Thailand
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49
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Capela D, Mhaouty-Kodja S. [When exposure to an environmental endocrine disrupter reduces male courtship behavior]. Med Sci (Paris) 2018; 34:211-214. [PMID: 29547105 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/20183403007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Daphné Capela
- Sorbonne universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris 06, Inserm, CNRS, neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de biologie Paris Seine, 7, quai St-Bernard, Bâtiment A, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Sakina Mhaouty-Kodja
- Sorbonne universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris 06, Inserm, CNRS, neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de biologie Paris Seine, 7, quai St-Bernard, Bâtiment A, 75005 Paris, France
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50
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Barrett ES, Patisaul HB. Endocrine disrupting chemicals and behavior: Re-evaluating the science at a critical turning point. Horm Behav 2017; 96:A1-A6. [PMID: 28947077 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily S Barrett
- Department of Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States; Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, United States.
| | - Heather B Patisaul
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, United States; Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, United States
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