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Tsuji S, Adachi Y, Tsuchida A, Hamazaki K, Matsumura K, Inadera H. Association of allergies in children younger than 3 years with levels of maternal intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids or fish during pregnancy: A nationwide birth cohort study, the Japan Environment and Children's Study. Allergol Int 2024; 73:282-289. [PMID: 38218702 DOI: 10.1016/j.alit.2023.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have anti-inflammatory properties and are expected to prevent the onset of allergies. However, epidemiological studies investigating the relationship between child allergies and maternal intake of n-3 PUFAs or fish have yielded inconsistent results. METHODS Following exclusions from a dataset comprising 103,057 records from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, 72,105 participants were divided into five groups according to mothers' intake of n-3 PUFAs or fish during pregnancy to assess the risk of their children being diagnosed with allergy by 3 years old. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for child allergies were calculated using multivariable logistic regression analyses with reference to the lowest intake group. RESULTS Levels of maternal intake of n-3 PUFAs or fish showed inverted associations (i.e., reduced risk) with the incidence of physician-diagnosed allergic rhinoconjunctivitis or parent-reported symptoms of current rhinitis with eye symptoms at different time points and the cumulative incidence from birth to 3 years of age. Inverted associations were also found for current wheeze at 1-<2 years of age and current eczema at 1-<2 and 0-<3 years of age. However, for food allergies, no significant associations were observed in the incidence in each group compared with the lowest intake group at any age. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that n-3 PUFA intake during pregnancy may reduce the risk of developing allergic diseases and symptoms in children. In addition, consumption of n-3 PUFAs or fish is very unlikely to increase the risk of allergy given that the results are from a country with high fish consumption. TRIAL REGISTRATION UMIN000030786 https://rctportal.niph.go.jp/detail/um?trial_id=UMIN000030786.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayaka Tsuji
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan; Toyama Regional Center for JECS, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Yuichi Adachi
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan; Pediatric Allergy Center, Toyama Red Cross Hospital, Toyama, Japan.
| | - Akiko Tsuchida
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan; Toyama Regional Center for JECS, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Kei Hamazaki
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan; Toyama Regional Center for JECS, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan; Department of Public Health, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma, Japan
| | - Kenta Matsumura
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan; Toyama Regional Center for JECS, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Hidekuni Inadera
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan; Toyama Regional Center for JECS, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
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Shah S, Kim HS, Hong YC, Park H, Ha M, Kim Y, Lee JH, Ha EH. Infantile allergic diseases: a cohort study prenatal fish intake and mercury exposure context. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:568. [PMID: 38388869 PMCID: PMC10885545 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18008-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Allergic diseases (ADs) have been increasingly reported in infants and children over the last decade. Diet, especially the inclusion of fish intake, may help to lower the risk of ADs. However, fish also, can bioaccumulate environmental contaminants such as mercury. Hence, our study aims to determine what effects the type and frequency of fish intake have on ADs in six-month-old infants, independently and jointly with mercury exposure. METHODS This study is part of the prospective birth cohort: Mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) study in South Korea. Data was collected on prenatal fish intake, prenatal mercury concentration and ADs for infants aged six months for 590 eligible mother-infant pairs. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the risk of prenatal fish intake and mercury concentration on ADs in infants. Finally, interaction between fish intake and mercury concentration affecting ADs in infants was evaluated. Hazard ratios of prenatal fish intake on ADs in 6 month old infants were calculated by prenatal mercury exposure. RESULTS Logistic regression analysis showed that white fish (OR: 0.53; 95% CI 0.30-0.94; P < 0.05) intake frequency, once a week significantly decreased the risk of ADs in infants. Stratification analysis showed that consuming white fish once a week significantly reduced the hazard of ADs (HR: 0.44; 95% CI 0.21-0.92; P < 0.05) in infants in the high-mercury (≥ 50th percentile) exposure group. CONCLUSION The result indicates that prenatal white fish intake at least once a week reduces the risk of ADs in infants, especially in the group with high prenatal mercury exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surabhi Shah
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, 808-1, Magok-dong, Gangseo-gu, 07804, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae Soon Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, 808-1, Magok-dong, Gangseo-gu, 07804, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Chul Hong
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyesook Park
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- System Health & Engineering Major in Graduate School (BK21 Plus Program), Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mina Ha
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Yangho Kim
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hyen Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, 808-1, Magok-dong, Gangseo-gu, 07804, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Eun-Hee Ha
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, 808-1, Magok-dong, Gangseo-gu, 07804, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- System Health & Engineering Major in Graduate School (BK21 Plus Program), Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Ran Z, Wang B, Zhang SY. Associations of exposure to metals with total and allergen-specific IgE: An NHANES analysis (2005-2006). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167385. [PMID: 37777136 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167385] [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: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is a diagnostic biomarker for allergic diseases. While some metal exposure has been found to be associated with allergic diseases, there are still a lot of knowledge gaps regarding the relationship between metal exposure and allergen-specific IgE antibodies, particularly in adults. METHODS We included a total of 1433 adult participants from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), all of whom had concentrations of 10 metals (including Barium (Ba), Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Cesium (Cs), Molybdenum (Mo), Lead (Pb), Antimony (Sb), Thallium (Tl), Tungsten (Tu), and Uranium (Ur)) in urine, as well as measurements of 19 allergen-specific IgE and total IgE antibodies. Linear regression, logistic regression, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used to estimate associations between metals and total and allergen-specific IgE. RESULTS Linear regression models revealed a positive correlation between Pb and Cd levels and the total IgE levels. Furthermore, the WQS and BKMR models suggested a positive association between mixed metals and total IgE levels, with the WQS model highlighting Pb and Cd as the major contributors. Logistic regression models showed positive correlations between Pb and food sensitization, Ur and plant sensitization, negative correlations between Cs and plant sensitization, Co and dust mite and pet sensitization, Mo and dust mite and cockroach sensitization, and Tl and mold sensitization. Moreover, the BKMR results indicated a statistically significant negative correlation between mixed metals and mold sensitization. CONCLUSION According to the research findings, exposure to metals is associated with total and allergen-specific IgE in American adults. Further assessment of these relationships is necessary in representative populations of other countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhujie Ran
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Ben Wang
- Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Shu-Yun Zhang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China; School of Medicine, Taizhou University, Taizhou, Zhejiang 318000, China.
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Zheng K, Zeng Z, Tian Q, Huang J, Zhong Q, Huo X. Epidemiological evidence for the effect of environmental heavy metal exposure on the immune system in children. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 868:161691. [PMID: 36669659 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metals exist widely in daily life, and exposure to heavy metals caused by environmental pollution has become a serious public health problem worldwide. Due to children's age-specific behavioral characteristics and imperfect physical function, the adverse health effects of heavy metals on children are much higher than in adults. Studies have found that heavy metal exposure is associated with low immune function in children. Although there are reviews describing the evidence for the adverse effects of heavy metal exposure on the immune system in children, the summary of evidence from epidemiological studies involving the level of immune molecules is not comprehensive. Therefore, this review summarizes the current epidemiological study on the effect of heavy metal exposure on childhood immune function from multiple perspectives, emphasizing its risks to the health of children's immune systems. It focuses on the effects of six heavy metals (lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), and manganese (Mn)) on children's innate immune cells, lymphocytes and their subpopulations, cytokines, total and specific immunoglobulins, and explores the immunotoxicological effects of heavy metals. The review finds that exposure to heavy metals, particularly Pb, Cd, As, and Hg, not only reduced lymphocyte numbers and suppressed adaptive immune responses in children, but also altered the innate immune response to impair the body's ability to fight pathogens. Epidemiological evidence suggests that heavy metal exposure alters cytokine levels and is associated with the development of inflammatory responses in children. Pb, As, and Hg exposure was associated with vaccination failure and decreased antibody titers, and increased risk of immune-related diseases in children by altering specific immunoglobulin levels. Cd, Ni and Mn showed activation effects on the immune response to childhood vaccination. Exposure age, sex, nutritional status, and co-exposure may influence the effects of heavy metals on immune function in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyang Zheng
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, School of Environment, Jinan University, 855 East Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China; Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhijun Zeng
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, School of Environment, Jinan University, 855 East Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China
| | - Qianwen Tian
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, School of Environment, Jinan University, 855 East Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China; Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Jintao Huang
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, School of Environment, Jinan University, 855 East Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China; Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Qi Zhong
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, School of Environment, Jinan University, 855 East Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China; Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, Guangdong, China
| | - Xia Huo
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, School of Environment, Jinan University, 855 East Xingye Avenue, Guangzhou 511443, Guangdong, China.
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Wang J, Yin J, Hong X, Liu R. Exposure to Heavy Metals and Allergic Outcomes in Children: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Biol Trace Elem Res 2022; 200:4615-4631. [PMID: 35006554 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-021-03070-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
It has been reported that heavy metals have adverse effects on the immune system. However, the relationship between heavy metal exposure and allergic outcomes remains unclear. This systematic review was conducted to examine whether heavy metal exposure is associated with allergic outcomes during childhood. We performed a systematic search of all relevant articles in Web of Science, EMBASE, and PubMed, from inception through to November 2020. We used odds ratio (OR) and the standard mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to present estimates from individual studies. In addition, random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool the data. We also conducted the meta-regression and subgroup analysis to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. After duplicate removal, we finally included 35 articles in the systematic review and meta-analysis from an initial 11,181 articles. The overall results showed that copper (Cu) was associated with asthma (pooled SMD = 1.50, 95% CI = 0.13-2.86); in the subgroup analysis, the results indicated that lead (Pb) was associated with asthma (pooled OR = 6.27, 95% CI = 2.24-17.56), and Cu and Pb were connected with atopic dermatitis (SMD = - 1.05, 95% CI = - 1.45 to - 0.65; SMD = 5.68, 95% CI = 5.05-6.32), respectively. Mercury (Hg) was associated with atopic dermatitis (pooled OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.04-1.22) and wheeze (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.05-1.37). The meta-analysis results indicate that Cu might be connected with childhood asthma, but not with other allergic diseases; Hg and Pb may have no association with allergic diseases during childhood. Given some limits observed in the current studies, more prospective cohort studies are still needed to verify our findings. Review registration: PROSPERO CRD42020222167.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jiechen Yin
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Xiang Hong
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Ran Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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Jordan S, Bromley R, Damase-Michel C, Given J, Komninou S, Loane M, Marfell N, Dolk H. Breastfeeding, pregnancy, medicines, neurodevelopment, and population databases: the information desert. Int Breastfeed J 2022; 17:55. [PMID: 35915474 PMCID: PMC9343220 DOI: 10.1186/s13006-022-00494-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The pharmacoepidemiology of the long-term benefits and harms of medicines in pregnancy and breastfeeding has received little attention. The impact of maternal medicines on children is increasingly recognised as a source of avoidable harm. The focus of attention has expanded from congenital anomalies to include less visible, but equally important, outcomes, including cognition, neurodevelopmental disorders, educational performance, and childhood ill-health. Breastfeeding, whether as a source of medicine exposure, a mitigator of adverse effects or as an outcome, has been all but ignored in pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacovigilance: a significant ‘blind spot’. Whole-population data on breastfeeding: why we need them Optimal child development and maternal health necessitate breastfeeding, yet little information exists to guide families regarding the safety of medicine use during lactation. Breastfeeding initiation or success may be altered by medicine use, and breastfeeding may obscure the true relationship between medicine exposure during pregnancy and developmental outcomes. Absent or poorly standardised recording of breastfeeding in most population databases hampers analysis and understanding of the complex relationships between medicine, pregnancy, breastfeeding and infant and maternal health. The purpose of this paper is to present the arguments for breastfeeding to be included alongside medicine use and neurodevelopmental outcomes in whole-population database investigations of the harms and benefits of medicines during pregnancy, the puerperium and postnatal period. We review: 1) the current situation, 2) how these complexities might be accommodated in pharmacoepidemiological models, using antidepressants and antiepileptics as examples; 3) the challenges in obtaining comprehensive data. Conclusions The scarcity of whole-population data and the complexities of the inter-relationships between breastfeeding, medicines, co-exposures and infant outcomes are significant barriers to full characterisation of the benefits and harms of medicines during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This makes it difficult to answer the questions: ‘is it safe to breastfeed whilst taking this medicine’, and ‘will this medicine interfere with breastfeeding and/ or infants’ development’?
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Affiliation(s)
- Sue Jordan
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, UK.
| | - Rebecca Bromley
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Christine Damase-Michel
- Faculté de Médecine, Center for Epidemiology and Research in POPulation Health (CERPOP), Université Toulouse III, CHU Toulouse INSERM, Pharmacologie Médicale, Toulouse, France
| | - Joanne Given
- Faculty Life & Health Sciences, University of Ulster, Co Antrim, Newtownabbey, N Ireland, UK
| | - Sophia Komninou
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, UK
| | - Maria Loane
- Faculty Life & Health Sciences, University of Ulster, Co Antrim, Newtownabbey, N Ireland, UK
| | - Naomi Marfell
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, UK
| | - Helen Dolk
- Faculty Life & Health Sciences, University of Ulster, Co Antrim, Newtownabbey, N Ireland, UK
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Berlin M, Flor-Hirsch H, Kohn E, Brik A, Keidar R, Livne A, Marom R, Ovental A, Mandel D, Lubetzky R, Factor-Litvak P, Tovbin J, Betser M, Moskovich M, Hazan A, Britzi M, Gueta I, Berkovitch M, Matok I, Hamiel U. Maternal Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis and Atopic Dermatitis in the Offspring: The Environmental Health Fund Birth Cohort. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:802974. [PMID: 35462915 PMCID: PMC9019472 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.802974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants banned for use worldwide. Due to their biodegradation resistance, they accumulate along the food chain and in the environment. Maternal exposure to PCBs may affect the fetus and the infant. PCBs are immunotoxic and may damage the developing immune system. PCBs are associated with elevated IgE antibodies in cord blood and are considered to be predictive of atopic reactions. Several studies on the association between prenatal exposure to PCBs and atopic reactions were previously published, albeit with conflicting results. Objectives: To examine the association between maternal PCBs levels and atopic reactions in their offspring. Methods: During the years 2013–2015, a prospective birth cohort was recruited at the delivery rooms of Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh) and “Dana Dwek” Children’s Hospital. Four PCBs congeners were investigated: PCBs 118, 138, 153, and 180. In 2019, when children reached the age of 4–6 years, mothers were interviewed using the ISAAC questionnaire to assess symptoms of atopic reactions, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. Results: One hundred and fifty mother-child dyads were analyzed. No significant differences were found in the median serum PCBs concentrations of each studied congener or total PCBs for asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis diagnosis, or parent-reported symptoms. No association was found between exposure to total PCBs and the risk for asthma symptoms or diagnosis, adjusted to maternal age and family member with atopic condition: aOR = 0.94, 95%CI: (0.88; 0.99). No association was observed between each studied PCB congener and asthma symptoms or diagnosis. The same results were found also for other studied outcomes—allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. Conclusion: Our study joins a series of previous studies that attempt to shed light on environmental exposures in utero as influencing factors for atopic conditions in children. Our results reflect the complexity of the pathophysiology of these phenomena. No relationship between maternal serum PCBs levels was demonstrated for asthma, allergic rhinitis, or atopic dermatitis. However, additional multi-participant studies, with longer, spanning into later pediatric age follow up are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Berlin
- Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Division of Clinical Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hadar Flor-Hirsch
- Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Elkana Kohn
- Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Anna Brik
- Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Rimona Keidar
- Department of Neonatology, Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ayelet Livne
- Department of Neonatology, Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ronella Marom
- Departments of Neonatology and Pediatrics, Dana Dwek Children’s Hospital, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Amit Ovental
- Departments of Neonatology and Pediatrics, Dana Dwek Children’s Hospital, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Dror Mandel
- Departments of Neonatology and Pediatrics, Dana Dwek Children’s Hospital, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ronit Lubetzky
- Departments of Neonatology and Pediatrics, Dana Dwek Children’s Hospital, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Pam Factor-Litvak
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Josef Tovbin
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Moshe Betser
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Miki Moskovich
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ariela Hazan
- Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Malka Britzi
- Residues Lab, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Beit-Dagan, Israel
| | - Itai Gueta
- The Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Medicine, Sheba Medical Center, Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Matitiahu Berkovitch
- Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- *Correspondence: Matitiahu Berkovitch,
| | - Ilan Matok
- Division of Clinical Pharmacy, Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Uri Hamiel
- Department of Pediatrics, Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh), Zerifin, Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Duc Nguyen H, Oh H, Kim MS. Association between exposure to chemical mixtures in relation to serum total IgE among adults 19-86 years old. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 102:108428. [PMID: 34911030 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
There is a scarcity of studies on the effects of mixed chemicals on total IgE. We aim to assess whether there is a link between chemical mixtures (blood and urine of 26 chemicals including lead, mercury, cadmium, t,t-muconic acid, benzylmercapturic acid , 1-hydroxypyrene, 2-naphthol, 2-hydroxyfluorene, 1-hydroxyphenanthrene, mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate, mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate, mono-n-butyl phthalate, mono-benzyl phthalate, mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate, mono-carboxyoctyl phthalate, mono-carboxy-isononly phthalate, mono (3-carboxypropyl) phthalate, bisphenol A, bisphenol F, bisphenol S, triclosan, methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, 3-phenoxybenzoic acid, and cotinine), and total IgE in 3,642 Korean adults aged ≥ 19. The effects of mixed chemical exposure on total IgE were identified using linear regression models, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, quantile g-computation (qgcomp), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). The most relevant factors linked with IgE, according to the linear regression models, were blood or urine mercury and urine bisphenol A levels, with significant trends detected for these chemical tertiles (p < 0.01). The WQS index was significantly linked with ln2-transformed levels of serum total IgE (β = 0.30, 95 %CI 0.25-0.32). The qgcomp index also found a significant link between chemicals and ln2-transformed levels of serum total IgE (β = 0.52, 95 %CI 0.21-0.82), and elevated serum total IgE levels (OR = 2.55, 95 %CI 1.14-5.71). In BKMR analysis, the overall effect of the mixture was significantly associated with ln2-transformed levels of serum total IgE. The cutoff levels for exposure levels related to serum total IgE levels/elevated serum total IgE levels were reported. We discovered that whole-body exposure to 26 chemicals was associated with serum total IgE levels after assessing the findings of these four models. More research is needed in the future to gain a better understanding of the impact of mixed chemical exposure on allergic disorders and how to minimize chemical exposure, especially for people under the age of 18.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Duc Nguyen
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sunchon National University, Sunchon, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Hojin Oh
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sunchon National University, Sunchon, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Sun Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sunchon National University, Sunchon, Jeonnam, Republic of Korea.
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Sex specific associations between in utero exposure to persistent organic pollutants and allergy-related outcomes in childhood: The Rhea Mother-Child Cohort (Crete, Greece). J Dev Orig Health Dis 2021; 13:566-574. [PMID: 34859763 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174421000660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that in utero exposures can influence the development of the immune system. Few studies have investigated whether prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is associated with allergy-related phenotypes in childhood, nor explored sex differences. We examined the association between prenatal exposure to POPs and offspring allergic outcomes in early and mid-childhood. We included 682 mother-child pairs from the prospective birth cohort Rhea. We measured dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and 6 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in maternal first trimester serum. Parents completed the questionnaires adapted from the International Study on Asthma and Allergy in Childhood (ISAAC) for allergy-related phenotypes when their children were 4 and 6 years old. We used Poisson regression models to estimate Risk Ratios. Prenatal HCB was associated with increased risk for rhinoconjunctivitis at 6 years (RR (95% CI): 2.5; (1.3, 4.8) for a doubling in the exposure). Among girls, prenatal DDE was associated with increased risk for current wheeze, current asthma and current rhinoconjunctivitis at 4 years (RR (95%CI): 1.4 (0.8, 2.6), 1.6 (1.1, 2.4) and 1.8 (1.0, 3.3) and p-interaction = 0.035, 0.027 and 0.059, respectively), with increased risk for current rhinoconjunctivitis at 6 years (RR (95%CI): 1.7 (0.7, 3.8) and p-interaction = 0.028) and total PCBs were associated with increased risk for current eczema at 4 years (RR (95%CI): 2.1 (1.1, 4.2) and p-interaction = 0.028). In boys, prenatal DDE was associated with decreased risk for current wheeze and current asthma at 4 years. Our findings suggest that even low levels of exposure to POPs prenatally may affect the development of childhood allergy-related outcomes in a sex and age-specific manner.
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Carrasco P, Estarlich M, Iñiguez C, Ferrero A, Murcia M, Esplugues A, Vioque J, Marina LS, Zabaleta C, Iriarte G, Fernández-Somoano A, Tardon A, Vrijheid M, Sunyer J, Ballester F, Llop S. Pre and postnatal exposure to mercury and respiratory health in preschool children from the Spanish INMA Birth Cohort Study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 782:146654. [PMID: 33838378 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Effects of mercury on maturing immune system have been reported, however the association with respiratory and allergy problems during infancy remains unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between pre and postnatal mercury exposure and respiratory and allergy problems among preschool children and to examine the role of potential modifying factors. Study subjects were children participant in Spanish Childhood and Environment Project (INMA, 2003-2008). We measured total mercury levels in cord blood (n = 1868) and hair at 4 years of age (n = 1347). Respiratory outcomes (wheezing, severe wheezing, chestiness, persistent cough, eczema and otitis) were obtained by questionnaires administered to parents. Associations were investigated by logistic regression adjusted for socio-demographic and lifestyle-related variables in each cohort and subsequent meta-analysis. We tested effect modification by factors related to individual susceptibility, diet and co-exposure with other pollutants. The geometric mean of cord blood and hair total mercury was 8.20 μg/L and 0.97 μg/g, respectively. No statistically significant association between pre or postnatal mercury exposure and respiratory and allergy outcomes was found. Notwithstanding, lower maternal intake of fruits and vegetables increased the risk of some respiratory outcomes due to the prenatal exposure to mercury (pint < 0.05). Moreover, an inverse association between prenatal mercury exposure and some respiratory outcomes was observed among children with higher maternal exposure to organocholorine compounds or smoking (pint < 0.05). Also, sex and postnatal smoking exposure modulated mercury postnatal effects on persistent cough (pint < 0.05). In conclusion, no association between pre and postnatal mercury exposure and respiratory and allergy problems among the whole population at study was found. However, diet and other toxicants could modulate this relation, especially during prenatal period. More research on this topic is warranted due to the limited evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Carrasco
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Av. Catalunya 21, 46020 Valencia, Spain; Department of Medicine, Universitat Jaume I, Avenida de Vicent Sos Baynat s/n, 12071 Castellón de la Plana, Spain
| | - Marisa Estarlich
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Av. Catalunya 21, 46020 Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Nursing School, Universitat de València, C/Jaume Roig s/n, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Carmen Iñiguez
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Av. Catalunya 21, 46020 Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Department of Statistics and Computational Research. Universitat de València, València, Dr. Moliner, 50 46100, Spain
| | - Amparo Ferrero
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Av. Catalunya 21, 46020 Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mario Murcia
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Av. Catalunya 21, 46020 Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Servicio de Análisis de Sistemas de Información Sanitaria, Conselleria de Sanitat, Generalitat Valenciana. C/Micer Mascó, 31-33, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Esplugues
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Av. Catalunya 21, 46020 Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Nursing School, Universitat de València, C/Jaume Roig s/n, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Jesús Vioque
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (ISABIAL), Avda Pinto Baeza, 12, 03010 AlicanteAlicante, Spain
| | - Loreto Santa Marina
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Health Department of Basque Government, Sub-directorate of Public Health of Gipuzkoa, Avenida de Navarra 4, 20013 San Sebastián, Spain; Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Group of Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development, Public Health Division of Gipuzkoa, Doctor Begiristain, s/n, 20014 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Carlos Zabaleta
- Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Group of Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development, Public Health Division of Gipuzkoa, Doctor Begiristain, s/n, 20014 San Sebastián, Spain; Nuestra señora de la Antigua Hospital, OSI Goierri-Alto Urola, OSAKIDETZA-Basque Health Service, Barrio Argixao, s/n, 20700 Zumarraga, Spain
| | - Gorka Iriarte
- Laboratorio de Salud Pública de Alava, Santiago 11, 01002 Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Ana Fernández-Somoano
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11, 28029 Madrid, Spain; IUOPA-Departamento de Medicina, University of Oviedo, Av. Julián Clavería, 6, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; Institute of Health Research of the Principality of Asturias - Foundation for Biosanitary Research of Asturias (ISPA-FINBA), Avenida Hospital Universitario s/n, 33011, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Adonina Tardon
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11, 28029 Madrid, Spain; IUOPA-Departamento de Medicina, University of Oviedo, Av. Julián Clavería, 6, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; Institute of Health Research of the Principality of Asturias - Foundation for Biosanitary Research of Asturias (ISPA-FINBA), Avenida Hospital Universitario s/n, 33011, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Plaça de la Mercè 10-12, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Sunyer
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Plaça de la Mercè 10-12, 08002 Barcelona, Spain; Municipal Institute of Medical Research, IMIM-Hospital del Mar, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ferran Ballester
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Av. Catalunya 21, 46020 Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Nursing School, Universitat de València, C/Jaume Roig s/n, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Sabrina Llop
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Av. Catalunya 21, 46020 Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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11
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Lee S, Park SK, Park H, Lee W, Kwon JH, Hong YC, Ha M, Kim Y, Lee B, Ha E. Prenatal heavy metal exposures and atopic dermatitis with gender difference in 6-month-old infants using multipollutant analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 195:110865. [PMID: 33600821 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to heavy metals during critical developmental phases has been implicated in allergic phenotypes. However, few studies have been conducted on the gender-specific association of prenatal heavy metal exposure with atopic dermatitis (AD) in infants. OBJECTIVE To examine the gender-specific association of prenatal exposure to multiple heavy metals with AD incidence in 6-month-old infants using data from the Mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH). METHODS We evaluated 738 mother-child pairs from the MOCEH study, an ongoing prospective birth cohort. The concentrations of three heavy metals (lead, mercury and cadmium) in maternal blood samples were measured during early and late pregnancy. Each quartile of heavy metal concentration was used to consider the possible nonlinear association with AD. For assessing the multi-pollutant model, we constructed the multivariate regression model including all three heavy metals at both early and late pregnancy. Further, the group Lasso model was used to perform the variable selection with categorized exposures and assess the effect of multiple pollutants including their pairwise interactions. RESULTS A total of 200 incident cases of AD were diagnosed in 6-month-old infants. In the multivariate regression model of the boy group, adjusted odds ratios comparing the second, third and fourth quartile of lead exposure in boys with the first quartile were 1.83 (95% CI: 1.00, 3.38), 1.04 (0.91, 3.32) and 2.40 (1.18, 4.90), respectively. However, the only second quartile of lead exposure compared to first quartile was significantly associated with AD in girls. In addition, the results of the group Lasso model were similar with the results of multivariate regression model. CONCLUSION The results suggest that lead exposure in late pregnancy increases risk of AD in 6-month-old boys although the strength of association is weak. Further studies are needed to confirm the susceptibility window and gender differences in lead-induced AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seulbi Lee
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann arbor, MI, United States
| | - Sung Kyun Park
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann arbor, MI, United States; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Hyesook Park
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Woojoo Lee
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Hyun Kwon
- Department of Pediatrics, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yun-Chul Hong
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mina Ha
- Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Yangho Kim
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Boeun Lee
- Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunhee Ha
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Ewha Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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12
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Dubovyi A, Chelimo C, Schierding W, Bisyuk Y, Camargo CA, Grant CC. A systematic review of asthma case definitions in 67 birth cohort studies. Paediatr Respir Rev 2021; 37:89-98. [PMID: 32653466 DOI: 10.1016/j.prrv.2019.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Birth cohort studies are a valuable source of information about potential risk factors for childhood asthma. To better understand similarities and variations in findings between birth cohort studies, the methodologies used to measure asthma require consideration. OBJECTIVE To review and appraise the definitions of "asthma" used in birth cohort studies. METHODS A literature search, conducted in December 2017 in the MEDLINE database and birth cohort repositories, identified 1721 citations published since 1990. Information extracted included: study name, year of publication, sample size, sample age, prevalence of asthma (%), study region, source of information about asthma, measured outcome, and asthma case definition. A meta-analysis evaluated whether asthma prevalence in cohorts from Europe and North America varied by the studies' definition of asthma and by their data sources. RESULTS The final review included 67 birth cohorts, of which 48 (72%) were from Europe, 14 (21%) from North America, 3 (5%) from Oceania, 1 (1%) from Asia and 1 (1%) from South America. We identified three measured outcomes: "asthma ever", "current asthma", and "asthma" without further specification. Definitions of "asthma ever" were primarily based upon an affirmative parental response to the question whether the child had ever been diagnosed with asthma by a physician. The most frequently used definition of "current asthma" was "asthma ever" and either asthma symptoms or asthma medications in the last 12 months. This definition of "current asthma" was used in 16 cohorts. There was no statistically significant difference in the pooled asthma prevalence in European and North American cohorts that used questionnaire alone versus other data sources to classify asthma. CONCLUSION There is substantial heterogeneity in childhood asthma definitions in birth cohort studies. Standardisation of asthma case definitions will improve the comparability and utility of future cohort studies and enable meta-analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Dubovyi
- Centre for Longitudinal Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Paediatrics: Child & Youth Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Carol Chelimo
- Department of Paediatrics: Child & Youth Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Yuriy Bisyuk
- Shupyk National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Carlos A Camargo
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Cameron C Grant
- Centre for Longitudinal Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Paediatrics: Child & Youth Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; General Paediatrics, Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
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13
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The Association Between Mercury Exposure and Atopic Dermatitis in Early Childhood: A Mothers and Children's Environmental Health Study. Epidemiology 2020; 30 Suppl 1:S3-S8. [PMID: 31181000 DOI: 10.1097/ede.0000000000001002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atopic dermatitis is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disease. Although mercury has been suggested as a risk factor, the underlying mechanism and the relationship between mercury and atopic dermatitis remains unclear. The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between mercury exposure and the presence of atopic dermatitis in early childhood. METHODS This study is part of the prospective Mothers and Children's Environmental Health cohort study. A total of 1,751 pregnant women were enrolled in Mothers and Children's Environmental Health. After delivery, children were followed up. Blood samples were collected and mothers were asked about the presence of atopic dermatitis in their children via a questionnaire at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 60 months of age. RESULTS After excluding participants who did not meet the inclusion criteria, a total of 1,061 mother-children pairs were included in the analysis. The geometric mean of mercury concentrations in cord blood was 5.1 µg/L. In adjusted models, cord blood mercury exposure (odds ratio [OR] = 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0, 1.2 at 12-24 months) and postnatal mercury exposure (OR = 1.2; 95% CI = 1.0, 1.5 at 24-36 months, OR = 1.4; 95% CI = 1.1, 1.8 at 48-60 months) were associated with the presence of atopic dermatitis in children. CONCLUSIONS Postnatal mercury exposure at 24 months of age increases the risk of atopic dermatitis in children.
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14
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Vogel CFA, Van Winkle LS, Esser C, Haarmann-Stemmann T. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor as a target of environmental stressors - Implications for pollution mediated stress and inflammatory responses. Redox Biol 2020; 34:101530. [PMID: 32354640 PMCID: PMC7327980 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2020.101530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor regulating the expression of genes, for instance encoding the monooxygenases cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 and CYP1A2, which are important enzymes in metabolism of xenobiotics. The AHR is activated upon binding of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and related ubiquitous environmental chemicals, to mediate their biological and toxic effects. In addition, several endogenous and natural compounds can bind to AHR, thereby modulating a variety of physiological processes. In recent years, ambient particulate matter (PM) associated with traffic related air pollution (TRAP) has been found to contain significant amounts of PAHs. PM containing PAHs are of increasing concern as a class of agonists, which can activate the AHR. Several reports show that PM and AHR-mediated induction of CYP1A1 results in excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing oxidative stress. Furthermore, exposure to PM and PAHs induce inflammatory responses and may lead to chronic inflammatory diseases, including asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and increased cancer risk. In this review, we summarize findings showing the critical role that the AHR plays in mediating effects of environmental pollutants and stressors, which pose a risk of impacting the environment and human health. PAHs present on ambient air pollution particles are ligands of the cellular AHR. AHR-dependent induction of CYP1, AKR, NOX and COX-2 genes can be a source of ROS generation. AHR signaling and NRF2 signaling interact to regulate the expression of antioxidant genes. Air pollution and ROS can affect inflammation, which is partially triggered by AHR and associated immune responses. Skin, lung, and the cardiovascular system are major target sites for air pollution-induced inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph F A Vogel
- Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA; Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Laura S Van Winkle
- Center for Health and the Environment, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA; School of Veterinary Medicine Department of Anatomy, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 5616, USA
| | - Charlotte Esser
- IUF - Leibniz-Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
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15
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Tsuji M, Koriyama C, Ishihara Y, Yamamoto M, Yamamoto-Hanada K, Kanatani K, Bamai YA, Onishi K, Senju A, Araki S, Shibata E, Morokuma S, Sanefuji M, Kitazawa H, Saito M, Umezawa M, Onoda A, Kusuhara K, Tanaka R, Kawamoto T. Associations Between Metal Levels in Whole Blood and IgE Concentrations in Pregnant Women Based on Data From the Japan Environment and Children's Study. J Epidemiol 2019; 29:478-486. [PMID: 30643099 PMCID: PMC6859078 DOI: 10.2188/jea.je20180098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Metal exposures could possibly affect allergic responses in pregnant women, although no studies have yet shown a clear relationship between the two, and such exposures might also affect the development of allergic diseases in children. Methods We investigated the relationship between metal concentrations in whole blood and immunoglobulin E (IgE; total and specific) in 14,408 pregnant women who participated in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. The subjects submitted self-administered questionnaires, and blood samples were collected from them twice, specifically, during the first trimester and again during the second/third trimester. Concentrations of the metals Cd, Pb, Hg, Se, and Mn, as well as serum total and allergen-specific IgEs for egg white, house dust-mites (HDM), Japanese cedar pollen (JCP), animal dander, and moth, were measured. Allergen-specific IgE(s) were divided based on concentrations <0.35 or ≥0.35 UA/mL, and the metal levels were divided into quartiles. Results Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that there was a significant negative correlation between HDM- and animal dander-specific IgEs and Hg and Mn concentrations. Conversely, there was a significant positive relationship between JCP-specific IgE and Hg and Se concentrations. Conclusions Metal exposures may be related to both increases and decreases in allergen-specific IgEs in pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayumi Tsuji
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
| | - Chihaya Koriyama
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences
| | - Yasuhiro Ishihara
- Laboratory of Molecular Brain Science, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University
| | - Megumi Yamamoto
- Department of Environment and Public Health, National Institute for Minamata Disease
| | - Kiwako Yamamoto-Hanada
- Medical Support Center for Japan Environment and Children's Study, National Center for Child Health and Development
| | - Kumiko Kanatani
- Department of Health Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto University
| | - Yu Ait Bamai
- Department of Public Health, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sciences
| | - Kazunari Onishi
- Center for Birth Cohort Studies, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi
| | - Ayako Senju
- Japan Environment and Children's Study, UOEH Subunit Center, University of Occupational and Environmental Health.,Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
| | - Shunsuke Araki
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
| | - Eiji Shibata
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
| | - Seiichi Morokuma
- Research Center for Environmental and Developmental Medical Sciences, Kyushu University
| | - Masafumi Sanefuji
- Research Center for Environmental and Developmental Medical Sciences, Kyushu University
| | - Hiroshi Kitazawa
- Medical Support Center for Japan Environment and Children's Study, National Center for Child Health and Development
| | - Mayako Saito
- Medical Support Center for Japan Environment and Children's Study, National Center for Child Health and Development
| | - Masakazu Umezawa
- Department of Materials Science and Technology, Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science
| | - Atsuto Onoda
- Division of Neonatology, Center for Maternal-Neonatal Care, Nagoya University Hospital.,Postdoctoral Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
| | - Koichi Kusuhara
- Japan Environment and Children's Study, UOEH Subunit Center, University of Occupational and Environmental Health.,Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
| | - Rie Tanaka
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
| | - Toshihiro Kawamoto
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
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16
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Bernstein AS, Oken E, de Ferranti S. Fish, Shellfish, and Children's Health: An Assessment of Benefits, Risks, and Sustainability. Pediatrics 2019; 143:e20190999. [PMID: 31110165 PMCID: PMC6864235 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2019-0999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
American children eat relatively little fish and shellfish in comparison with other sources of animal protein, despite the health benefits that eating fish and shellfish may confer. At the same time, fish and shellfish may be sources of toxicants. This report serves to inform pediatricians about available research that elucidates health risks and benefits associated with fish and shellfish consumption in childhood as well as the sustainability of fish and shellfish harvests.
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17
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Iwai-Shimada M, Nakayama SF, Isobe T, Kobayashi Y, Suzuki G, Nomura K. [Investigation of the Effects of Exposure to Chemical Substances on Child Health]. Nihon Eiseigaku Zasshi 2019; 74. [PMID: 30787254 DOI: 10.1265/jjh.18030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
There is mounting concern about the effects of early-life exposure to chemical substances on children's health and development. We summarize the past and ongoing birth cohort studies carried out worldwide on the association between environmental exposure and children's health. Our PubMed search with the keywords 'birth cohort' revealed that the number of articles jumped from 200-300 in the 1980s to over 1,000 in the 1990s. Many of these articles reported elevated risks to children's health posed by chemical exposure owing their vulnerability. At the same time, policies implemented to reduce exposure to lead and dioxins were successful in the past few decades. Research also demonstrated that intervention to reduce exposure to certain chemicals whose exposure routes were well documented was also successful. We summarize the effects of early-life exposure to chemical substances on children's health and development. Our findings will hopefully help safeguard the environment in which future generations grow and live.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miyuki Iwai-Shimada
- Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies
| | - Shoji F Nakayama
- Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies
| | - Tomohiko Isobe
- Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies
| | - Yayoi Kobayashi
- Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies
| | - Go Suzuki
- Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies
| | - Kyoko Nomura
- Department of Public Health, Akita University Graduate School of Medicine
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Emeny RT, Korrick SA, Li Z, Nadeau K, Madan J, Jackson B, Baker E, Karagas MR. Prenatal exposure to mercury in relation to infant infections and respiratory symptoms in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 171:523-529. [PMID: 30743244 PMCID: PMC6561090 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mechanistic studies support the potential for mercury (Hg) to alter immunity, including via in utero exposure. As yet, there are few prospective studies of in utero Hg exposure and subsequent immune-related outcomes, especially in infancy. OBJECTIVES We investigated the association of biomarkers of prenatal Hg exposure and maternal silver-mercury dental amalgams with the occurrence of infant allergy, respiratory infection, and respiratory symptoms in the first year of life. METHODS The New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study (NHBCS) ascertained information on infant allergies, infections and symptoms through telephone interviews at 4, 8 and 12 months postpartum and measured total Hg in maternal toenails collected at ~28-30 weeks gestation. Information on maternal fish consumption and presence of dental amalgams was obtained from a questionnaire administered at study enrollment at 24-28 weeks. A total of 1321 NHBCS mother-infant pairs had at least one Hg exposure measure (toenail Hg or information on dental amalgams) and information on dietary fish intake. Generalized linear models and generalized estimating equation models with Poisson regression adjusted for potential confounders (maternal age, level of education, parity, smoking, alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010, infant sex, gestational age, feeding mode, and day care attendance) were used to assess the association between infant outcomes and prenatal toenail Hg levels. We subsetted this analysis on mothers who consumed fish (n = 706) as a measure of in utero methylmercury (MeHg) exposure. Associations between infant outcomes and dental amalgams as a measure of in utero inorganic Hg exposure were assessed among mothers who did not consume fish (n = 218). RESULTS Among women who ate fish during pregnancy, higher maternal toenail Hg concentrations were associated with an increased risk of lower respiratory infections and respiratory symptoms requiring a doctor visit among infants age 9-12 months (relative risk (RR) 1.4 (95% CI: 1.1, 1.9) and 1.2 (95% CI: 1.0, 1.4) respectively), whereas a reduced risk of lower respiratory infections was observed among infants 0-4 months of age (RR = 0.7 (95% CI: 0.5, 1.0). We found little to no evidence of associations of toenail Hg with upper respiratory infections, allergy or eczema at any age to one year. Among infants of mothers who did not consume fish, we found an elevated risk of upper respiratory infections requiring a doctor visit in relation to having dental amalgams during pregnancy (RR = 1.5 (95% CI: 1.1, 2.1)). Overall, weaker associations were observed with lower respiratory infections, respiratory symptoms, and medically confirmed allergies, and there was no association with eczema. CONCLUSIONS Our analyses of a US birth cohort, along with prior mechanistic work, raise the possibility that gestational Hg exposure through fish/seafood consumption and dental amalgams may alter respiratory infections and respiratory symptoms in infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca T Emeny
- Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA; The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Susan A Korrick
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhigang Li
- Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA; Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health and Health Professions & College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kari Nadeau
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Stanford Medical School and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Juliette Madan
- Division of Neonatology, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Brian Jackson
- Trace Element Analysis Lab, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Emily Baker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Margaret R Karagas
- Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Center at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA.
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19
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Güngör D, Nadaud P, LaPergola CC, Dreibelbis C, Wong YP, Terry N, Abrams SA, Beker L, Jacobovits T, Järvinen KM, Nommsen-Rivers LA, O'Brien KO, Oken E, Pérez-Escamilla R, Ziegler EE, Spahn JM. Infant milk-feeding practices and food allergies, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma throughout the life span: a systematic review. Am J Clin Nutr 2019; 109:772S-799S. [PMID: 30982870 PMCID: PMC6500928 DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqy283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the Pregnancy and Birth to 24 Months Project, the USDA and Department of Health and Human Services initiated a review of evidence on diet and health in these populations. OBJECTIVES The aim of these systematic reviews was to examine the relation of 1) never versus ever feeding human milk, 2) shorter versus longer durations of any human milk feeding, 3) shorter versus longer durations of exclusive human milk feeding prior to infant formula introduction, 4) feeding a lower versus higher intensity of human milk to mixed-fed infants, and 5) feeding a higher intensity of human milk by bottle versus breast with food allergies, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma. METHODS The Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review team conducted systematic reviews with external experts. We searched CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase, and PubMed for articles published between January 1980 and March 2016, dual-screened the results according to predetermined criteria, extracted data from and assessed the risk of bias for each included study, qualitatively synthesized the evidence, developed conclusion statements, and graded the strength of the evidence. RESULTS The systematic reviews numbered 1-5 above included 44, 35, 1, 0, and 0 articles, respectively. Moderate, mostly observational, evidence suggests that 1) never versus ever being fed human milk is associated with higher risk of childhood asthma, and 2) among children and adolescents who were fed human milk as infants, shorter versus longer durations of any human milk feeding are associated with higher risk of asthma. Limited evidence does not suggest associations between 1) never versus ever being fed human milk and atopic dermatitis in childhood or 2) the duration of any human milk feeding and allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis in childhood. CONCLUSIONS Moderate evidence suggests that feeding human milk for short durations or not at all is associated with higher childhood asthma risk. Evidence on food allergies, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis is limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darcy Güngör
- Panum Group, Bethesda, MD,Address correspondence to DG (e-mail: )
| | | | | | | | | | - Nancy Terry
- National Institutes of Health Library, Bethesda, MD
| | - Steve A Abrams
- Dell Medical School at the University of Texas, Austin, TX
| | - Leila Beker
- US Food and Drug Administration, contractor, College Park, MD
| | | | | | | | | | - Emily Oken
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA,Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Rafael Pérez-Escamilla
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT
| | - Ekhard E Ziegler
- Panum Group, Bethesda, MD,Department of Pediatrics, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
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Grandjean P, Heilmann C, Weihe P, Nielsen F, Mogensen UB, Timmermann A, Budtz-Jørgensen E. Estimated exposures to perfluorinated compounds in infancy predict attenuated vaccine antibody concentrations at age 5-years. J Immunotoxicol 2018; 14:188-195. [PMID: 28805477 DOI: 10.1080/1547691x.2017.1360968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Perfluorinated alkylate substances (PFASs) are highly persistent and may cause immunotoxic effects. PFAS-associated attenuated antibody responses to childhood vaccines may be affected by PFAS exposures during infancy, where breastfeeding adds to PFAS exposures. Of 490 members of a Faroese birth cohort, 275 and 349 participated in clinical examinations and provided blood samples at ages 18 months and 5 years. PFAS concentrations were measured at birth and at the clinical examinations. Using information on duration of breastfeeding, serum-PFAS concentration profiles during infancy were estimated. As outcomes, serum concentrations of antibodies against tetanus and diphtheria vaccines were determined at age 5. Data from a previous cohort born eight years earlier were available for pooled analyses. Pre-natal exposure showed inverse associations with the antibody concentrations five years later, with decreases by up to about 20% for each two-fold higher exposure, while associations for serum concentrations at ages 18 months and 5 years were weaker. Modeling of serum-PFAS concentration showed levels for age 18 months that were similar to those measured. Concentrations estimated for ages 3 and 6 months showed the strongest inverse associations with antibody concentrations at age 5 years, particularly for tetanus. Joint analyses showed statistically significant decreases in tetanus antibody concentrations by 19-29% at age 5 for each doubling of the PFAS exposure in early infancy. These findings support the notion that the developing adaptive immune system is particularly vulnerable to immunotoxicity during infancy. This vulnerability appears to be the greatest during the first 6 months after birth, where PFAS exposures are affected by breast-feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Grandjean
- a Department of Environmental Health , Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Boston , MA , USA.,b Department of Environmental Medicine , University of Southern Denmark , Odense , Denmark
| | - Carsten Heilmann
- c Pediatric Clinic , Rigshospitalet - National University Hospital , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Pal Weihe
- d Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health , Faroese Hospital System , Torshavn , Faroe Islands
| | - Flemming Nielsen
- b Department of Environmental Medicine , University of Southern Denmark , Odense , Denmark
| | - Ulla B Mogensen
- e Department of Biostatistics , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Amalie Timmermann
- b Department of Environmental Medicine , University of Southern Denmark , Odense , Denmark
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21
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Brief Report: Low-level Mercury Exposure and Risk of Asthma in School-age Children. Epidemiology 2018; 28:116-118. [PMID: 27755278 DOI: 10.1097/ede.0000000000000576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although mercury exposure has been associated with several adverse health effects, the association with childhood asthma is under investigated. Therefore, we explore the association between mercury and childhood asthma in a population with low mercury levels. METHODS Mercury levels were measured in blood and urine in 1,056 children ages 5-14 years. In addition to including questions about asthma diagnosis and wheezing, the study measured bronchial hyperresponsiveness and allergic sensitization to common aeroallergens. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for major potential confounders. RESULTS Overall the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) between log blood mercury and the outcomes were 0.8 (95% CI: 0.63, 1.11) for asthma, 0.9 (95% CI: 0.79, 1.14) for wheeze, 1.1 (95% CI: 0.60, 2.03) for bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and 1.0 (95% CI: 0.80, 1.17) for allergic sensitization. Urine mercury adjusted for creatinine was also not associated with any of these allergy-related outcomes. CONCLUSIONS While the results did not support an association between mercury exposure and asthma, studies are needed to assess prenatal and lifetime exposure to mercury and asthma.
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Parker-Lalomio M, McCann K, Piorkowski J, Freels S, Persky VW. Prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and asthma, eczema/hay fever, and frequent ear infections. J Asthma 2017; 55:1105-1115. [PMID: 29211547 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2017.1396470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The effects of prenatal exposure to Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on the development of asthma, frequent ear infections, and eczema/hay fever are not well understood. We aim to investigate associations between prenatal PCB exposure and these health outcomes in the offspring of women who worked at the LaSalle Electrical Utilities Company (EUC). METHODS A retrospective cohort with at least one live birth and known employment time at EUC was eligible for this analysis. Exposure was defined and categorized by the number of fiscal quarters worked during the PCB era (1952-1981). A total of 288 women with 800 live births were included. A Chi-Square test was used to compare maternal and child characteristics across exposure groups and repeated measures logistic regression, controlling for clustering among siblings, was used to assess the associations between prenatal PCB exposure and these outcomes. RESULTS After adjustment for confounding and independent maternal predictors, 1-4 quarters of prenatal exposure to PCBs increased the odds for asthma (OR 3.24[1.30-8.09]), eczema/hay fever (OR 3.29[1.54-7.04]), and frequent ear infections (OR 2.24[1.19-4.22]) when compared with persons unexposed/exposed only to naphthalenes. The significance of the associations varied by exposure period and level of exposure, with the strongest associations in those employed exclusively after 1952 when PCBs were introduced. CONCLUSIONS These results support previous findings of associations of prenatal exposure to PCBs with asthma, eczema/hay fever, and frequent ear infections. Additional prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings. Also required are more precise PCB exposures to separate them from other exposures in occupational settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Parker-Lalomio
- a Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health , University of Illinois at Chicago , Chicago , IL , USA
| | - Kenneth McCann
- b Division of Environmental Health, Illinois Department of Public Health , Springfield , IL , USA
| | - Julie Piorkowski
- a Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health , University of Illinois at Chicago , Chicago , IL , USA
| | - Sally Freels
- a Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health , University of Illinois at Chicago , Chicago , IL , USA
| | - Victoria W Persky
- a Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health , University of Illinois at Chicago , Chicago , IL , USA
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23
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Timmermann CAG, Choi AL, Petersen MS, Nielsen F, Budtz-Jørgensen E, Weihe P, Grandjean P. Secondary sex ratio in relation to exposures to polychlorinated biphenyls, dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene and methylmercury. Int J Circumpolar Health 2017; 76:1406234. [PMID: 29195489 PMCID: PMC5717715 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2017.1406234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was undertaken to assess the potential impact of maternal exposures to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene (DDE) and methylmercury on the secondary sex ratios (the ratio of male to female live births) over a span of 23 years. The study includes prospective data from three Faroese birth cohorts, with a total of 2,152 healthy mother–child dyads recruited between 1986 and 2009. The Faroe Islands is a subarctic fishing community, where pilot whale meat and blubber are part of the traditional marine diet. Exposures were measured in maternal hair, serum or umbilical cord blood. Confounder adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between maternal exposures and the secondary sex ratio. A doubling in ΣPCB, p,p’-DDE and mercury concentrations were associated with increased odds by 8% (95% CI = 0–16%), 7% (95% CI = 0–14%) and 9% (95% CI = 2–17%), respectively, of giving birth to a boy. In conclusion, maternal exposure to ΣPCB, DDE and methylmercury was associated with a slightly increased secondary sex ratio. The impact of paternal exposures could not be taken into account and deserves attention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna L Choi
- b Department of Environmental Health , Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Boston , MA , USA.,c Department of Health Research and Policy , Stanford University , Stanford , CA , USA
| | - Maria Skaalum Petersen
- d Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health , The Faroese Hospital System , Tórshavn , Faroe Islands.,e Faculty of Health Sciences, Center of Health Science , University of The Faroe Islands , Tórshavn , Faroe Islands
| | - Flemming Nielsen
- a Department of Environmental Medicine , University of Southern Denmark , Odense C , Denmark
| | | | - Pál Weihe
- d Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health , The Faroese Hospital System , Tórshavn , Faroe Islands.,e Faculty of Health Sciences, Center of Health Science , University of The Faroe Islands , Tórshavn , Faroe Islands
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- a Department of Environmental Medicine , University of Southern Denmark , Odense C , Denmark.,b Department of Environmental Health , Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Boston , MA , USA
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent evidence highlights the reality of unprecedented human exposure to toxic chemical agents found throughout our environment - in our food and water supply, in the air we breathe, in the products we apply to our skin, in the medical and dental materials placed into our bodies, and even within the confines of the womb. With biomonitoring confirming the widespread bioaccumulation of myriad toxicants among population groups, expanding research continues to explore the pathobiological impact of these agents on human metabolism. METHODS This review was prepared by assessing available medical and scientific literature from Medline as well as by reviewing several books, toxicology journals, government publications, and conference proceedings. The format of a traditional integrated review was chosen. RESULTS Toxicant exposure and accrual has been linked to numerous biochemical and pathophysiological mechanisms of harm. Some toxicants effect metabolic disruption via multiple mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS As a primary causative determinant of chronic disease, toxicant exposures induce metabolic disruption in myriad ways, which consequently result in varied clinical manifestations, which are then categorized by health providers into innumerable diagnoses. Chemical disruption of human metabolism has become an etiological determinant of much illness throughout the lifecycle, from neurodevelopmental abnormalities in-utero to dementia in the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Genuis
- a Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta , Edmonton , Alberta , Canada
| | - Edmond Kyrillos
- b Department of Family Medicine , Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa , Ottawa , Ontario , Canada
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Bauer SM. Atopic Eczema: Genetic Associations and Potential Links to Developmental Exposures. Int J Toxicol 2017; 36:187-198. [DOI: 10.1177/1091581817701075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Atopic eczema (AE), or atopic dermatitis (AD), is a common inflammatory skin disease with a disrupted epidermal barrier and an allergic immune response. AD/AE is prominently characterized by a symptomatic itch and transient skin lesions. Infants compose a significant percentage affected. Two models have been proposed to explain AD/AE skin pathology: the gut microbiome-focused inside-outside model and the outside-inside model concentrating on the disrupted skin barrier/skin microbiome. Gene disruptions contributing to epidermal structure, as well as those in immune system genes, are implicated. Over 30 genes have been linked to AD/AE with Flg and Tmem79/Matt alterations being common. Other linked disruptions are in the interleukin-1 family of cytokines/receptors and the TH2 gene family of cytokines. Inheritable epigenetic modifications of the genes or associated proteins may also be involved. Skin barrier disruption and the allergic immune response have been the main foci in mechanistic studies of AD/AE, but the role of the environment is becoming more apparent. Thus, an examination of in utero exposures could be very helpful in understanding the heterogeneity of AD/AE. Although research is limited, there is evidence that developmental exposure to environmental tobacco smoke or phthalates may impact disease. Management for AD/AE includes topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors, which safely facilitate improvements in select individuals. Disease heterogeneity warrants continued research not only into elucidating disease mechanism(s), via identification of contributing genetic alterations, but also research to understand how/when these genetic alterations occur. This may lead to the cure that those affected by AD/AE eagerly await.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen M. Bauer
- Assistant Professor of Biology, Department of Biology, Belmont Abbey College, Belmont, NC, USA
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26
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Zhang GQ, Liu B, Li J, Luo CQ, Zhang Q, Chen JL, Sinha A, Li ZY. Fish intake during pregnancy or infancy and allergic outcomes in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2017; 28:152-161. [PMID: 27590571 DOI: 10.1111/pai.12648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
It has been suggested that n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFAs) have anti-inflammatory properties and may reduce the risk of allergic disease. Fish is a great source of n-3 LC-PUFAs. However, the effect of fish on allergic disease remains controversial. PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective cohort studies regarding the effect of fish intake during pregnancy or infancy on allergic outcomes in children. The outcomes of interest were atopy, eczema, allergic rhinitis, wheeze, asthma, and food allergy. One RCT and 17 publications from 13 prospective cohort studies were included for maternal fish intake during pregnancy, and eight publications from five prospective cohort studies for fish intake in infancy. Pooled analysis suggested that maternal fish intake during pregnancy was not associated with lower risk of any allergic outcome, both in RCT and observational studies. Consumption of fish during the first year of life reduced the risk of eczema (RR 0.61; 95% CI 0.47, 0.80; p = 0.0003; I2 = 68%) and allergic rhinitis (RR 0.54; 95% CI 0.36, 0.81; p = 0.003; I2 = 74%). Current evidence indicates that fish intake in infancy could reduce the risk of eczema and allergic rhinitis in children, whereas maternal fish intake during pregnancy does not affect any atopic outcome. The intake of fish per se in infancy, not specially n-3 LC-PUFAs, may have an allergy protective effect. High-quality and adequately powered RCTs are warranted to confirm this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo-Qiang Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Department of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Department of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jun Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Department of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chun-Qi Luo
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Department of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qiao Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Department of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jin-Liang Chen
- Department of Geriatrics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Anju Sinha
- Division of Reproductive and Child Health, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Zhong-Yue Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Department of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Timmermann CAG, Budtz-Jørgensen E, Jensen TK, Osuna CE, Petersen MS, Steuerwald U, Nielsen F, Poulsen LK, Weihe P, Grandjean P. Association between perfluoroalkyl substance exposure and asthma and allergic disease in children as modified by MMR vaccination. J Immunotoxicol 2017; 14:39-49. [PMID: 28091126 DOI: 10.1080/1547691x.2016.1254306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are highly persistent chemicals that might be associated with asthma and allergy, but the associations remain unclear. Therefore, this study examined whether pre- and postnatal PFAS exposure was associated with childhood asthma and allergy. Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination in early life may have a protective effect against asthma and allergy, and MMR vaccination is therefore taken into account when evaluating these associations. In a cohort of Faroese children whose mothers were recruited during pregnancy, serum concentrations of five PFASs - Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) - were measured at three timepoints (maternal serum in pregnancy week 34-36 and child serum at ages 5 and 13 years) and their association with immunoglobulin E (IgE) (cord blood and at age 7 years) and asthma/allergic diseases (questionnaires at ages 5 and 13 years and skin prick test at age 13 years) was determined. A total of 559 children were included in the analyses. Interactions with MMR vaccination were evaluated. Among 22 MMR-unvaccinated children, higher levels of the five PFASs at age 5 years were associated with increased odds of asthma at ages 5 and 13. The associations were reversed among MMR-vaccinated children. Prenatal PFAS exposure was not associated with childhood asthma or allergic diseases regardless of MMR vaccination status. In conclusion, PFAS exposure at age 5 was associated with increased risk of asthma among a small subgroup of MMR-unvaccinated children but not among MMR-vaccinated children. While PFAS exposure may impact immune system functions, this study suggests that MMR vaccination might be a potential effect-modifier.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tina Kold Jensen
- a Department of Environmental Medicine , University of Southern Denmark , Odense , Denmark
| | - Christa Elyse Osuna
- c Center for Virology and Vaccine Research , Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA
| | | | - Ulrike Steuerwald
- d Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health , Faroe Islands, Denmark
| | - Flemming Nielsen
- a Department of Environmental Medicine , University of Southern Denmark , Odense , Denmark
| | - Lars K Poulsen
- e Allergy Clinic , Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte , Hellerup , Denmark
| | - Pál Weihe
- d Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health , Faroe Islands, Denmark.,f Faculty of Natural and Health Sciences , University of the Faroe Islands , Faroe Islands, Denmark
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- a Department of Environmental Medicine , University of Southern Denmark , Odense , Denmark.,g Department of Environmental Health , Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Boston , MA , USA
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Kim JH. Role of Breast-feeding in the Development of Atopic Dermatitis in Early Childhood. ALLERGY, ASTHMA & IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH 2017; 9:285-287. [PMID: 28497914 PMCID: PMC5446942 DOI: 10.4168/aair.2017.9.4.285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeong Hee Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Korea.,Environmental Health Center for Allergic Rhinitis, Inha University Hospital, Ministry of Environment, Incheon, Korea.
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Current Issues in Developmental Immunotoxicity. IMMUNOPATHOLOGY IN TOXICOLOGY AND DRUG DEVELOPMENT 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-47377-2_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Lee KS, Rha YH, Oh IH, Choi YS, Kim YE, Choi SH. Does Breast-feeding Relate to Development of Atopic Dermatitis in Young Korean Children?: Based on the Fourth and Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2012. ALLERGY, ASTHMA & IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH 2017; 9:307-313. [PMID: 28497917 PMCID: PMC5446945 DOI: 10.4168/aair.2017.9.4.307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Purpose There have been conflicting reports concerning the relationship between breast-feeding and the development of atopic dermatitis (AD) in early childhood. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between breast-feeding and the risk of AD in early childhood in Korea. Methods We combined the fourth and fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data collected from 2007 to 2012 and analyzed 2,015 children at 1 to 3 years old. Regression analysis was used to determine the association of the following variables: AD, feeding types, duration of breast-feeding, and others. Results The annual prevalence of exclusive breast-feeding and AD decreased. Parents with allergic diseases preferred breast-feeding and extended duration of feeding compared with those without. In multiple logistic regression analyses, exclusive breast-feeding in feeding type I (P=0.070; adjusted odds ratio [OR]=1.990), exclusive breast-feeding in feeding type II (P=0.095; adjusted OR=1.495) and breast-feeding duration (P=0.430; adjusted OR=1.013) were not significantly related to AD. Conclusions Breast-feeding was not found to be associated with an occurrence of AD in young children. Rather, parents with histories of allergic diseases tended to prefer breast-feeding and extend its duration. To clarify the role of breast-feeding in the development of AD, a nation-wide prospective study is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung Suk Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Yeong Ho Rha
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - In Hwan Oh
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yong Sung Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University Hospital, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young Eun Kim
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sun Hee Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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Hansen S, Strøm M, Olsen SF, Dahl R, Hoffmann HJ, Granström C, Rytter D, Bech BH, Linneberg A, Maslova E, Kiviranta H, Rantakokko P, Halldorsson TI. Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants and offspring allergic sensitization and lung function at 20 years of age. Clin Exp Allergy 2016; 46:329-36. [PMID: 26333063 DOI: 10.1111/cea.12631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Revised: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposures to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been associated with asthma medication use and self-reported symptoms, but associations with lung function and allergic sensitization have been minimally explored. The aim of the study was to examine the associations between prenatal exposures to POPs and allergic sensitization and lung function in 20-year-old offspring. METHODS In a Danish cohort of 965 pregnant women established in 1988-1989, six polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) were quantified in archived maternal serum drawn in gestational week 30 (n = 872). Among those with available maternal exposure information, at age 20, 421 offspring attended attended a clinical examination including measurements of allergic sensitization (serum-specific IgE ≥ 0.35 kUA /L) (n = 418) and lung function [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1 ) and forced vital capacity (FVC)] (n = 414). RESULTS There were no associations between maternal concentrations of POPs and offspring allergic sensitization at 20 years of age. Maternal concentrations of POPs were, however, positively associated with offspring airway obstruction (FEV1 /FVC < 75%). Compared to offspring in the first tertile of exposure, offspring in the third tertile of dioxin-like PCB exposure had an OR of 2.96 (95% CI: 1.14-7.70). Similar associations for non-dioxin-like PCBs, HCB, and p,p'-DDE were 2.68 (1.06-6.81), 2.63 (1.07, 6.46), and 2.87 (1.09, 7.57), respectively. No associations were observed with reduced lung function (FEV1 % of predicted value < 90%). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Our data indicate that prenatal exposure to POPs appears to be associated with airway obstruction but not allergic sensitization at 20 years of age. The findings support that chronic obstructive lung diseases may have at least part of their origins in early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Hansen
- Centre for Fetal Programming, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - M Strøm
- Centre for Fetal Programming, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - S F Olsen
- Centre for Fetal Programming, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - R Dahl
- The Allergy Centre, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Allergy, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - H J Hoffmann
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Allergy, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - C Granström
- Centre for Fetal Programming, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - D Rytter
- Department of Public Health, Section for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - B H Bech
- Department of Public Health, Section for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - A Linneberg
- Research Centre for Prevention and Health, the Capital Region of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Experimental Research, Glostrup University Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - E Maslova
- Centre for Fetal Programming, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - H Kiviranta
- Chemicals and Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - P Rantakokko
- Chemicals and Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
| | - T I Halldorsson
- Centre for Fetal Programming, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.,Unit for Nutrition Research, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
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32
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Ashley-Martin J, Lavigne E, Arbuckle TE, Johnson M, Hystad P, Crouse DL, Marshall JS, Dodds L. Air Pollution During Pregnancy and Cord Blood Immune System Biomarkers. J Occup Environ Med 2016; 58:979-986. [PMID: 27483336 PMCID: PMC5704662 DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000000841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aimed to determine whether average and trimester-specific exposures to ambient measures of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particular matter (PM2.5) were associated with elevated cord blood concentrations of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and two epithelial cell produced cytokines: interleukin-33 (IL-33) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). METHODS This study utilized data and biospecimens from the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) Study. There were 2001 pregnant women recruited between 2008 and 2011 from 10 Canadian cities. Maternal exposure to NO2 and PM2.5 was estimated using land use regression and satellite-derived models. RESULTS We observed statistically significant associations between maternal NO2 exposure and elevated cord blood concentrations of both IL-33 and TSLP among girls but not boys. CONCLUSIONS Maternal NO2 exposure may impact the development of the newborn immune system as measured by cord blood concentrations of two cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian Ashley-Martin
- Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia (Drs Ashley-Martin, Dodds); Air Health Science Division (Drs Lavigne, Johnson), Population Studies Division, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (Dr Arbuckle); College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis (Dr Hystad); Department of Sociology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick (Dr Crouse); and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (Dr Marshall)
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Timmermann CAG, Budtz-Jørgensen E, Petersen MS, Weihe P, Steuerwald U, Nielsen F, Jensen TK, Grandjean P. Shorter duration of breastfeeding at elevated exposures to perfluoroalkyl substances. Reprod Toxicol 2016; 68:164-170. [PMID: 27421579 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Revised: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine whether maternal exposure to persistent perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) affect the capability to breastfeed. In two Faroese birth cohorts (N=1130), concentrations of five PFASs were measured in maternal serum during pregnancy or two weeks after term. Duration of breastfeeding was assessed by questionnaire and clinical interview. In adjusted linear regression models, a doubling of maternal serum PFASs was associated with a reduction in duration of both total and exclusive breastfeeding, most pronounced for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) where a doubling was associated with a reduction in total breastfeeding of 1.4 (95% CI: 0.6; 2.1) months and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) where a doubling was associated with a reduction in exclusive breastfeeding of 0.5 (0.3; 0.7) months. The associations were evident among both primiparous and multiparous women, and thus cannot be explained by confounding from previous breastfeeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Amalie Gade Timmermann
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 17A, 5000 Odense C, Denmark.
| | - Esben Budtz-Jørgensen
- Section of Biostatistics, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1014 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
| | - Maria Skaalum Petersen
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, Sigmundargøta 5, 100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, Denmark.
| | - Pál Weihe
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, Sigmundargøta 5, 100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, Denmark; Faculty of Natural and Health Sciences, University of The Faroe Islands, J.C. Svabos gøta 14, 100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, Denmark.
| | - Ulrike Steuerwald
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, Sigmundargøta 5, 100 Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, Denmark.
| | - Flemming Nielsen
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 17A, 5000 Odense C, Denmark.
| | - Tina Kold Jensen
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 17A, 5000 Odense C, Denmark.
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 17A, 5000 Odense C, Denmark; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
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Park S, Lee EH, Kho Y. The association of asthma, total IgE, and blood lead and cadmium levels. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2016; 138:1701-1703.e6. [PMID: 27394912 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2016.04.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2015] [Revised: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sangshin Park
- Center for International Health Research, Rhode Island Hospital, the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI; Department of Pediatrics, the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
| | - Eun-Hee Lee
- Department of Visual Optics and Health Science, Graduate School of Health Science, Far East University, Eumsung, Chungbuk, Korea
| | - Younglim Kho
- Department of Health, Environment & Safety, Eulji University, Sungnam, Kyeonggi, Korea.
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35
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Preconception Care: A New Standard of Care within Maternal Health Services. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 2016:6150976. [PMID: 27314031 PMCID: PMC4903143 DOI: 10.1155/2016/6150976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2015] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Emerging research suggests that much pediatric affliction has origins in the vulnerable phase of fetal development. Prenatal factors including deficiency of various nutrients and exposure to assorted toxicants are major etiological determinants of myriad obstetrical complications, pediatric chronic diseases, and perhaps some genetic mutations. With recent recognition that modifiable environmental determinants, rather than genetic predestination, are the etiological source of most chronic illness, modification of environmental factors prior to conception offers the possibility of precluding various mental and physical health conditions. Environmental and lifestyle modification through informed patient choice is possible but evidence confirms that, with little to no training in clinical nutrition, toxicology, or environmental exposures, most clinicians are ill-equipped to counsel patients about this important area. With the totality of available scientific evidence that now exists on the potential to modify disease-causing gestational determinants, failure to take necessary precautionary action may render members of the medical community collectively and individually culpable for preventable illness in children. We advocate for environmental health education of maternity health professionals and the widespread adoption and implementation of preconception care. This will necessitate the translation of emerging knowledge from recent research literature, to health professionals, to reproductive-aged women, and to society at large.
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36
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Maternal and Pediatric Health Outcomes in relation to Gestational Vitamin D Sufficiency. Obstet Gynecol Int 2015; 2015:501829. [PMID: 26770200 PMCID: PMC4684854 DOI: 10.1155/2015/501829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Juxtaposed with monumental improvement in maternal-fetal outcomes over the last century, there has been the recent emergence of rising rates of gestational complications including preterm birth, operative delivery, and gestational diabetes. At the same time, there has been a burgeoning problem with widespread vitamin D deficiency among populations of many developed nations. This paper provides a brief review of potential health outcomes recently linked to gestational vitamin D deficiency, including preterm birth, cesarean delivery, and gestational diabetes. Although immediate costs for obstetric complications related to gestational vitamin D insufficiency may be modest, the short- and long-term costs for pediatric healthcare resulting from such gestational complications may be enormous and present an enduring burden on healthcare systems. With increasing evidence pointing to fetal origins of some later life disease, securing vitamin D sufficiency in pregnancy appears to be a simple, safe, and cost-effective measure that can be incorporated into routine preconception and prenatal care in the offices of primary care clinicians. Education on gestational nutritional requirements should be a fundamental part of medical education and residency training, instruction that has been sorely lacking to date.
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37
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Timmermann CAG, Osuna CE, Steuerwald U, Weihe P, Poulsen LK, Grandjean P. Asthma and allergy in children with and without prior measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2015; 26:742-9. [PMID: 25845848 PMCID: PMC6190691 DOI: 10.1111/pai.12391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The existing literature on the association between measles vaccination and subsequent risk of allergic disease is inconclusive. The aim of this study was, therefore, to determine whether measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination administered in early childhood was associated with asthma and allergic diseases at ages 5, 7 and 13 yrs in a birth cohort. METHODS In the Faroe Islands, 640 children were followed from birth. Follow-up examinations at ages 5, 7 and 13 yrs included a physical examination and a maternal questionnaire about the child's health. At age 7, total and grass-specific IgE was quantified in the child's serum, and at age 13, the children underwent skin prick tests (SPT). The child's vaccination card was reviewed at examinations. RESULTS At age 5, 533 of 555 children had been vaccinated for MMR. After confounder adjustment, we found early life MMR vaccination to be associated with a two-third reduction in the odds of asthma (OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.12; 0.90) and hypersensitivity/allergy (OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.11; 0.88) at age 5, and the substantially decreased odds of asthma were replicated at age 13 (OR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.08; 0.56). At age 7, serum total IgE was reduced by 62.8% (CI 95%: -84.3%; -11.9%) in the vaccinated children. MMR vaccination was not significantly associated with allergic rhinoconjuctivitis symptoms, eczema, or SPT reactions at age 13. CONCLUSIONS MMR vaccination early in life may have a protective effect against allergy at least up to age 7 and against asthma through age 13 yrs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Amalie Gade Timmermann
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Christa Elyse Osuna
- Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ulrike Steuerwald
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, The Faroese Hospital System, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, Denmark
| | - Pál Weihe
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, The Faroese Hospital System, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, Denmark
| | - Lars K Poulsen
- Allergy Clinic, Copenhagen University Hospital at Gentofte, Gentofte, Denmark
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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38
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Ashley-Martin J, Levy AR, Arbuckle TE, Platt RW, Marshall JS, Dodds L. Maternal exposure to metals and persistent pollutants and cord blood immune system biomarkers. Environ Health 2015; 14:52. [PMID: 26084354 PMCID: PMC4470054 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-015-0046-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The fetal time period is a critical window of immune system development and resulting heightened susceptibility to the adverse effects of environmental exposures. Epidemiologists and toxicologists have hypothesized that persistent organic pollutants, pesticides and metals have immunotoxic properties. Immunotoxic effects may manifest as an altered immune system profile at birth. Immunoglobulin E, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), and interleukin-33 (IL-33) may be implicated in the etiology of childhood allergy and are detectable at birth. The objective of this study was to examine the potential relationship between maternal concentrations of metals, persistent organic pollutants, and pesticides and elevated umbilical cord blood concentrations of IgE, TSLP, and IL-33 in a Canadian birth cohort. METHODS This study utilized data collected in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) Study, a trans-Canada cohort study of 2,001 pregnant women. Of these women, 1258 had a singleton, term birth and cord blood sample. Logistic regression was used to determine associations between log-transformed continuous variables and immune system biomarkers. RESULTS Inverse relationships were observed between lead, DDE, PCB-118, and a summary index of organophosphorous metabolites and jointly elevated concentrations of IL-33 and TSLP. None of the environmental contaminants were associated with increased odds of a high cord blood immune system biomarker concentration. CONCLUSIONS In this primarily urban Canadian population of pregnant women and their newborns, maternal blood or urine concentrations of persistent organic pollutants, pesticides, and metals were not associated with immunotoxic effects that manifest as increased odds of elevated concentrations of IgE, TSLP or IL-33.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian Ashley-Martin
- Interdisciplinary PhD Program, Dalhousie University, IDPhD c/o Faculty of Graduate Studies Room 314 Henry Hicks Building 6299 South St Halifax, Halifax, NS, B3H 4H6, Canada.
| | - Adrian R Levy
- Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Centre for Clinical Research, 5790 University Avenue, Halifax, NS, B3H 1 V7, Canada.
| | - Tye E Arbuckle
- Population Studies Division, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, 50 Colombine Dr., AL 0801A, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0 K9, Canada.
| | - Robert W Platt
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McGill University, Purvis Hall 1020 Pine Ave. West, Montreal, H3A 1A2, QC, Canada.
| | - Jean S Marshall
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University Sir Charles Tupper Medical Building, Room 7-C5850 College Street, Halifax, NS, Canada.
| | - Linda Dodds
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Paediatrics, Dalhousie University, Perinatal Epidemiology Research Unit, 7th Floor Women's Site, IWK Health Centre, 5980 University Ave, PO Box 9700, Halifax, NS, B3H 6R8, Canada.
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Tsuji M, Kawamoto T, Koriyama C, Yamamoto M, Tsuchiya T, Matsumura F. Association of PCBs and allergies in children. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2015; 120:21-26. [PMID: 25987216 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2014.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2014] [Revised: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Recently, the incidence rates of childhood allergies have been rising around the world. The presence of persistent chemical pollutants in the environment and exposure to air pollutants are often cited as potential causes of childhood allergies. Accordingly, epidemiological studies of the associations between exposure to low levels of pollutants and adverse health effects are essential. However, at present no useful biomarkers for evaluating such associations have been developed. Thus, using a molecular epidemiological approach we planned to identify candidate biomarkers of pollutant-induced adverse health effects that can be used in children. In asthmatic children, we found that the serum levels of several polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congener sub-types were significantly positively correlated with interleukin (IL)-8 mRNA expression, whereas in a sub-group of children who displayed positive immunoglobulin E (IgE) responses to milk or egg proteins IL-22 mRNA expression was demonstrated to be useful for detecting the adverse health effects of environmental pollutants, particularly PCB congeners. In conclusion, the mRNA expression levels of IL-8 and IL-22 can be used to detect children who are at particular risk of adverse health events caused by environmental pollutants, especially PCBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayumi Tsuji
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Department of Environmental Health, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyusyu 807-8555, Japan.
| | - Toshihiro Kawamoto
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyusyu 807-8555, Japan
| | - Chihaya Koriyama
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan
| | - Megumi Yamamoto
- Integrated Physiology Section, Department of Basic Medical Science, National Institute for Minamata Disease, 4058-18 Hama, Minamata, Kumamoto 867-0008, Japan
| | - Takuto Tsuchiya
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyusyu 807-8555, Japan
| | - Fumio Matsumura
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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40
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Dietert RR, Dietert JM. The Microbiome and Sustainable Healthcare. Healthcare (Basel) 2015; 3:100-29. [PMID: 27417751 PMCID: PMC4934527 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare3010100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing prevalences, morbidity, premature mortality and medical needs associated with non-communicable diseases and conditions (NCDs) have reached epidemic proportions and placed a major drain on healthcare systems and global economies. Added to this are the challenges presented by overuse of antibiotics and increased antibiotic resistance. Solutions are needed that can address the challenges of NCDs and increasing antibiotic resistance, maximize preventative measures, and balance healthcare needs with available services and economic realities. Microbiome management including microbiota seeding, feeding, and rebiosis appears likely to be a core component of a path toward sustainable healthcare. Recent findings indicate that: (1) humans are mostly microbial (in terms of numbers of cells and genes); (2) immune dysfunction and misregulated inflammation are pivotal in the majority of NCDs; (3) microbiome status affects early immune education and risk of NCDs, and (4) microbiome status affects the risk of certain infections. Management of the microbiome to reduce later-life health risk and/or to treat emerging NCDs, to spare antibiotic use and to reduce the risk of recurrent infections may provide a more effective healthcare strategy across the life course particularly when a personalized medicine approach is considered. This review will examine the potential for microbiome management to contribute to sustainable healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodney R Dietert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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Croes K, Den Hond E, Bruckers L, Loots I, Morrens B, Nelen V, Colles A, Schoeters G, Sioen I, Covaci A, Vandermarken T, Van Larebeke N, Baeyens W. Monitoring chlorinated persistent organic pollutants in adolescents in Flanders (Belgium): concentrations, trends and dose-effect relationships (FLEHS II). ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2014; 71:20-28. [PMID: 24950161 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Revised: 05/27/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2007, the second cycle of the Flemish human biomonitoring survey started, with a main focus on 14-15 year-old adolescents. OBJECTIVES The main objectives were generating reference values for exposure markers, determining the pollution pressure in industrial hotspots and establishing dose-effect relationships between exposure to pollutants and hormone levels, sexual development, asthma and allergy, genotoxic and hematological markers. METHODS Geometric means with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for a reference population of 200 14-15 year-old adolescents. Stepwise multiple regression analyses with correction for confounders and covariates were performed to establish dose-effect relationships. RESULTS Geometric mean concentrations (with 95% CI) of 49.6 (45.7, 53.8), 70.8 (63.6, 78.8) and 8.34 (7.76, 8.97) n gg(-1) lipid for the sum of PCB 138, 153 and 180, p,p'-DDE and HCB were respectively 23%, 26% and 60% lower than those obtained five years earlier. Geometric mean concentrations of 108 (101, 114) and 32.1 (30.1, 34.2) pgCALUX-BEQg(-1) lipid were observed for the PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs, respectively. Multiple dose-effect relationships were observed between POPs and several effect markers, including positive (boys) and negative (girls) associations with data on sexual development and positive associations with asthma, animal allergy and free thyroxine (boys and girls). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that chlorinated POP concentrations are decreasing over time and that even relatively low concentrations are associated with biological effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Croes
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
| | | | - Liesbeth Bruckers
- Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Ilse Loots
- Political and Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Bert Morrens
- Political and Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Vera Nelen
- Provincial Institute for Hygiene, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ann Colles
- Environmental Health and Risk, VITO, Mol, Belgium
| | | | - Isabelle Sioen
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Tara Vandermarken
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Van Larebeke
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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42
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Maslova E, Hansen S. Prenatal Dietary Determinants of Asthma and Related Allergic Disorders in Childhood. Curr Nutr Rep 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s13668-014-0089-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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43
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Osuna CE, Grandjean P, Weihe P, El-Fawal HAN. Autoantibodies associated with prenatal and childhood exposure to environmental chemicals in Faroese children. Toxicol Sci 2014; 142:158-66. [PMID: 25124724 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfu163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are ubiquitous and persistent environmental chemicals with known or suspected toxic effects on the nervous system and the immune system. Animal studies have shown that tissue damage can elicit production of autoantibodies. However, it is not known if autoantibodies similarly will be generated and detectable in humans following toxicant exposures. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study to investigate if autoantibodies specific for neural and non-neural antigens could be detected in children at age 7 years who have been exposed to environmental chemicals. Both prenatal and age-7 exposures to mercury, PCBs, and PFCs were measured in 38 children in the Faroe Islands who were exposed to widely different levels of these chemicals due to their seafood-based diet. Concentrations of IgM and IgG autoantibodies specific to both neural (neurofilaments, cholineacetyltransferase, astrocyte glial fibrillary acidic protein, and myelin basic protein) and non-neural (actin, desmin, and keratin) antigens were measured and the associations of these autoantibody concentrations with chemical exposures were assessed using linear regression. Age-7 blood-mercury concentrations were positively associated with titers of multiple neural- and non-neural-specific antibodies, mostly of the IgM isotype. Additionally, prenatal blood-mercury and -PCBs were negatively associated with anti-keratin IgG and prenatal PFOS was negatively associated with anti-actin IgG. These exploratory findings demonstrate that autoantibodies can be detected in the peripheral blood following exposure to environmental chemicals. The unexpected association of exposures with antibodies specific for non-neural antigens suggests that these chemicals may have toxicities that have not yet been recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christa E Osuna
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215 Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215
| | - Philippe Grandjean
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215 Department of Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Winsloewparken 17, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark
| | - Pál Weihe
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, Faroese Hospital System, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
| | - Hassan A N El-Fawal
- Neurotoxicology Laboratory, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, New York 12208
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44
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Netting MJ, Middleton PF, Makrides M. Does maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation affect outcomes in offspring? A systematic review of food-based approaches. Nutrition 2014; 30:1225-41. [PMID: 25280403 DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2014.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2013] [Revised: 02/04/2014] [Accepted: 02/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation and development of atopic disorders in childhood. METHODS We included studies published up to August 2011 that assessed food-based maternal dietary interventions or that examined associations between maternal dietary intake during pregnancy and/or lactation and allergic outcomes (eczema, asthma, hay fever, and sensitization) in their children. RESULTS We included 42 studies (>40 000 children): 11 intervention studies (including 7 randomized control trials), 26 prospective cohort studies, 4 retrospective cohort studies, and 1 case-control study. In the randomized control trials, no significant difference was noted overall in the prevalence of eczema and asthma in the offspring of women on diets free from common food allergens during pregnancy. The prospective cohorts investigated a large number of potential associations, but reported few significant associations between maternal dietary intake and development of allergy. Maternal diets rich in fruits and vegetables, fish, and foods containing vitamin D and Mediterranean dietary patterns were among the few consistent associations with lower risk for allergic disease in their children. Foods associated with higher risk included vegetable oils and margarine, nuts, and fast food. CONCLUSION This review did not find widespread or consistent links between mothers' dietary intake and atopic outcomes in their children. However, maternal consumption of Mediterranean dietary patterns, diets rich in fruits and vegetables, fish, and vitamin D-containing foods were suggestive of benefit, requiring further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merryn J Netting
- Child Nutrition Research Centre, Women's and Children's Health Research Institute, North Adelaide, SA, Australia; School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Philippa F Middleton
- School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia; ARCH: Australian Research Centre for Health of Women and Babies, The Robinson Institute, The University of Adelaide, North Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Maria Makrides
- Child Nutrition Research Centre, Women's and Children's Health Research Institute, North Adelaide, SA, Australia; School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia; South Australian Health Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
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45
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Selgrade MK, Blain RB, Fedak KM, Cawley MA. Potential risk of asthma associated with in utero exposure to xenobiotics. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 99:1-13. [PMID: 23723168 DOI: 10.1002/bdrc.21028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2013] [Accepted: 03/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of asthma, a complex disease and significant public health problem, has been increasing over the last 30 years for unknown reasons. Changes in environmental exposures or lifestyle may be involved. In some cases asthma may originate in utero or in early life. Associations have been found between in utero exposures to several xenobiotics and increased risk of asthma. There is convincing evidence that maternal smoking and/or in utero and perinatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke are associated with increased risk of asthma. Similar effects have been demonstrated in animal models of allergic asthma. Evidence also suggests that in utero and/or early-life exposures to various ambient air pollutants may increase the risk of asthma although supporting animal data are very limited. A few studies have suggested that in utero exposure to acetaminophen is associated with increased risk of asthma; however, animal data are lacking. Various vitamin deficiencies and supplements during pregnancy have been studied. In general, it appears that vitamins A, C, and E have protective effects and vitamins D and B may, in some instances, increase the risk, but the data are not conclusive. Some studies related to in utero exposures to polychlorinated biphenyls and bisphenol A and asthma risk are also reported. The underlying mechanisms for an association between xenobiotic exposures and asthma remain a matter of speculation. Genetic predisposition and epigenetic changes have been explored. The developing immune, respiratory, and nervous systems are potential targets. Oxidative stress and modulation of inflammation are thought to be involved.
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46
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Konkel L. A long-term risk? Prenatal POPs exposure and asthma in young adults. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2014; 122:A28. [PMID: 24381022 PMCID: PMC3888560 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.122-a28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
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47
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Dietert RR. Developmental Immunotoxicity, Perinatal Programming, and Noncommunicable Diseases: Focus on Human Studies. Adv Med 2014; 2014:867805. [PMID: 26556429 PMCID: PMC4590951 DOI: 10.1155/2014/867805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2013] [Revised: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 10/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental immunotoxicity (DIT) is a term given to encompass the environmentally induced disruption of normal immune development resulting in adverse outcomes. A myriad of chemical, physical, and psychological factors can all contribute to DIT. As a core component of the developmental origins of adult disease, DIT is interlinked with three important concepts surrounding health risks across a lifetime: (1) the Barker Hypothesis, which connects prenatal development to later-life diseases, (2) the hygiene hypothesis, which connects newborns and infants to risk of later-life diseases and, (3) fetal programming and epigenetic alterations, which may exert effects both in later life and across future generations. This review of DIT considers: (1) the history and context of DIT research, (2) the fundamental features of DIT, (3) the emerging role of DIT in risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and (4) the range of risk factors that have been investigated through human research. The emphasis on the human DIT-related literature is significant since most prior reviews of DIT have largely focused on animal research and considerations of specific categories of risk factors (e.g., heavy metals). Risk factors considered in this review include air pollution, aluminum, antibiotics, arsenic, bisphenol A, ethanol, lead (Pb), maternal smoking and environmental tobacco smoke, paracetamol (acetaminophen), pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polyfluorinated compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodney R. Dietert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, North Tower Road, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- *Rodney R. Dietert:
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48
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Hansen S, Strøm M, Olsen SF, Maslova E, Rantakokko P, Kiviranta H, Rytter D, Bech BH, Hansen LV, Halldorsson TI. Maternal concentrations of persistent organochlorine pollutants and the risk of asthma in offspring: results from a prospective cohort with 20 years of follow-up. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2014; 122:93-9. [PMID: 24162035 PMCID: PMC3888563 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1206397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2012] [Accepted: 10/23/2013] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous findings suggest that developmental exposures to persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs) may be detrimental for the development of the immune system in the offspring. Whether these suspected immunoregulatory effects persist beyond early childhood remains unclear. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between maternal serum concentrations of POPs and the risk of asthma in offspring after 20 years of follow-up. METHODS A birth cohort with 965 women was formed in 1988-1989 in Aarhus, Denmark. Concentrations of six polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (congeners 118, 138, 153, 156, 170, 180), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p´-DDE) were quantified in maternal serum (n=872) collected in gestation week 30. Information about offspring use of asthma medications was obtained from the Danish Registry of Medicinal Product Statistics. RESULTS Maternal serum concentrations of HCB and dioxin-like PCB-118 were positively associated with offspring asthma medication use after 20 years of follow-up (p for trend<0.05). Compared with subjects in the first tertile of maternal concentration, those in the third tertile of PCB-118 had an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.90 (95% CI: 1.12, 3.23). For HCB the HR for the third versus the first tertile of maternal concentration was 1.92 (95% CI: 1.15, 3.21). Weak positive associations were also estimated for PCB-156 and the non-dioxin-like PCBs (PCBs 138, 153, 170, 180). No associations were found for p,p´-DDE. CONCLUSIONS Maternal concentrations of PCB-118 and HCB were associated with increased risk of asthma in offspring followed through 20 years of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Hansen
- Centre for Fetal Programming, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
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49
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Ochiai S, Shimojo N, Yuka I, Watanabe M, Matsuno Y, Suzuki S, Kohno Y, Mori C. A pilot study for foetal exposure to multiple persistent organic pollutants and the development of infant atopic dermatitis in modern Japanese society. CHEMOSPHERE 2014; 94:48-52. [PMID: 24080003 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2012] [Revised: 08/21/2013] [Accepted: 09/02/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Increasing evidence supports that harmful chemicals accumulating in the human body may pose a significant threat to infant health through foetal exposure. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are thought to enhance the risk for later development of allergic disease like atopic dermatitis (AD). However, few studies have evaluated the effect of foetal exposure to various POPs on the development of AD in early infancy. Here, we describe the impact of foetal exposure to a number of POPs on the occurrence of AD in 7-month-old infants. The participants were 81 infants with or without AD who participated in a birth cohort study, where the concentrations of 15 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) congeners, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p'-DDT), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), cis-nonachlor, trans-nonachlor, mirex, oxychlordane, and 27 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDEs) congeners were measured in the umbilical cord tissues collected immediately after birth. At 7 months, 27 of the 81 infants (33.8%) were diagnosed with AD. Of all POPs examined, total concentrations of 27 PBDE congeners were associated with a significantly decreased incidence of AD. Notably, the concentration of 27 PBDEs was significantly lower in AD infants than in non-AD infants (P<0.01), and the risk of AD development decreased with increasing PBDE levels. These results suggest that foetal exposure to PBDEs is a possible contributing factor to reducing AD in early infancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shingo Ochiai
- Department of Bioenvironmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan; Centre for Preventive Medical Science, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
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50
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Hansen S, Strøm M, Olsen SF, Maslova E, Rantakokko P, Kiviranta H, Rytter D, Bech BH, Hansen LV, Halldorsson TI. Maternal concentrations of persistent organochlorine pollutants and the risk of asthma in offspring: results from a prospective cohort with 20 years of follow-up. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2014; 122:93-99. [PMID: 24162035 PMCID: PMC3984214 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.122-a93] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2012] [Accepted: 10/23/2013] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous findings suggest that developmental exposures to persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs) may be detrimental for the development of the immune system in the offspring. Whether these suspected immunoregulatory effects persist beyond early childhood remains unclear. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between maternal serum concentrations of POPs and the risk of asthma in offspring after 20 years of follow-up. METHODS A birth cohort with 965 women was formed in 1988-1989 in Aarhus, Denmark. Concentrations of six polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (congeners 118, 138, 153, 156, 170, 180), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p´-DDE) were quantified in maternal serum (n=872) collected in gestation week 30. Information about offspring use of asthma medications was obtained from the Danish Registry of Medicinal Product Statistics. RESULTS Maternal serum concentrations of HCB and dioxin-like PCB-118 were positively associated with offspring asthma medication use after 20 years of follow-up (p for trend<0.05). Compared with subjects in the first tertile of maternal concentration, those in the third tertile of PCB-118 had an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.90 (95% CI: 1.12, 3.23). For HCB the HR for the third versus the first tertile of maternal concentration was 1.92 (95% CI: 1.15, 3.21). Weak positive associations were also estimated for PCB-156 and the non-dioxin-like PCBs (PCBs 138, 153, 170, 180). No associations were found for p,p´-DDE. CONCLUSIONS Maternal concentrations of PCB-118 and HCB were associated with increased risk of asthma in offspring followed through 20 years of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Hansen
- Centre for Fetal Programming, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
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