1
|
Fortin S, Jutras B, Bouchard MF, Booij L, Muckle G, Lanphear B, Saint-Amour D. Associations of prenatal exposure to lead and mercury with auditory function in infants. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2025; 194:112393. [PMID: 40398083 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2025.112393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2025] [Revised: 05/05/2025] [Accepted: 05/14/2025] [Indexed: 05/23/2025]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study examined the association between lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) exposure during early brain development with auditory function in infants. METHODS Auditory function of six-month-old infants from the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals-Infant Development (MIREC-ID) cohort was assessed with minimal auditory response levels (MRLs) to warble tones and speech in soundfield, tympanometry, and otoacoustic emissions (OAEs; transient - TEOAEs; and distortion product - DPOAEs). Pb and total Hg concentrations in blood samples were obtained at three time points: maternal blood samples at the first and third trimesters of pregnancy, and umbilical cord blood samples at birth. RESULTS Higher maternal blood Pb concentrations during pregnancy were significantly related with low OAEs. The associations were stronger for TEOAEs, in particular TEOAE reproducibility, than DPOAEs, and were stronger in the left ear compared with the right ear for TEOAEs. Pb was barely associated with MRLs. No clear evidence of association between Hg exposure and auditory function (OAEs and MRL) was found. CONCLUSIONS Developmental exposure to low Pb concentrations are associated with a reduction of outer hair cells responses to sounds, suggestive of a decrease in inner ear function. Further studies are needed to verify these results in a larger sample of infants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Fortin
- École d'orthophonie et d'audiologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
| | - Benoît Jutras
- École d'orthophonie et d'audiologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Maryse F Bouchard
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Institut national de la recherche scientifique - Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie Research Centre, Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Linda Booij
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, and Research Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- École de psychologie, Université Laval, and Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- British Columbia Children's Hospital, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Dave Saint-Amour
- École d'orthophonie et d'audiologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Département de psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kuraoka S, Oda M, Ohba T, Mitsubuchi H, Iwai-Shimada M, Tatsuta N, Kamijima M, Nakamura K, Katoh T. Association between prenatal mercury exposure and pediatric neurodevelopment: The Japan environment and children's study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 957:177489. [PMID: 39528210 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2024] [Revised: 10/27/2024] [Accepted: 11/08/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024]
Abstract
Mercury pollution, including from its use during gold mining and refining, remains an important problem worldwide. In particular, methylmercury, a microbial alteration of mercury released into the environment, is a major environmental neurotoxicant. Although there has been growing concern about the health hazards of exposure to low levels of mercury, the effects of prenatal mercury exposure on neurodevelopmental outcomes in children have remained controversial. In the Japan Environment and Children's Study, a large-scale nationwide birth cohort study, we measured methylmercury and inorganic mercury concentrations in cord blood and conducted developmental scoring tests at ages 2 and 4 years. We then analyzed the associations between mercury levels in cord blood and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Measurements of cord blood obtained from 3822 participants revealed median values of 7.39 ng/ml (5th percentile: 2.95, 95th percentile: 18.1) and 0.25 ng/ml (5th percentile: 0.10, 95th percentile: 0.58) for methylmercury and inorganic mercury, respectively. Analyzing the association with fish consumption, bonito-tuna was most strongly correlated with both methylmercury and inorganic mercury in cord blood. Although the association between cord blood mercury and neurodevelopmental scores was subsequently examined in 3083 individuals, we found no significant association with either methylmercury or inorganic mercury. Further quartile group analysis based on methylmercury concentrations in cord blood revealed no concentration-dependent association between a prenatal mercury exposure and neurodevelopment in children. However, various factors influence neurodevelopment, and long-term observational studies that consider those covariates are necessary for a more definitive conclusion. Although the findings of our study provide important insights into the association between prenatal mercury exposure and neurodevelopment, further research is needed to make recommendations for safe mercury intake thresholds during pregnancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shohei Kuraoka
- The South Kyushu Okinawa Unit Center, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan; Division of Nephrology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
| | - Masako Oda
- The South Kyushu Okinawa Unit Center, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Takashi Ohba
- The South Kyushu Okinawa Unit Center, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Mitsubuchi
- The South Kyushu Okinawa Unit Center, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan; Fukuda Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Miyuki Iwai-Shimada
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Nozomi Tatsuta
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Michihiro Kamijima
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kimitoshi Nakamura
- The South Kyushu Okinawa Unit Center, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Takahiko Katoh
- The South Kyushu Okinawa Unit Center, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan; Department of Public Health, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Handal AJ, Orozco F, Montenegro S, Cadena N, Muñoz F, Ramírez Del Rio E, Kaciroti N. The Study of Environmental Exposure of Mothers and Infants Impacted by Large-Scale Agriculture (SEMILLA): Description of the Aims and Methods of a Community-Based Birth Cohort Study. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:1045. [PMID: 39334577 PMCID: PMC11430123 DOI: 10.3390/children11091045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2024] [Revised: 08/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Women of childbearing age not only reside in agricultural communities but also form an integral part of the agricultural labor force. Limited research investigates the impact of prenatal fungicide exposure on infant health, specifically ethylenebisdithiocarbamates and their toxic by-product, ethylenethiourea (ETU), particularly in occupational settings. This paper describes the background, aims, protocol, and baseline sample characteristics for the SEMILLA study, which investigates prenatal ETU exposure, neonatal thyroid function, infant growth, and neurobehavioral development in an agricultural region of Ecuador. METHODS This cohort study follows pregnant women and their infants up to 18 months of age, incorporating urinary biomarkers and survey data on ETU exposure and infant growth and neurodevelopmental measures. Data collection includes detailed questionnaires, scales, and physical examinations on maternal and infant health and development, as well as environmental factors. Descriptive statistics on key characteristics of the study population at baseline are presented. RESULTS SEMILLA enrolled 409 participants (72% enrollment rate): 111 agricultural workers (mostly floricultural), 149 non-agricultural workers, and 149 non-workers. Baseline characteristics show comparability between work sector groups, with some economic differences. CONCLUSIONS SEMILLA will provide key evidence on prenatal fungicide exposure and infant development and encompass comprehensive multistage data collection procedures in pregnancy and infancy, focusing on structural and social determinants of health as well as individual-level chemical exposures. The community-based approach has proven essential, even amid challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. The medium-term objective is to inform sustainable interventions promoting maternal and child health, with a long-term goal to reduce community exposures and improve worker health policies, particularly for women and pregnant workers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexis J Handal
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA
| | - Fadya Orozco
- School of Public Health, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ (Ecuador), Quito 170157, Ecuador
| | - Stephanie Montenegro
- SEMILLA Project, Centro de Transferencia y Desarrollo de Tecnologías-USFQ, Quito 170157, Ecuador
| | - Nataly Cadena
- SEMILLA Project, Centro de Transferencia y Desarrollo de Tecnologías-USFQ, Quito 170157, Ecuador
| | - Fabián Muñoz
- Visor Análisis Estadístico Cia. Ltda., Quito 170150, Ecuador
| | - Eileen Ramírez Del Rio
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA
| | - Niko Kaciroti
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Krzeczkowski JE, Hall M, Saint-Amour D, Oulhote Y, McGuckin T, Goodman CV, Green R, Muckle G, Lanphear B, Till C. Prenatal fluoride exposure, offspring visual acuity and autonomic nervous system function in 6-month-old infants. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 183:108336. [PMID: 38064923 PMCID: PMC10981044 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal fluoride exposure can have adverse effects on children's development; however, associations with visual and cardiac autonomic nervous system functioning are unknown. We examined associations between prenatal fluoride exposure and visual acuity and heart rate variability (HRV) in 6-month-old infants. METHODS We used data from Canadian mother-infant pairs participating in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) cohort. We estimated prenatal fluoride exposure using: i) fluoride concentration in drinking water (mg/L), ii) maternal urinary fluoride adjusted for specific gravity (MUFSG; mg/L) and averaged across pregnancy, and iii) maternal fluoride intake (µg/kg/day) from consumption of water, tea, and coffee, adjusted for maternal body weight (kg). We used multivariable linear regression to examine associations between each measure of fluoride exposure and Teller Acuity Card visual acuity scores (n = 435) and assessed HRV (n = 400) using two measures: root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and the standard deviation of N-N intervals (SDNN) measured at 6-months of age. RESULTS Median (IQR) values for water fluoride, MUFSG, and daily fluoride intake were 0.20 (IQR: 0.13-0.56) mg/L; 0.44 (0.28-0.70) mg/L and 4.82 (2.58-10.83) µg/kg/day, respectively. After adjustment for confounding variables, water fluoride concentration was associated with poorer infant visual acuity (B = -1.51; 95 % CI: -2.14,-0.88) and HRV as indicated by lower RMSSD (B = -1.60; 95 % CI: -2.74,-0.46) but not SDNN. Maternal fluoride intake was also associated with poorer visual acuity (B = -0.82; 95 % CI: -1.35,-0.29) and lower RMSSD (B = -1.22; 95 % CI: -2.15,-0.30). No significant associations were observed between MUFSG and visual acuity or HRV. CONCLUSION Fluoride in drinking water was associated with reduced visual acuity and alterations in cardiac autonomic function in infancy, adding to the growing body of evidence suggesting fluoride's developmental neurotoxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John E Krzeczkowski
- Department of Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Meaghan Hall
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dave Saint-Amour
- Faculté de médecine - Département d'ophtalmologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Youssef Oulhote
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sina, New York, NY, USA
| | - Taylor McGuckin
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carly V Goodman
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rivka Green
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Canada; École de Psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christine Till
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Yi J, Ma Y, Ma J, Yu H, Zhang K, Jin L, Yang Q, Sun D, Wu D. Rapid Assessment of Ocular Toxicity from Environmental Contaminants Based on Visually Mediated Zebrafish Behavior Studies. TOXICS 2023; 11:706. [PMID: 37624211 PMCID: PMC10459940 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11080706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
The presence of contaminants in the environment has increased in recent years, and studies have demonstrated that these contaminants have the ability to penetrate the blood-retinal barrier and directly affect the visual systems of organisms. Zebrafish are recognized as an ideal model for human eye diseases due to their anatomical and functional similarities to the human eye, making them an efficient and versatile organism for studying ocular toxicity caused by environmental contaminants in the field of environmental toxicology. Meanwhile, zebrafish exhibit a diverse repertoire of visually mediated behaviors, and their visual system undergoes complex changes in behavioral responses when exposed to environmental contaminants, enabling rapid assessment of the ocular toxicity induced by such pollutants. Therefore, this review aimed to highlight the effectiveness of zebrafish as a model for examining the effects of environmental contaminants on ocular development. Special attention is given to the visually mediated behavior of zebrafish, which allows for a rapid assessment of ocular toxicity resulting from exposure to environmental contaminants. Additionally, the potential mechanisms by which environmental contaminants may induce ocular toxicity are briefly outlined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jia Yi
- Institute of Life Science & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Yilei Ma
- Institute of Life Science & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Jiahui Ma
- Institute of Life Science & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Haiyang Yu
- Institute of Life Science & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Bioengineering College of Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China
| | - Libo Jin
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Ecological Treatment Technology of Urban Water Pollution, College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China;
| | - Qinsi Yang
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325000, China;
| | - Da Sun
- Institute of Life Science & Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Ecological Treatment Technology of Urban Water Pollution, College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China;
| | - Dejun Wu
- Emergency Department, Quzhou People’s Hospital, Quzhou 324000, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Huang W, Wu T, Wu R, Peng J, Zhang Q, Shi X, Wu K. Fish to learn: insights into the effects of environmental chemicals on eye development and visual function in zebrafish. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023:10.1007/s11356-023-27629-3. [PMID: 37195602 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27629-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Vision is the most essential sense system for the human being. Congenital visual impairment affects millions of people globally. It is increasingly realized that visual system development is an impressionable target of environmental chemicals. However, due to inaccessibility and ethical issues, the use of humans and other placental mammals is constrained, which limits our better understanding of environmental factors on ocular development and visual function in the embryonic stage. Therefore, as complementing laboratory rodents, zebrafish has been the most frequently employed to understand the effects of environmental chemicals on eye development and visual function. One of the major reasons for the increasing use of zebrafish is their polychromatic vision. Zebrafish retinas are morphologically and functionally analogous to those of mammalian, as well as evolutionary conservation among vertebrate eye. This review provides an update on harmful effects from exposure to environmental chemicals, involving metallic elements (ions), metal-derived nanoparticles, microplastics, nanoplastics, persistent organic pollutants, pesticides, and pharmaceutical pollutants on the eye development and visual function in zebrafish embryos. The collected data provide a comprehensive understanding of environmental factors on ocular development and visual function. This report highlights that zebrafish is promising as a model to identify hazardous toxicants toward eye development and is hopeful for developing preventative or postnatal therapies for human congenital visual impairment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenlong Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Xinling Rd., No. 22, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Tianjie Wu
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Shantou Central Hospital, Affiliated Shantou Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Ruotong Wu
- School of Life Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, Fujian, China
| | - Jiajun Peng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Xinling Rd., No. 22, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiong Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Xinling Rd., No. 22, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoling Shi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Xinling Rd., No. 22, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Kusheng Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Xinling Rd., No. 22, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wang Z, Dou Y, Guo W, Lin Y, Jiang Y, Jiang T, Qin R, Lv H, Lu Q, Jin G, Ma H, Hu Z, Liu H, Du J. Association between prenatal exposure to trace elements mixture and visual acuity in infants: A prospective birth cohort study. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 333:138905. [PMID: 37187369 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal environmental factors may affect the development of the offspring and can bring long lasting consequences to the offspring's health. To date, only few studies have reported inconclusive association between prenatal single trace element exposure and visual acuity, and no studies have investigated the association between prenatal exposure to trace elements mixture and visual acuity in infants. METHODS In the prospective cohort study, grating acuity in infants (12 ± 1 months) was measured by Teller Acuity Cards II. Concentrations of 20 trace elements in maternal urine samples collected in early-trimester were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Elastic net regression (ENET) was applied to select important trace elements. Nonlinear associations of the trace elements levels with abnormal grating were explored using the restricted cubic spline (RCS) method. The associations between selected individual elements and abnormal grating acuity were further appraised using the logistic regression model. Then Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) was used to estimate the joint effects of mixture and interactions between trace elements combining with NLinteraction. RESULTS Of 932 mother-infant pairs, 70 infants had abnormal grating acuity. The ENET model produced 8 trace elements with non-zero coefficients, including cadmium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, rubidium, antimony, tin and titanium. RCS analyses identified no nonlinear associations of the 8 elements with abnormal grating acuity. The single-exposure analyses using logistic regression revealed that prenatal molybdenum exposure possessed a significantly positive association with abnormal grating acuity (odds ratio [OR]: 1.44 per IQR increase, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05, 1.96; P = 0.023), while prenatal nickel exposure presented with a significantly inverse association with abnormal grating acuity (OR: 0.64 per IQR increase, 95% CI: 0.45, 0.89; P = 0.009). Similar effects were also observed in BKMR models. Moreover, the BKMR models and NLinteraction method identified potential interaction between molybdenum and nickel. CONCLUSIONS We established that prenatal exposure to high concentration of molybdenum and low concentration of nickel was associated with the increased risk of abnormal visual acuity. Potential interaction may exist between molybdenum and nickel on abnormal visual acuity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zijin Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuanyan Dou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenhui Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuan Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (Suzhou Centre), The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yangqian Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rui Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hong Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (Suzhou Centre), The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qun Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guangfu Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (Suzhou Centre), The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongxia Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (Suzhou Centre), The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhibin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (Suzhou Centre), The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215002, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Hu Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China.
| | - Jiangbo Du
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (Suzhou Centre), The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215002, Jiangsu, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Tousignant B, Chatillon A, Philibert A, Da Silva J, Fillion M, Mergler D. Visual Characteristics of Adults with Long-Standing History of Dietary Exposure to Mercury in Grassy Narrows First Nation, Canada. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4827. [PMID: 36981736 PMCID: PMC10049103 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20064827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Since the 1960s, Grassy Narrows First Nation (Ontario, Canada) has been exposed to methyl mercury (Hg) through fish consumption, resulting from industrial pollution of their territorial waters. This cross-sectional study describes the visual characteristics of adults with documented Hg exposure between 1970 and 1997. Oculo-visual examinations of 80 community members included visual acuity, automated visual fields, optical coherence tomography [OCT], color vision and contrast sensitivity. Median age was 57 years (IQR 51-63) and 55% of participants were women. Median visual acuity was 0.1 logMAR (Snellen 6/6.4; IQR 0-0.2). A total of 26% of participants presented a Visual Field Index inferior to 62%, and qualitative losses assessment showed concentric constriction (18%), end-stage concentric loss (18%), and complex defects (24%). On OCT, retinal nerve fiber layer scans showed 74% of participants within normal/green range. For color testing with the Hardy, Rand, and Rittler test, 40% presented at least one type of color defect, and with the Lanthony D-15 test, median color confusion index was 1.59 (IQR 1.33-1.96). Contrast sensitivity showed moderate loss for 83% of participants. These findings demonstrate important loss of visual field, color vision, and contrast sensitivity in older adults in a context of long-term exposure to Hg in Grassy Narrows First Nation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Tousignant
- School of Optometry, Université de Montréal, 3744 Jean-Brillant, Montreal, QC H3T 1P1, Canada
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, 7101 Avenue du Parc, Montreal, QC H3N 1X9, Canada
| | - Annie Chatillon
- School of Optometry, Université de Montréal, 3744 Jean-Brillant, Montreal, QC H3T 1P1, Canada
| | - Aline Philibert
- Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire sur le Bien-être, la Santé, la Société et L’environnement (Cinbiose), Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Judy Da Silva
- Grassy Narrows First Nation, General Delivery, Grassy Narrows, ON P0X 1B0, Canada
| | - Myriam Fillion
- Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire sur le Bien-être, la Santé, la Société et L’environnement (Cinbiose), Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
- Département Science et Technologie, Université TÉLUQ, 5800, Rue Saint-Denis, Bureau 1105, Montréal, QC H2S 3L5, Canada
| | - Donna Mergler
- Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire sur le Bien-être, la Santé, la Société et L’environnement (Cinbiose), Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Padmanabhan V, Song W, Puttabyatappa M. Praegnatio Perturbatio-Impact of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals. Endocr Rev 2021; 42:295-353. [PMID: 33388776 PMCID: PMC8152448 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnaa035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The burden of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight is considerable across the world. Several risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes have been identified. One risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes receiving considerable attention in recent years is gestational exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Humans are exposed to a multitude of environmental chemicals with known endocrine-disrupting properties, and evidence suggests exposure to these EDCs have the potential to disrupt the maternal-fetal environment culminating in adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. This review addresses the impact of maternal and fetal exposure to environmental EDCs of natural and man-made chemicals in disrupting the maternal-fetal milieu in human leading to adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes-a risk factor for adult-onset noncommunicable diseases, the role lifestyle and environmental factors play in mitigating or amplifying the effects of EDCs, the underlying mechanisms and mediators involved, and the research directions on which to focus future investigations to help alleviate the adverse effects of EDC exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Wenhui Song
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Padmanabhan V, Moeller J, Puttabyatappa M. Impact of gestational exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals on pregnancy and birth outcomes. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2021; 92:279-346. [PMID: 34452689 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2021.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
With the advent of industrialization, humans are exposed to a wide range of environmental chemicals, many with endocrine disrupting potential. As successful maintenance of pregnancy and fetal development are under tight hormonal control, the gestational exposure to environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) have the potential to adversely affect the maternal milieu and support to the fetus, fetal developmental trajectory and birth outcomes. This chapter summarizes the impact of exposure to EDCs both individually and as mixtures during pregnancy, the immediate and long-term consequences of such exposures on the mother and fetus, the direct and indirect mechanisms through which they elicit their effects, factors that modify their action, and the research directions to focus future investigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacob Moeller
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Gochfeld M, Burger J. Mercury interactions with selenium and sulfur and the relevance of the Se:Hg molar ratio to fish consumption advice. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:18407-18420. [PMID: 33507504 PMCID: PMC8026698 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-12361-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Eating fish is often recommended as part of a healthful diet. However, fish, particularly large predatory fish, can contain significant levels of the highly toxic methylmercury (MeHg). Ocean fish in general also contain high levels of selenium (Se), which is reported to confer protection against toxicity of various metals including mercury (Hg). Se and Hg have a high mutual binding affinity, and each can reduce the toxicity of the other. This is an evolving area of extensive research and controversy with variable results in the animal and epidemiologic literature. MeHg is toxic to many organ systems through high affinity for -SH (thiol) ligands on enzymes and microtubules. Hg toxicity also causes oxidative damage particularly to neurons in the brain. Hg is a potent and apparently irreversible inhibitor of the selenoenzymes, glutathione peroxidases (GPX), and thioredoxin reductases (TXNRD) that are important antioxidants, each with a selenocysteine (SeCys) at the active site. Hg binding to the SeCys inhibits these enzymes, accounting in part for the oxidative damage that is an important manifestation of Hg toxicity, particularly if there is not a pool of excess Se to synthesize new enzymes. A molar excess of Se reflected in an Se:Hg molar ratio > 1 is often invoked as evidence that the Hg content can be discounted. Some recent papers now suggest that if the Se:Hg molar ratio exceeds 1:1, the fish is safe and the mercury concentration can be ignored. Such papers suggested that the molar ratio rather than the Hg concentration should be emphasized in fish advisories. This paper examines some of the limitations of current understanding of the Se:Hg molar ratio in guiding fish consumption advice; Se is certainly an important part of the Hg toxicity story, but it is not the whole story. We examine how Hg toxicity relates also to thiol binding. We suggest that a 1:1 molar ratio cannot be relied on because not all of the Se in fish or in the fish eater is available to interact with Hg. Moreover, in some fish, Se levels are sufficiently high to warrant concern about Se toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Gochfeld
- Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institutes, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.
| | - Joanna Burger
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institutes, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
- Division of Life Science, Rutgers University, 604 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Azar N, Booij L, Muckle G, Arbuckle TE, Séguin JR, Asztalos E, Fraser WD, Lanphear BP, Bouchard MF. Prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and cognitive ability in early childhood. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 146:106296. [PMID: 33395941 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) has been associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in children, but evidence remains mixed regarding sex differences in this association. OBJECTIVE To examine the prospective association between prenatal PBDE exposure and cognitive ability in young children, as well as potential sex differences. METHODS The study was conducted in a multi-site Canadian pregnancy cohort recruited in 2008-11. PBDEs were measured in maternal plasma samples collected early in pregnancy. Cognitive ability was assessed using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III) in children at age 3 years (mean = 3.4). Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the association between maternal PBDE plasma concentrations (lipid-standardized and log10-transformed) and Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQ scores on the whole sample and stratified by sex, adjusting for confounders. RESULTS The sample was composed of 592 children (291 boys and 301 girls). A tenfold increase in maternal blood PBDE concentration (sum of BDE-47, -99, -100, and -153) was associated with lower Full Scale scores in boys (-3.4 points; 95% CI: -7.0, 0.1), after adjusting for confounders. BDE-47 was the congener with the highest concentrations in maternal blood and a tenfold increase in exposure was associated with significantly lower Full Scale IQ scores in boys (-4.4 points; 95% CI: -7.9, -0.9), after adjusting for confounders. Verbal and Performance IQ scores were similarly associated with PBDE exposure. Maternal blood PBDE concentrations were not associated with IQ scores in girls. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal exposure to background levels of PBDEs, especially BDE-47, was associated with lower IQ scores in boys, but not in girls. Our results support that exposure to PBDEs during early development may be sex-dependent and detrimental to a child's neurodevelopmental trajectory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Azar
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Québec, Canada
| | - Linda Booij
- Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Québec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- School of Psychology, Université Laval, Ville de Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Tye E Arbuckle
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jean R Séguin
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Québec, Canada; Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Asztalos
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - William D Fraser
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche du CHUS (CHU de Sherbrooke), Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada; BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Maryse F Bouchard
- Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Québec, Canada; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health of the University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Goodman M, Li J, Flanders WD, Mahood D, Anthony LG, Zhang Q, LaKind JS. Epidemiology of PCBs and neurodevelopment: Systematic assessment of multiplicity and completeness of reporting. GLOBAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gloepi.2020.100040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
|