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Bertheussen M, Riva M, Jock BWI, Fletcher C, Ayotte P, Muckle G, Poliakova N, Bélanger R. Using latent class analysis to operationalize a wholistic assessment of Inuit health and well-being. Int J Circumpolar Health 2024; 83:2322186. [PMID: 38465869 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2024.2322186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Many indigenous cultures conceptualize health wholistically, whereby physical, mental, spiritual and relational dimensions of health are interconnected. Yet, quantitative approaches to studying Indigenous health remain anchored in western perspectives, that separate the dimensions of health. This paper aims to operationalize a wholistic indicator of health based on the IQI model of Inuit health. Variables from the 2017 Nunavik Health Survey (N = 1196) were selected based on their representativeness of IQI model. Exploratory Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was used to identify wholistic health profiles. Once participants assigned to their health profile, sociodemographic characteristics were compared across profiles, and multinomial regression models were used to examine the relationship between community-level social determinants of health and the profiles. The LCA revealed three health profiles, labelled as "excellent", "good" and "fair" based on the distribution of answers to the indicators. Nunavimmiut in "excellent" and "good" health were more likely to: rate their health positively; be over 30 years old; be in a relationship; and have participated or volunteered in community events. Nunavimmiut in "fair" health tended to report lower levels of community cohesion, family relationships, and emotional support. Intergrating culturally relevant models of health can support improved health status assessments and identify opportunities for health promotion.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mylene Riva
- Department of Geography, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Christopher Fletcher
- Department of Social and preventative medecine, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Department of Social and preventative medecine, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- Department of Social and preventative medecine, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Natalia Poliakova
- Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Branch, CHU deQuébec Research Centre, Quebec, Canada
| | - Richard Bélanger
- Department of Social and preventative medecine, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
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Krzeczkowski JE, Hall M, McGuckin T, Lanphear B, Bertinato J, Ayotte P, Chevrier J, Goodman C, Green R, Till C. Erratum to Iodine status in a large Canadian pregnancy cohort. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM. Volume 5, Issue 1, January 2023, 100784. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2024:101208. [PMID: 38604925 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2023.101208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- John E Krzeczkowski
- Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto M3J 1P3, Canada (Krzeczkowski, Hall, McGuckin).
| | - Meaghan Hall
- Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto M3J 1P3, Canada (Krzeczkowski, Hall, McGuckin)
| | - Taylor McGuckin
- Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto M3J 1P3, Canada (Krzeczkowski, Hall, McGuckin)
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada (Lanphear)
| | - Jesse Bertinato
- Nutrition Research Division, Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada (Bertinato); Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada (Bertinato)
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada (Ayotte)
| | - Jonathan Chevrier
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, Canada (Chevrier)
| | - Carly Goodman
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada (Goodman, Green, Till)
| | - Rivka Green
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada (Goodman, Green, Till)
| | - Christine Till
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada (Goodman, Green, Till)
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Lajeunesse-Trempe F, Piché ME, Poirier P, Tchernof A, Ayotte P. Adiposity Phenotypes and Associated Cardiometabolic Risk Profile in the Inuit Population of Nunavik. Nutrients 2024; 16:725. [PMID: 38474854 DOI: 10.3390/nu16050725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The Inuit population of Nunavik is faced with a significant rise in the prevalence of obesity [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2], but the impact on cardiometabolic health is unclear. The aim of this study was to characterize adiposity phenotypes and explore their associations with cardiometabolic risk factors among Nunavimmiut men and women. We used data obtained from 1296 Inuit who participated in the Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 Nunavik Inuit Health survey. Collected information included demographics, anthropometric measurements including visceral fat level (VFL) measured using electrical bioimpedance, biomarkers, hemodynamics, medical history and medication list. Adjusted population-weighted linear regressions were conducted to assess associations between body fat distribution and cardiometabolic risk factors. The accuracy and cut-off points of anthropometric indices to detect cardiometabolic abnormalities was evaluated by area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUROC) and a maximum Youden index analysis. Among Nunavimmiut (mean age 38.8 years [95%CI: 38.4 to 39.3]), obesity was observed in 42.8% of women and 25.6% of men. Compared to men, women presented a higher prevalence of abdominal obesity (78.8% vs. 46.4% in men, p < 0.05) and elevated VFL (54.4% vs. 20.1% with an InBody level ≥ 13, p < 0.05). Indices of global fat distribution and abdominal adiposity including VFL provided poor to moderate ability to detect cardiometabolic abnormalities (AUROC between 0.64 and 0.79). This analysis revealed that despite a high prevalence of abdominal obesity, particularly among women, anthropometric measurements of adiposity are inconsistently associated cardio-metabolic risk factors in Inuit adults of Nunavik.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fannie Lajeunesse-Trempe
- École de Nutrition, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, QC G1V 4G5, Canada
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Marie-Eve Piché
- Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, QC G1V 4G5, Canada
- Département de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Paul Poirier
- Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, QC G1V 4G5, Canada
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - André Tchernof
- École de Nutrition, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, QC G1V 4G5, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec, QC G1V 5B3, Canada
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Little M, Brockington M, Aker A, Kenny TA, Andrade-Rivas F, Ayotte P, Lemire M. Wild fish consumption and latitude as drivers of vitamin D status among Inuit living in Nunavik, northern Québec. Public Health Nutr 2024; 27:e81. [PMID: 38384120 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980024000491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To measure vitamin D status and estimate factors associated with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in Nunavimmiut (Inuit living in Nunavik) adults in 2017. DESIGN Data were from Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 Nunavik Inuit Health Survey, a cross-sectional study conducted in August-October 2017. Participants underwent a questionnaire, including an FFQ, and blood samples were analysed for total serum 25(OH)D. SETTING Nunavik, northern Québec, Canada. PARTICIPANTS A stratified proportional model was used to select respondents, including 1,155 who identified as Inuit and had complete data. RESULTS Geometric mean serum vitamin D levels were 65·2 nmol/l (95 % CI 62·9-67·6 nmol/l) among women and 65·4 nmol/l (95 % CI 62·3-68·7 nmol/l) among men. The weighted prevalence of serum 25(OH)D < 75 nmol/l, <50 nmol/l <30 nmol/l was 61·2 %, 30·3 % and 7·0 %, respectively. Individuals who were older, female, lived in smaller and/or more southerly communities and/or consumed more country (traditional) foods were at a reduced risk of low vitamin D status. Higher consumption of wild fish was specifically associated with increased serum 25(OH)D concentration. CONCLUSION It is important that national, regional and local policies and programs are in place to secure harvest, sharing and consumption of nutritious and culturally important country foods like Arctic char and other wild fish species, particularly considering ongoing climate change in the Arctic which impacts the availability, access and quality of fish as food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Little
- School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Meghan Brockington
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Amira Aker
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Tiff-Annie Kenny
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Federico Andrade-Rivas
- School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de toxicologie du Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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Little M, Achouba A, Ayotte P, Lemire M. Emerging evidence on selenoneine and its public health relevance in coastal populations: a review and case study of dietary Se among Inuit populations in the Canadian Arctic. Nutr Res Rev 2024:1-10. [PMID: 38327212 DOI: 10.1017/s0954422424000039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Selenium is an essential mineral yet both deficiency and excess are associated with adverse health effects. Dietary intake of Se in humans varies greatly between populations due to food availability, dietary preferences, and local geological and ecosystem processes impacting Se accumulation into agricultural products and animal populations. We argue there is a need to evaluate and reconsider the relevance of public health recommendations on Se given recent evidence, including the metabolic pathways and health implications of Se. This argument is particularly pertinent for Inuit populations in Northern Canada, who often exceed dietary tolerable upper intake levels and exhibit very high whole blood Se concentrations due to their dependence on local country foods high in the newly discovered Se compound, selenoneine. Since selenoneine appears to have lower toxicity compared to other Se species and does not contribute to the circulating pools of Se for selenoprotein synthesis, we argue that total dietary Se or total Se in plasma or whole blood are poor indicators of Se adequacy for human health in these populations. Overall, this review provides an overview of the current evidence of Se speciation, deficiency, adequacy, and excess and implications for human health and dietary recommendations, with particular reference to Inuit populations in the Canadian Arctic and other coastal populations consuming marine foods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Little
- School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, Victoria, BCV8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Adel Achouba
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en Santé, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, 1050, chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, G1S 4L8, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en Santé, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, 1050, chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, G1S 4L8, Canada
- Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Université Laval, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada
- Centre de Toxicologie du Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), 945 Avenue Wolfe, Quebec, G1V 5B3, Canada
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en Santé, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, 1050, chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, G1S 4L8, Canada
- Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Université Laval, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada
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Hall M, Hornung R, Chevrier J, Ayotte P, Lanphear B, Till C. Fluoride exposure and thyroid hormone levels in pregnancy: The MIREC cohort. Environ Int 2024; 184:108442. [PMID: 38237505 PMCID: PMC10973885 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fluoride exposure may increase the risk of hypothyroidism, but results from previous studies are inconsistent at low-level fluoride exposure (i.e., ≤0.7 mg/L). Human studies of fluoride and thyroid hormone levels in pregnancy are scarce. OBJECTIVES We examined associations between fluoride exposure and maternal thyroid hormone levels in a Canadian pregnancy cohort, with consideration for fetal sex-specific effects. METHODS We measured fluoride concentrations in drinking water and spot urine samples collected during each trimester from 1876 pregnant women enrolled in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) study. We also measured maternal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), and total thyroxine (TT4) levels during the first trimester of pregnancy. We used linear and non-linear regression models to estimate associations between fluoride exposure and levels of TSH, FT4, and TT4. We explored effect modification by fetal sex and considered maternal iodine status as a potential confounder. RESULTS A 1 mg/L increase in urinary fluoride was associated with a 0.30 (95 %CI: 0.08, 0.51) logarithmic unit (i.e., 35.0 %) increase in TSH among women pregnant with females, but not males (B = 0.02; 95 %CI: -0.16, 0.19). Relative to women with urinary fluoride concentrations in the first quartile (0.05-0.32 mg/L), those with levels in the third quartile (0.49-0.75 mg/L) had higher FT4 and TT4 (i.e., inverted J-shaped associations), but the association was not statistically significant after adjustment for covariates (p = 0.06). Water fluoride concentration showed a U-shaped association with maternal FT4, whereby women with water fluoride concentrations in the second (0.13-0.52 mg/L) and third (0.52-0.62 mg/L) quartiles had significantly lower FT4 compared to those with levels in the first quartile (0.04-0.13 mg/L). Adjustment for maternal iodine status did not change the results. DISCUSSION Fluoride exposure was associated with alterations in maternal thyroid hormone levels, the magnitude of which appeared to vary by fetal sex. Given the importance of maternal thyroid hormones for fetal neurodevelopment, replication of findings is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan Hall
- Psychology Department, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Rick Hornung
- Retired, Consultant to Psychology Department, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Jonathan Chevrier
- School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
| | - Christine Till
- Psychology Department, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Aker A, Ayotte P, Furgal C, Kenny TA, Little M, Gauthier MJ, Bouchard A, Lemire M. Sociodemographic patterning of dietary profiles among Inuit youth and adults in Nunavik, Canada: a cross-sectional study. Can J Public Health 2024; 115:66-82. [PMID: 36482145 PMCID: PMC10830983 DOI: 10.17269/s41997-022-00724-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Country (traditional) foods are integral to Inuit culture, but market food consumption is increasing. The Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 Nunavik Health Survey (Q2017) reported similar country food consumption frequency compared to that in 2004; however, examining food items individually does not account for diet patterns, food accessibility, and correlations between food items. Our objective was to identify underlying dietary profiles and compare them across sex, age, ecological region, and food insecurity markers, given the links among diet, health, and sociocultural determinants. METHODS Food frequency and sociodemographic data were derived from the Q2017 survey (N = 1176). Latent profile analysis identified dietary profiles using variables for the relative frequencies of country and market food consumption first, followed by an analysis with those for country food variables only. Multinomial logistic regression examined the associations among dietary profiles, sociodemographic factors, and food insecurity markers (to disassociate between food preferences and food access). RESULTS Four overall dietary profiles and four country food dietary profiles were identified characterized by the relative frequency of country and market food in the diet. The patterns were stable across several sensitivity analyses and in line with our Inuit partners' local knowledge. For the overall profiles, women and adults aged 30-49 years were more likely to have a market food-dominant profile, whereas men and individuals aged 16-29 and 50+ years more often consumed a country food-dominant profile. In the country food profiles, Inuit aged 16-29 years were more likely to have a moderate country food profile whereas Inuit aged 50+ were more likely to have a high country food-consumption profile. A low country and market food-consumption profile was linked to higher prevalence of food insecurity markers. CONCLUSION We were able to identify distinct dietary profiles with strong social patterning. The profiles elucidated in this study are aligned with the impact of colonial influence on diet and subsequent country food promotion programs for Inuit youth. These profiles will be used for further study of nutritional status, contaminant exposure, and health to provide context for future public health programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira Aker
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Centre de toxicologie du Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Chris Furgal
- Department of Indigenous Studies, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Tiff-Annie Kenny
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Matthew Little
- School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Amélie Bouchard
- Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Kuujjuaq, Québec, Canada
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada.
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada.
- Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada.
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Lavoie A, Lemire M, Lévesque B, Ayotte P. Determinants of iron deficiency and anemia among Nunavimmiut: results from the Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 Nunavik Health Survey. Can J Public Health 2024; 115:152-167. [PMID: 37165141 PMCID: PMC10831004 DOI: 10.17269/s41997-023-00775-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) and anemia and study their main distal and proximal protective and risk factors among Nunavimmiut 16 years and older in 2017. METHODS In a cross-sectional participatory survey of 831 women and 436 men from the Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 Nunavik Inuit Health Survey, venous blood samples were collected to measure various indicators of iron status and anemia as well as biomarkers of nutritional and inflammatory status and contaminant exposures. Sociodemographic, food security status, anthropometric, lifestyle, dietary, and health data were collected using questionnaires, clinical sessions, and a medical chart review. ID and anemia diagnoses were based on serum ferritin (SF) and hemoglobin (Hb), respectively. Multiple regressions were used to assess correlates of anemia and iron status. RESULTS Prevalence of ID was highest among women of childbearing age (16-49 years old, 33%) and anemia among adults aged 50 years and older (31%). These estimates are prone to biases due to the relatively low participation rate (37%). Serum vitamin D, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content of erythrocyte membranes, blood selenium, inflammation, higher socioeconomic status (SES), obesity, and alcohol consumption were all positively associated with SF, while Helicobacter pylori infection and a recent pregnancy were negatively associated with Hb among women of childbearing age. Among older adults, food insecurity was associated with lower SF. CONCLUSION While data reported here provide some indication of an improvement since the previous survey conducted in 2004, additional efforts should be devoted to further increasing the SES and access to country foods and nutritious market foods in this population, the two main protective factors against ID and anemia identified in the present study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Lavoie
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Benoit Lévesque
- Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
- Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
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Robert P, Lévesque B, Bourbeau J, Ahmad Khan F, Boulet LP, Dubé MA, Proulx JF, Ayotte P. Respiratory health and its determinants among Nunavimmiut: results from the Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 Nunavik Health Survey. Can J Public Health 2024; 115:136-151. [PMID: 36624337 PMCID: PMC10830964 DOI: 10.17269/s41997-022-00722-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Respiratory diseases are the leading cause of hospitalization in Nunavik (northern Québec, Canada) and contribute to disparities in life expectancy with the rest of Canada. As part of Qanuilirpitaa? 2017, a cross-sectional population-based health survey, we sought to describe the prevalence of respiratory health indicators, including the first estimate of airway obstruction based on spirometry in an Inuit population, and explore their associated characteristics. METHODS We analyzed data from 1296 participants aged 16 years and older, using multivariate logistic regression to assess characteristics associated with spirometry-determined airway obstruction and self-reported respiratory symptoms, i.e., wheezing in the last year and chronic cough during at least 3 months. RESULTS In this relatively young population (83% aged 16 to 54), the prevalences of wheezing, chronic cough, and airway obstruction were, respectively, 27% (95% CI 24-30), 21% (18-23), and 17% (14-20). These estimates are prone to biases due to the relatively low participation rate (about 37%). The most consistent associations were with smoking (≥ 15 pack-years; odds ratio [OR] 3.13, 3.39, and 2.86 for the three indicators, respectively) and food security (OR 0.55 with wheezing and OR 0.26 with chronic cough), as defined in the Household Food Security Survey Module. Wheezing was also associated with allergic sensitization to dogs (2.60) and obesity (2.18). Chronic cough was associated with respiratory infections during childhood (2.12), housing in need of major repairs (1.72), and housing crowding (1.50), and was negatively associated with participation to traditional activities (0.62) and going on the land (0.64). Airway obstruction was associated with being underweight (3.84) and post-secondary education (0.40). Among young adults and women, wheezing was also associated with any inhalation of solvents for recreational purposes during their lifetime (2.62 and 1.56, respectively), while airway obstruction was associated with regular marijuana use (2.22 and 1.84, respectively). CONCLUSION Smoking and food insecurity are both highly prevalent and strongly associated with respiratory symptoms in Nunavik. Together with essential smoking prevention and cessation programs, our findings suggest that solving food security and housing crises, improving socioeconomic conditions, and promoting traditional lifestyle may improve respiratory health in Nunavik.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Robert
- Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Benoît Lévesque
- Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Jean Bourbeau
- Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal Chest Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Faiz Ahmad Khan
- Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal Chest Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
- McGill International TB Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Louis-Philippe Boulet
- Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Marc-André Dubé
- Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Jean-François Proulx
- Department of Public Health, Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Kuujjuaq, QC, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
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10
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Allaire J, Lévesque B, Poirier P, Gagnon C, Auclair G, Lemire M, Ayotte P. Prevalence and determinants of hypertension in the adult Inuit population of Nunavik (northern Quebec, Canada). Can J Public Health 2024; 115:168-179. [PMID: 37155001 PMCID: PMC10830977 DOI: 10.17269/s41997-023-00774-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the prevalence of arterial hypertension among Inuit adults living in Nunavik (northern Quebec, Canada) in 2017 and identify its sociodemographic and lifestyle determinants. METHODS We used data obtained from 1177 Inuit adults aged ≥ 18 years who participated in the cross-sectional Qanuilirpitaa? Nunavik Inuit Health Survey during late summer-early fall of 2017. Resting blood pressure (BP) and anthropometric characteristics were measured during a clinical session, while sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle habits were documented using validated questionnaires. Information on current medication was retrieved from medical files. Sex-stratified population-weighted log-binomial regressions were conducted to identify determinants of hypertension, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS Hypertension (systolic BP ≥ 140 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg or taking antihypertensive medication) was present in 23% of the adult population and was more frequent in men than women (29% vs. 18%). About a third of hypertensive individuals (34%) were taking antihypertensive medication. These estimates are prone to biases due to the relatively low participation rate (37%). As expected, the prevalence of hypertension increased with age, but values were surprisingly elevated in 18 to 29-year-old men and women (18% and 8%, respectively) compared with 20 to 39-year-old adults of the general Canadian population (3% in both sexes, according to data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey, 2012-2015). Hypertension was associated with obesity and alcohol consumption in both men and women, and with higher socioeconomic status among men. CONCLUSION This survey revealed a high prevalence of hypertension among young Nunavimmiut adults in 2017 and the need to improve hypertension diagnosis and treatment in the region. Curbing obesity and alcohol consumption, two actionable determinants of hypertension, will require improving food security and addressing the consequences of historical trauma linked to colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janie Allaire
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Benoît Lévesque
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Paul Poirier
- Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie du Québec - Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Faculté de pharmacie, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Claudia Gagnon
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie du Québec - Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Geneviève Auclair
- Inuulitsivik Health Centre, Inukjuak, QC, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
- Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
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11
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Ayotte P, Gagnon S, Riva M, Muckle G, Hamel D, Bélanger RE, Fletcher C, Furgal C, Dawson A, Galarneau C, Lemire M, Gauthier MJ, Labranche E, Grey L, Rochette M, Bouchard F. The Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 Nunavik Health Survey: design, methods, and lessons learned. Can J Public Health 2024; 115:7-19. [PMID: 38231467 PMCID: PMC10830945 DOI: 10.17269/s41997-023-00846-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To depict the design, methods, sociodemographic characteristics of the population, and lessons learned during the Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 Nunavik Inuit Health Survey, the third major health survey to be conducted among youth and adults residing in Nunavik (Northern Quebec, Canada). METHODS Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 is a cross-sectional survey that served to update information regarding various aspects of physical health, mental health, and general well-being of Nunavimmiut. The survey was guided by the ethics principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP®) ( https://fnigc.ca/ocap ). Questionnaires and clinical tests were administered to residents from the 14 coastal communities onboard the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Amundsen during late summer and early fall 2017. As part of the community component of the survey, qualitative interviews were performed with key respondents, and services and resources supporting health and well-being in the 14 communities were inventoried and characterized. RESULTS A total of 1326 Nunavimmiut aged 16 and over participated in the survey. Despite difficulties encountered with the recruitment of participants, co-interpretation sessions with Inuit partners revealed that the survey had succeeded in capturing cultural, socio-economic, and lifestyle characteristics of Nunavimmiut. In all, 20 thematic reports have been published covering various aspects of health and well-being of Nunavimmiut. Regional and local reports pertaining to the community component were produced. More in-depth analyses have ensued, and results are presented in articles published in this CJPH supplement issue. CONCLUSION Information from this survey is being used to update health services and programs in the region and for the development of health policies and public health interventions to tackle key health-related issues faced by Nunavimmiut. Drawing lessons from challenges and successes encountered in Qanuilirpitaa? 2017, this survey paved the way to the upcoming Inuit-led Qanuippitaa? National Inuit Health Survey to be conducted every 5 years throughout Inuit Nunangat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Ayotte
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
- Axe en santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, CRCHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
- Direction de la santé environnementale, au travail et de la toxicologie, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada.
| | - Susie Gagnon
- Bureau d'information et d'études en santé des populations, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Mylène Riva
- Department of Geography, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- Axe en santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, CRCHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- École de psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Denis Hamel
- Bureau d'information et d'études en santé des populations, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Richard E Bélanger
- Axe en santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, CRCHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de pédiatrie, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Christopher Fletcher
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Axe en santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, CRCHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Christopher Furgal
- Indigenous Environmental Studies and Sciences Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - Aimée Dawson
- Faculté de médecine dentaire, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Chantal Galarneau
- Direction du développement des individus et des communautés, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Axe en santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, CRCHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Josée Gauthier
- Public Health Department, Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Kuujjuaq, QC, Canada
| | - Elena Labranche
- Inuit Values and Practices, Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Kuujjuaq, QC, Canada
| | - Lucy Grey
- Public Health Department, Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Kuujjuaq, QC, Canada
| | - Marie Rochette
- Public Health Department, Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Kuujjuaq, QC, Canada
| | - Françoise Bouchard
- Public Health Department, Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Kuujjuaq, QC, Canada
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12
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Achouba A, Dumas P, Ayotte P. Simultaneous determination of ergothioneine, selenoneine, and their methylated metabolites in human blood using ID-LC-MS/MS. Anal Bioanal Chem 2023; 415:7259-7267. [PMID: 37914954 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-023-04994-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Ergothioneine and selenoneine are structurally related dietary antioxidants and cytoprotectants that may help prevent several chronic diseases associated with inflammation and aging. Both compounds share pharmacokinetic characteristics such as cellular uptake through the ergothioneine transporter, accumulation in red blood cells, and biotransformation to methylated metabolites. A rapid, sensitive, specific, precise, and cost-effective analytical method is required to further investigate the potential health benefits of these compounds, individually or combined, in large epidemiological studies. We developed and validated an isotope-dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous specific quantification of these analytes in human blood following a simple sample preparation consisting of dilution in aqueous dithiothreitol followed by centrifugal filtration. Chromatographic separation of the analytes is achieved using a reversed-phase chromatography within an 8-min run. Analyte detection is performed using triple quadrupole mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring mode. Each analyte is quantified against its corresponding isotopically labeled internal standard either commercially available or synthesized in-house (77Se-labeled selenoneine compounds). The validated method demonstrates excellent linearity and very good precision (all CV < 10%). Matrix effects are minimal, suggesting that this method could easily be adapted to other matrices. Freeze/thaw cycles have little effect on methylated metabolites but significantly reduced concentrations of the parent compounds. The method was successfully applied to a small set of volunteer blood samples containing low levels of the analytes. The developed ID-LC-MS/MS method opens new avenues for exploring the roles of these bioactive compounds and their metabolites in human health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adel Achouba
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, 1050 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, QC, G1S 4L8, Canada
| | - Pierre Dumas
- Centre de toxicologie du Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), 945 Wolfe, Québec, QC, G1V 5B3, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, 1050 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, QC, G1S 4L8, Canada.
- Centre de toxicologie du Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), 945 Wolfe, Québec, QC, G1V 5B3, Canada.
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada.
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13
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Teiti I, Aubry M, Fernandes-Pellerin S, Patin E, Madec Y, Boucheron P, Vanhomwegen J, Torterat J, Lastère S, Olivier S, Jaquaniello A, Roux M, Mendiboure V, Harmant C, Bisiaux A, Rijo de León G, Liu D, Bossin H, Mathieu-Daudé F, Gatti C, Suhas E, Chung K, Condat B, Ayotte P, Conte E, Jolly N, Manuguerra JC, Sakuntabhai A, Fontanet A, Quintana-Murci L, Cao-Lormeau VM. Unravelling the determinants of human health in French Polynesia: the MATAEA project. Front Epidemiol 2023; 3:1201038. [PMID: 38455935 PMCID: PMC10911015 DOI: 10.3389/fepid.2023.1201038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Background French Polynesia is a French overseas collectivity in the Southeast Pacific, comprising 75 inhabited islands across five archipelagoes. The human settlement of the region corresponds to the last massive migration of humans to empty territories, but its timeline is still debated. Despite their recent population history and geographical isolation, inhabitants of French Polynesia experience health issues similar to those of continental countries. Modern lifestyles and increased longevity have led to a rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Likewise, international trade and people mobility have caused the emergence of communicable diseases (CDs) including mosquito-borne and respiratory diseases. Additionally, chronic pathologies including acute rheumatic fever, liver diseases, and ciguatera, are highly prevalent in French Polynesia. However, data on such diseases are scarce and not representative of the geographic fragmentation of the population. Objectives The present project aims to estimate the prevalence of several NCDs and CDs in the population of the five archipelagoes, and identify associated risk factors. Moreover, genetic analyses will contribute to determine the sequence and timings of the peopling history of French Polynesia, and identify causal links between past genetic adaptation to island environments, and present-day susceptibility to certain diseases. Methods This cross-sectional survey is based on the random selection of 2,100 adults aged 18-69 years and residing on 18 islands from the five archipelagoes. Each participant answered a questionnaire on a wide range of topics (including demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits and medical history), underwent physical measurements (height, weight, waist circumference, arterial pressure, and skin pigmentation), and provided biological samples (blood, saliva, and stool) for biological, genetic and microbiological analyses. Conclusion For the first time in French Polynesia, the present project allows to collect a wide range of data to explore the existence of indicators and/or risk factors for multiple pathologies of public health concern. The results will help health authorities to adapt actions and preventive measures aimed at reducing the incidence of NCDs and CDs. Moreover, the new genomic data generated in this study, combined with anthropological data, will increase our understanding of the peopling history of French Polynesia. Clinical trial registration https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier: NCT06133400.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iotefa Teiti
- Laboratory of Research on Emerging Viral Diseases, Institut Louis Malardé, Papeete, French Polynesia
| | - Maite Aubry
- Laboratory of Research on Emerging Viral Diseases, Institut Louis Malardé, Papeete, French Polynesia
| | | | - Etienne Patin
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR2000, Human Evolutionary Genetics Unit, Paris, France
| | - Yoann Madec
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Epidemiology of Emerging Diseases Unit, Paris, France
| | - Pauline Boucheron
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Epidemiology of Emerging Diseases Unit, Paris, France
| | - Jessica Vanhomwegen
- Environment and Infectious Risk Unit, Laboratory for Urgent Response to Biological Threats, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Jérémie Torterat
- Institut de la Statistique de la Polynésie Française, Papeete, French Polynesia
| | - Stéphane Lastère
- Clinical Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier de la Polynésie Française, Pirae, French Polynesia
| | - Sophie Olivier
- Clinical Laboratory, Institut Louis Malardé, Papeete, French Polynesia
| | - Anthony Jaquaniello
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR2000, Human Evolutionary Genetics Unit, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Data Management Core Facility, Paris, France
| | - Maguelonne Roux
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR2000, Human Evolutionary Genetics Unit, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Mendiboure
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Epidemiology of Emerging Diseases Unit, Paris, France
| | - Christine Harmant
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR2000, Human Evolutionary Genetics Unit, Paris, France
| | - Aurélie Bisiaux
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR2000, Human Evolutionary Genetics Unit, Paris, France
| | - Gaston Rijo de León
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR2000, Human Evolutionary Genetics Unit, Paris, France
| | - Dang Liu
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR2000, Human Evolutionary Genetics Unit, Paris, France
| | - Hervé Bossin
- Laboratory of Research in Medical Entomology, Institut Louis Malardé, Paea, French Polynesia
| | - Françoise Mathieu-Daudé
- Laboratory of Research in Medical Entomology, Institut Louis Malardé, Paea, French Polynesia
- UMR MIVEGEC-Infectious Diseases and Vectors, University of Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Clémence Gatti
- Laboratory of Marine Biotoxins, UMR241-Ecosystèmes Insulaires Océaniens (EIO) (IFREMER, ILM, IRD, UPF), Institut Louis Malardé, Papeete, French Polynesia
| | - Edouard Suhas
- Unit on non-Communicable Diseases, UMR241-Ecosystèmes Insulaires Océaniens (EIO) (IFREMER, ILM, IRD, UPF), Institut Louis Malardé, Papeete, French Polynesia
| | - Kiyojiken Chung
- Laboratory of Research on Emerging Viral Diseases, Institut Louis Malardé, Papeete, French Polynesia
| | - Bertrand Condat
- Department of Gastroenterology, Centre Hospitalier de la Polynésie Française, Pirae, French Polynesia
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Centre de Toxicologie du Québec, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Eric Conte
- Maison des Sciences de l’Homme du Pacifique, Université de la Polynésie Française, Punaauia, French Polynesia
| | - Nathalie Jolly
- Center for Translational Sciences, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Claude Manuguerra
- Environment and Infectious Risk Unit, Laboratory for Urgent Response to Biological Threats, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Anavaj Sakuntabhai
- Functional Genetics of Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Global Health, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Arnaud Fontanet
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Epidemiology of Emerging Diseases Unit, Paris, France
- PACRI Unit, Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Paris, France
| | - Lluis Quintana-Murci
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR2000, Human Evolutionary Genetics Unit, Paris, France
- Chair Human Genomics and Evolution, Collège de France, Paris, France
| | - Van-Mai Cao-Lormeau
- Laboratory of Research on Emerging Viral Diseases, Institut Louis Malardé, Papeete, French Polynesia
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Aker A, Ayotte P, Caron-Beaudoin É, Ricard S, Gaudreau É, Lemire M. Cardiometabolic health and per and polyfluoroalkyl substances in an Inuit population. Environ Int 2023; 181:108283. [PMID: 37883911 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The cardiometabolic health status of Inuit in Nunavik has worsened in the last thirty years. The high concentrations of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) may be contributing to this since PFAAs have been linked with hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and high blood pressure. The aim of this study was to examine the association between a PFAAs mixture and lipid profiles, Type II diabetes, prediabetes, and high blood pressure in this Inuit population. METHODS We included 1212 participants of the Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 survey aged 16-80 years. Two mixture models (quantile g-computation and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR)) were used to investigate the associations between six PFAAs (PFHxS, PFOS, PFOA and three long-chain PFAAs (PFNA, PFDA and PFUnDA)) with five lipid profiles and three cardiometabolic outcomes. Non-linearity and interaction between PFAAs were further assessed. RESULTS An IQR increase in all PFAAs congeners resulted in an increase in total cholesterol (β 0.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.06, 0.24), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) (β 0.08, 95% CI 0.01, 0.16), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) (β 0.04, 95% CI 0.002, 0.08), apolipoprotein B-100 (β 0.03, 95% CI 0.004, 0.05), and prediabetes (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.11, 2.91). There was no association between PFAAs and triglycerides, diabetes, or high blood pressure. Long-chain PFAAs congeners were the main contributors driving the associations. Associations were largely linear, and there was no evidence of interaction between the PFAAs congeners. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides further evidence of increasing circulating lipids with increased exposure to PFAAs. The increased risk of prediabetes points to the influence of PFAAs on potential clinical outcomes. International regulation of PFAAs is essential to curb PFAAs exposure and related health effects in Arctic communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira Aker
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Centre de Toxicologie du Québec, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Élyse Caron-Beaudoin
- Department of Health and Society, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sylvie Ricard
- Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Kuujjuaq, QC, Canada
| | - Éric Gaudreau
- Centre de Toxicologie du Québec, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
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15
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Gagnon-Chauvin A, Jacobson SW, Jacobson JL, Fornasier-Bélanger M, Courtemanche Y, Ayotte P, Bélanger RE, Muckle G, Saint-Amour D. Pre- and postnatal exposure to legacy environmental contaminants and sensation seeking in Inuit adolescents from Nunavik. PLOS Glob Public Health 2023; 3:e0002478. [PMID: 37851612 PMCID: PMC10584110 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Despite extensive evidence from cohort studies linking exposure to lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to numerous cognitive outcomes in children and adolescents, very few studies addressed reward sensitivity, a key dimension of emotional regulation. The present study aimed to examine associations between pre- and postnatal exposure to these environmental neurotoxicants and sensation seeking, a behavioral feature of reward. A total of 207 Inuit adolescents (mean age = 18.5, SD = 1.2) from Nunavik, Canada, completed the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS-4) and Sensation Seeking- 2 (SS-2), two self-report questionnaires assessing proneness to sensation seeking. Prenatal, childhood and adolescent exposure to Pb, Hg and PCBs were measured in cord blood at birth and blood samples at 11 years of age and at time of testing. Multiple linear regression models were performed, potential confounders including participants' sociodemographic characteristics and nutrient fish intake were considered. Results showed that higher child blood levels of Pb (b = -0.18, p = 0.01) and PCB-153 (b = -0.16, p = 0.06) were associated with lower BSSS-4 total scores, while cord and adolescent blood PCB-153 levels were significantly related to lower SS2 total scores (b = -0.15, p = 0.04; b = -0.24, p = 0.004). Such associations persisted after further adjustment for co-exposure to concurrent contaminants. These associations were influenced by self-report positive affect and marginally moderated by sex. Sex differences were only observed for child PCB exposure, with the association for risk-taking sensation seeking observed only in girls but not in boys. Further research is warranted to assess the extent to which reduced sensation seeking in chronically exposed individuals affects their behaviors, well-being, and emotional regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avril Gagnon-Chauvin
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal (Québec), Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal (Québec), Canada
| | - Sandra W. Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Joseph L. Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Mathieu Fornasier-Bélanger
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal (Québec), Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal (Québec), Canada
| | - Yohann Courtemanche
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec (Québec), Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec (Québec), Canada
- Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Faculté de Médecine, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, Université Laval, Québec (Québec), Canada
| | - Richard E. Bélanger
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec (Québec), Canada
- Département de Pédiatrie, Université Laval, Centre mère-enfant Soleil du CHU de Québec, Québec (Québec), Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec (Québec), Canada
- École de Psychologie, Université Laval, Québec (Québec), Canada
| | - Dave Saint-Amour
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal (Québec), Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal (Québec), Canada
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Hall M, Lanphear B, Chevrier J, Hornung R, Green R, Goodman C, Ayotte P, Martinez-Mier EA, Zoeller RT, Till C. Fluoride exposure and hypothyroidism in a Canadian pregnancy cohort. Sci Total Environ 2023; 869:161149. [PMID: 36764861 PMCID: PMC9992168 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While fluoride can have thyroid-disrupting effects, associations between low-level fluoride exposure and thyroid conditions remain unclear, especially during pregnancy when insufficient thyroid hormones can adversely impact offspring development. OBJECTIVES We evaluated associations between fluoride exposure and hypothyroidism in a Canadian pregnancy cohort. METHODS We measured fluoride concentrations in drinking water and three dilution-corrected urine samples and estimated fluoride intake based on self-reported beverage consumption. We classified women enrolled in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals Study as euthyroid (n = 1301), subclinical hypothyroid (n = 100) or primary hypothyroid (n = 107) based on their thyroid hormone levels in trimester one. We used multinomial logistic regression to estimate the association between fluoride exposure and classification of either subclinical or primary hypothyroidism and considered maternal thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) status, a marker of autoimmune hypothyroidism, as an effect modifier. In a subsample of 466 mother-child pairs, we used linear regression to explore the association between maternal hypothyroidism and child Full-Scale IQ (FSIQ) at ages 3-to-4 years and tested for effect modification by child sex. RESULTS A 0.5 mg/L increase in drinking water fluoride concentration was associated with a 1.65 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.04, 2.60) increased odds of primary hypothyroidism. In contrast, we did not find a significant association between urinary fluoride (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.00; 95%CI: 0.73, 1.39) or fluoride intake (aOR: 1.25; 95%CI: 0.99, 1.57) and hypothyroidism. Among women with normal TPOAb levels, the risk of primary hypothyroidism increased with both increasing water fluoride and fluoride intake (aOR water fluoride concentration: 2.85; 95%CI: 1.25, 6.50; aOR fluoride intake: 1.75; 95%CI: 1.27, 2.41). Children born to women with primary hypothyroidism had lower FSIQ scores compared to children of euthyroid women, especially among boys (B coefficient: -8.42; 95 % CI: -15.33, -1.50). DISCUSSION Fluoride in drinking water was associated with increased risk of hypothyroidism in pregnant women. Thyroid disruption may contribute to developmental neurotoxicity of fluoride.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan Hall
- Psychology Department, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Jonathan Chevrier
- School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Rick Hornung
- Retired; Consultant to Psychology Department, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rivka Green
- Psychology Department, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Carly Goodman
- Psychology Department, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | | | - R Thomas Zoeller
- Biology Department, The University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Christine Till
- Psychology Department, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Charles D, Berg V, Nøst TH, Wilsgaard T, Bergdahl IA, Huber S, Ayotte P, Averina M, Sandanger T, Rylander C. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in type 2 diabetes mellitus cases and controls: Repeated measurements prior to and after diagnosis. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 249:114148. [PMID: 36881976 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have reported associations between certain persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of POPs that are found in increasing concentrations in humans. Although obesity is a known risk factor for T2DM and PBDEs are fat-soluble, very few studies have investigated associations between PBDEs and T2DM. No longitudinal studies have assessed associations between repeated measurements of PBDE and T2DM in the same individuals and compared time trends of PBDEs in T2DM cases and controls. OBJECTIVES To investigate associations between pre- and post-diagnostic measurements of PBDEs and T2DM and to compare time trends of PBDEs in T2DM cases and controls. METHODS Questionnaire data and serum samples from participants in the Tromsø Study were used to conduct a longitudinal nested case-control study among 116 T2DM cases and 139 controls. All included study participants had three pre-diagnostic blood samples (collected before T2DM diagnosis in cases), and up to two post-diagnostic samples after T2DM diagnosis. We used logistic regression models to investigate pre- and post-diagnostic associations between PBDEs and T2DM, and linear mixed-effect models to assess time trends of PBDEs in T2DM cases and controls. RESULTS We observed no substantial pre- or post-diagnostic associations between any of the PBDEs and T2DM, except for BDE-154 at one of the post-diagnostic time-points (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.00, 2.71). The overall time trends of PBDE concentrations were similar for cases and controls. DISCUSSION The study did not support PBDEs increasing the odds of T2DM, prior to or after T2DM diagnosis. T2DM status did not influence the time trends of PBDE concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolley Charles
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Vivian Berg
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037, Tromsø, Norway; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Diagnostic Services, University Hospital of North Norway, NO-9038, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Therese Haugdahl Nøst
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037, Tromsø, Norway; Department of Community Medicine and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Tom Wilsgaard
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ingvar A Bergdahl
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Sustainable Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Sandra Huber
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Diagnostic Services, University Hospital of North Norway, NO-9038, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval University, Québec, QC, Canada; Centre de Toxicologie du Québec, INSPQ, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Maria Averina
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Diagnostic Services, University Hospital of North Norway, NO-9038, Tromsø, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Torkjel Sandanger
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037, Tromsø, Norway; NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, NO-9007, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Charlotta Rylander
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037, Tromsø, Norway.
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Farmus L, Till C, Green R, Hornung R, Martinez-Mier EA, Ayotte P, Muckle G, Lanphear B, Flora D. Critical windows of fluoride neurotoxicity in Canadian children by Farmus and colleagues - In reply to Guichon et al. (2022). Environ Res 2023:115201. [PMID: 36709871 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Linda Farmus
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Christine Till
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Rivka Green
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Richard Hornung
- Consultant to Psychology Department, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Pierre Ayotte
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- Centre de Recherche Du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada
| | - David Flora
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada
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19
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Farmus L, Till C, Green R, Hornung R, Martinez-Mier EA, Ayotte P, Muckle G, Lanphear B, Flora D. Critical windows of fluoride neurotoxicity in Canadian children by Farmus and colleagues - In reply to Wood et al. (2023). Environ Res 2023:115299. [PMID: 36709876 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Linda Farmus
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Christine Till
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Rivka Green
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Richard Hornung
- Consultant to Psychology Department, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Pierre Ayotte
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- Centre de Recherche Du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada; School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada
| | - David Flora
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada
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20
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Aker A, Ayotte P, Caron-Beaudoin É, De Silva A, Ricard S, Lemire M. Associations between dietary profiles and perfluoroalkyl acids in Inuit youth and adults. Sci Total Environ 2023; 857:159557. [PMID: 36272489 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), a subset of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are synthetic chemicals used in industrial and consumer applications. They are exceptionally stable and highly mobile in the environment, and were detected in high concentrations in Arctic wildlife and Nunavik Inuit. The study's objective was to study the association between dietary profiles in Nunavik and plasma PFAAs concentrations. METHODS The study used data from the Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 Nunavik Inuit Health Survey (Q2017) (N = 1172) on Inuit adults aged 16-80 years. Nine PFAAs congeners were measured in plasma samples (six were detected). Dietary profiles were identified using latent profile analysis. Two sets of dietary profiles were included; the first included market (store-bought) and country foods (harvested/hunted from the land), and the second included only country foods. Multiple linear regression models regressed log-transformed PFAAs concentrations against the dietary profiles, adjusting for sociodemographic variables. RESULTS We identified statistically significant 24.54-57.55 % increases in all PFAAs congeners (PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA, PFHxS, and PFOS) in the dietary profile defined by frequent country food consumption compared to the dietary profile defined by frequent market food consumption. Individuals defined by low consumption of foods (related to food insecurity) had higher concentrations of six PFAAs compared to individuals with frequent market food consumption. The associations were stronger with profiles defined by more frequent country food consumption, and particularly those with increased marine mammal consumption. PFDA, PFUnDA, and PFOS were particularly associated with high country food consumption frequency, such that their concentrations increased by approximately 67-83 % compared to those reporting no or very little consumption of any country foods. CONCLUSIONS Increased country food consumption was strongly associated with higher PFAAs concentrations, particularly PFOS, PFDA, and PFUnDA. The results provide further evidence that the quality of country foods is being threatened by PFAAs contamination. Additional national and international regulations are required to protect the Arctic and its inhabitants from these pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira Aker
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Centre de Toxicologie du Québec, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Élyse Caron-Beaudoin
- Department of Health and Society University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amila De Silva
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Water Science Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sylvie Ricard
- Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Kuujjuaq, QC, Canada
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
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21
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Aker A, Ayotte P, Caron-Beaudoin E, De Silva A, Ricard S, Gaudreau É, Lemire M. Plasma concentrations of perfluoroalkyl acids and their determinants in youth and adults from Nunavik, Canada. Chemosphere 2023; 310:136797. [PMID: 36244416 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), a subset of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are environmentally stable, mobile and bioaccumulative compounds. This leads to high concentrations in wildlife species essential to the cultural identity and subsistence of Arctic populations. Our objective was to characterize the distribution and exposure determinants of PFAAs among Nunavik Inuit adults. The study included up to 1322 Nunavik residents aged 16-80 years who participated in the Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 Nunavik Inuit Health Survey (Q2017). Plasma concentrations were compared to those the general Canadian population using data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey Cycle 5 (2016-2017). Associations between plasma concentrations of nine PFAAs, determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and sociodemographic factors and traditional activity participation were examined using multiple linear regression models. Overall exposure to PFAAs was twice as high compared to the general Canadian population and less regulated perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) concentrations were 7-fold higher, and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) concentrations were 4-fold higher. Males had higher concentrations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), whereas females had higher concentrations of PFDA and PFUnDA. PFAAs concentrations increased with age and were highest among those aged 60+ years. PFNA and PFOA concentrations followed a J-shaped pattern: those aged 16-29 years had higher concentrations than those aged 20-29 and 30-39 years. Ungava Bay generally had lower concentrations of all PFAAs congeners compared to Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait, with the exception of PFNA, which tended to have the lowest concentration in Hudson Strait. PFAAs concentrations were highly associated with hunting activity, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and drinking water from environmental sources. The results highlight the importance of characterizing PFAAs exposure sources in Arctic communities and provide further evidence for the long-range transport of long-chain PFAAs and their precursors that necessitate international action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira Aker
- Axe santé des Populations et Pratiques Optimales en santé, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et Préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Axe santé des Populations et Pratiques Optimales en santé, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Centre de Toxicologie du Québec, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Elyse Caron-Beaudoin
- Department of Health and Society University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amila De Silva
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Water Science Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sylvie Ricard
- Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Kuujjuaq, QC, Canada
| | - Éric Gaudreau
- Centre de Toxicologie du Québec, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Melanie Lemire
- Axe santé des Populations et Pratiques Optimales en santé, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et Préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada; Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
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Krzeczkowski JE, Hall M, McGuckin T, Lanphear B, Bertinato J, Ayotte P, Chevrier J, Goodman C, Green R, Till C. Iodine status in a large Canadian pregnancy cohort. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2023; 5:100784. [PMID: 36280147 PMCID: PMC9972225 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2022.100784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John E Krzeczkowski
- Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto M3J 1P3, Canada.
| | - Meaghan Hall
- Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Taylor McGuckin
- Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele St., Toronto M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jesse Bertinato
- Nutrition Research Division, Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
| | - Jonathan Chevrier
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Carly Goodman
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Rivka Green
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada
| | - Christine Till
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Canada
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Abed JY, Godon T, Mehdaoui F, Plante PL, Boissinot M, Bergeron MG, Bélanger RE, Muckle G, Poliakova N, Ayotte P, Corbeil J, Rousseau E. Gut metagenome profile of the Nunavik Inuit youth is distinct from industrial and non-industrial counterparts. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1415. [PMID: 36566300 PMCID: PMC9790006 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04372-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparative metagenomics studies have highlighted differences in microbiome community structure among human populations over diverse lifestyles and environments. With their unique environmental and historical backgrounds, Nunavik Inuit have a distinctive gut microbiome with undocumented health-related implications. Using shotgun metagenomics, we explored the taxonomic and functional structure of the gut microbiome from 275 Nunavik Inuit ranging from 16 to 30-year-old. Whole-metagenome analyses revealed that Nunavik Inuit youths have a more diverse microbiome than their non-industrialized and industrialized counterparts. A comparison of k-mer content illustrated the uniqueness of the Nunavik gut microbiome. Short-chain fatty acids producing species, and carbohydrates degradation pathways dominated Inuit metagenomes. We identified a taxonomic and functional signature unique to the Nunavik gut microbiome contrasting with other populations using a random forest classifier. Here, we show that the Nunavik Inuit gut microbiome exhibits high diversity and a distinct community structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jehane Y. Abed
- grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie de l’Université Laval, Axe Maladies Infectieuses et Immunitaires, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada ,grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Centre de Recherche en Données Massives de l’Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada ,grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Département de microbiologie-infectiologie et d’immunologie, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada
| | - Thibaud Godon
- grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie de l’Université Laval, Axe Maladies Infectieuses et Immunitaires, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada ,grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Centre de Recherche en Données Massives de l’Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada
| | - Fadwa Mehdaoui
- grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie de l’Université Laval, Axe Maladies Infectieuses et Immunitaires, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada ,grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Département d’informatique et génie logiciel, Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada ,grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Centre Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS), Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF), Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada
| | - Pier-Luc Plante
- grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Centre Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS), Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF), Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada
| | - Maurice Boissinot
- grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie de l’Université Laval, Axe Maladies Infectieuses et Immunitaires, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada
| | - Michel G. Bergeron
- grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie de l’Université Laval, Axe Maladies Infectieuses et Immunitaires, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada ,grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Département de microbiologie-infectiologie et d’immunologie, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada
| | - Richard E. Bélanger
- grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, Québec City, QC Canada ,grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Département de pédiatrie, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada ,grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Centre mère-enfant Soleil, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Département de pédiatrie, Québec City, QC Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, Québec City, QC Canada ,grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390École de psychologie, Faculté des sciences sociales, Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada
| | - Natalia Poliakova
- grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, Québec City, QC Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, Québec City, QC Canada ,grid.434819.30000 0000 8929 2775Centre de Toxicologie du Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), Québec City, QC Canada ,grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada
| | - Jacques Corbeil
- grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie de l’Université Laval, Axe Maladies Infectieuses et Immunitaires, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada ,grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Centre de Recherche en Données Massives de l’Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada ,grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada
| | - Elsa Rousseau
- grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Centre de Recherche en Données Massives de l’Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada ,grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Département d’informatique et génie logiciel, Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada ,grid.23856.3a0000 0004 1936 8390Centre Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS), Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF), Université Laval, Québec City, QC Canada
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Farmus L, Till C, Green R, Hornung R, Martinez Mier EA, Ayotte P, Muckle G, Lanphear BP, Flora DB. ADDENDUM: Critical windows of fluoride neurotoxicity in Canadian Children. Environ Res 2022; 215:114468. [PMID: 37310286 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Linda Farmus
- Faculty of Health, York University, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Rivka Green
- Faculty of Health, York University, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard Hornung
- Pediatrics and Environmental Health, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - E Angeles Martinez Mier
- Department of Cardiology, Operative Dentistry and Dental Public Health, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indiana, USA
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Centre de Recherche Du CHU de Qúebec, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- Centre de Recherche Du CHU de Qúebec, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada
- School of Psychology, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
- Child & Family Research Institute, BC Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
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Ahmadi S, Botton J, Zoumenou R, Ayotte P, Fievet N, Massougbodji A, Alao MJ, Cot M, Glorennec P, Bodeau-Livinec F. Lead Exposure in Infancy and Subsequent Growth in Beninese Children. Toxics 2022; 10:595. [PMID: 36287875 PMCID: PMC9609716 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10100595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Studies suggest that elevated postnatal blood lead levels (BLLs) are negatively associated with child growth. This study aimed to investigate the associations of childhood BLLs at age one year and growth outcomes at age six years (n = 661) in a cohort of children in Allada, Benin. The growth outcomes studied are weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ), height-for-age Z-score (HAZ), BMI-for-age Z-score (BMIZ), weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ), head circumference (HC), growth velocities, underweight, stunting, and wasting. Multivariable regression models examined the associations between BLLs and growth outcomes, with adjustment for potential confounders. The geometric mean BLLs was 59.3 μg/L and 82% of children had BLLs >35 μg/L at the age of 12.8 months. After adjusting for confounding factors, no overall association was found between BLL quartiles and HAZ, WAZ, BMIZ, WHZ, growth velocities, wasting, and underweight. However, boys in the highest quartile had a 1.02 cm lower HC (95% CI: [−1.81, −0.24]) as compared to the lowest quartile. Furthermore, an increased odds of being stunted was observed in children in the highest quartile of exposure compared to the first (OR: 2.43; 95% CI: [1.11−5.33]) which remained statistically significant only among girls in sex-specific strata. Blood lead was found to be associated with an increased risk of childhood stunting and a lower head circumference in a resource-limited setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shukrullah Ahmadi
- Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics/CRESS, Université de Paris, INSERM, INRA, 75004 Paris, France
| | - Jérémie Botton
- EPI-PHARE, Epidemiology of Health Products, 93200 Saint-Denis, France
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University Paris-Sud, 92296 Châtenay-Malabry, France
| | - Roméo Zoumenou
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Paris Descartes Université, 75004 Paris, France
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval and Centre de toxicologie du Québec, INSPQ, Québec, QC G1V 5B3, Canada
| | - Nadine Fievet
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Paris Descartes Université, 75004 Paris, France
| | | | - Maroufou Jules Alao
- Paediatric Department, Mother and Child University and Hospital Center (CHU-MEL), Cotonou 01 BP 107, Benin
| | - Michel Cot
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Paris Descartes Université, 75004 Paris, France
| | - Philippe Glorennec
- Univ Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Florence Bodeau-Livinec
- Univ Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35000 Rennes, France
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Forde MS, Côté S, Laouan Sidi EA, Gaudreau É, Ayotte P. Evaluation of Bisphenol A in Pregnant Women from 10 Caribbean Countries. Toxics 2022; 10:556. [PMID: 36287837 PMCID: PMC9609213 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10100556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA), a phenolic chemical incorporated into many plastic products, has been found to act as an endocrine disruptor that potentially is linked to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Prenatal BPA concentration levels were assessed in 10 English-speaking Caribbean countries by randomly selecting 15 maternal urine samples from approximately 50 pregnant women samples collected in each island and then comparing the findings with comparable data from Canada and the U.S. BPA was detected in all samples ranging from a low geometric mean of 1.46 μg/L (St. Lucia) to a high of 4.88 μg/L (St. Kitts & Nevis). All of the Caribbean islands sampled had geometric mean concentration levels that were higher than those recorded in two Canadian biomonitoring surveys (1.26 μg/L and 0.80 μg/L) and the U.S. NHANES survey (1.39 μg/L). This first biomonitoring survey of BPA concentration levels in maternal urine samples taken from Caribbean countries clearly points to the need for Caribbean governments and public health officials to first engage in legislative and regulatory efforts to ban or minimize the importation and use of BPA products used the Caribbean and, second, to continue to conduct biomonitoring surveys so as to ensure that these laws and regulations are indeed leading to a decrease of BPA concentrations in Caribbean populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin S. Forde
- Department of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, St. George’s University, Grenada FZ818, West Indies
| | - Suzanne Côté
- Axe Santé des Populations et Pratiques Optimales en Santé, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Québec, QC G1V 5B3, Canada
| | - Elhadji A. Laouan Sidi
- Axe Santé des Populations et Pratiques Optimales en Santé, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Québec, QC G1V 5B3, Canada
| | - Éric Gaudreau
- Centre de Toxicologie du Québec (CTQ), Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (INSPQ), Québec, QC G1V 5B3, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Axe Santé des Populations et Pratiques Optimales en Santé, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Québec, QC G1V 5B3, Canada
- Centre de Toxicologie du Québec (CTQ), Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (INSPQ), Québec, QC G1V 5B3, Canada
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Migneron-Foisy V, Muckle G, Jacobson JL, Ayotte P, Jacobson SW, Saint-Amour D. Impact of chronic exposure to legacy environmental contaminants on the corpus callosum microstructure: A diffusion MRI study of Inuit adolescents. Neurotoxicology 2022; 92:200-211. [PMID: 35995272 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2022.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to environmental contaminants is an important public health concern for the Inuit population of northern Québec, who have been exposed to mercury (Hg), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and lead (Pb). During the last 25 years, the Nunavik Child Development Study (NCDS) birth cohort has reported adverse associations between these exposures and brain function outcomes. In the current study, we aimed to determine whether contaminant exposure is associated with alterations of the corpus callosum (CC), which plays an important role in various cognitive, motor and sensory function processes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was administered to 89 NCDS participants (mean age ± SD = 18.4 ± 1.2). Diffusion-weighted imaging was assessed to characterize the microstructure of the CC white matter in 7 structurally and functionally distinct regions of interest (ROIs) using a tractography-based segmentation approach. The following metrics were computed: fiber tract density, fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD). Multiple linear regression models adjusted for sex, age, current alcohol/drug use and fish nutrients (omega-3 fatty acids and selenium) were conducted to assess the association between diffusion-weighted imaging metrics and Hg, PCB 153 and Pb concentrations obtained at birth in the cord blood and postnatally (mean values from blood samples at 11 and 18 years of age). Exposures were not associated with fiber tract density. Nor were significant associations found with cord and postnatal blood Pb concentrations for FA. However, pre- and postnatal Hg and PCB concentrations were significantly associated with higher FA of several regions of the CC, namely anterior midbody, posterior midbody, isthmus, and splenium, with the most pronounced effects observed in the splenium. FA results were mainly associated with lower RD. This study shows that exposure to Hg and PCB 153 alters the posterior microstructure of the CC, providing neuroimaging evidence of how developmental exposure to environmental chemicals can impair brain function and behavior in late adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Migneron-Foisy
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada; Centre de Recherche du CHUQ de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Joseph L Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Sandra W Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Dave Saint-Amour
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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Goodman CV, Hall M, Green R, Chevrier J, Ayotte P, Martinez-Mier EA, McGuckin T, Krzeczkowski J, Flora D, Hornung R, Lanphear B, Till C. Iodine Status Modifies the Association between Fluoride Exposure in Pregnancy and Preschool Boys' Intelligence. Nutrients 2022; 14:2920. [PMID: 35889877 PMCID: PMC9319869 DOI: 10.3390/nu14142920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
In animal studies, the combination of in utero fluoride exposure and low iodine has greater negative effects on offspring learning and memory than either alone, but this has not been studied in children. We evaluated whether the maternal urinary iodine concentration (MUIC) modifies the association between maternal urinary fluoride (MUF) and boys' and girls' intelligence. We used data from 366 mother-child dyads in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals Study. We corrected trimester-specific MUF and MUIC for creatinine, and averaged them to yield our exposure variables (MUFCRE, mg/g; MUICCRE, µg/g). We assessed children's full-scale intelligence (FSIQ) at 3 to 4 years. Using multiple linear regression, we estimated a three-way interaction between MUFCRE, MUICCRE, and child sex on FSIQ, controlling for covariates. The MUICCRE by MUFCRE interaction was significant for boys (p = 0.042), but not girls (p = 0.190). For boys whose mothers had low iodine, a 0.5 mg/g increase in MUFCRE was associated with a 4.65-point lower FSIQ score (95% CI: -7.67, -1.62). For boys whose mothers had adequate iodine, a 0.5 mg/g increase in MUFCRE was associated with a 2.95-point lower FSIQ score (95% CI: -4.77, -1.13). These results suggest adequate iodine intake during pregnancy may minimize fluoride's neurotoxicity in boys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly V. Goodman
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ONT M3J 1P3, Canada; (C.V.G.); (M.H.); (R.G.); (T.M.); (J.K.); (D.F.)
| | - Meaghan Hall
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ONT M3J 1P3, Canada; (C.V.G.); (M.H.); (R.G.); (T.M.); (J.K.); (D.F.)
| | - Rivka Green
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ONT M3J 1P3, Canada; (C.V.G.); (M.H.); (R.G.); (T.M.); (J.K.); (D.F.)
| | - Jonathan Chevrier
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1G1, Canada;
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada;
| | - Esperanza Angeles Martinez-Mier
- Cariology, Operative Dentistry and Dental Public Health, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA;
| | - Taylor McGuckin
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ONT M3J 1P3, Canada; (C.V.G.); (M.H.); (R.G.); (T.M.); (J.K.); (D.F.)
| | - John Krzeczkowski
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ONT M3J 1P3, Canada; (C.V.G.); (M.H.); (R.G.); (T.M.); (J.K.); (D.F.)
| | - David Flora
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ONT M3J 1P3, Canada; (C.V.G.); (M.H.); (R.G.); (T.M.); (J.K.); (D.F.)
| | - Richard Hornung
- Pediatrics and Environmental Health, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA;
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada;
| | - Christine Till
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ONT M3J 1P3, Canada; (C.V.G.); (M.H.); (R.G.); (T.M.); (J.K.); (D.F.)
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Pana MP, Ayotte P, Anassour-Laouan-Sidi E, Suhas E, Gatti CMI, Lucas M. Branched-Chain and Aromatic Amino Acids in Relation to Fat Mass and Fat-Free Mass Changes among Adolescents: A School-Based Intervention. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12070589. [PMID: 35888714 PMCID: PMC9316312 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12070589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and aromatic amino acids (AAA) are considered early metabolic markers of obesity and insulin resistance (IR). This study aimed to assess changes in plasma concentrations of BCAA/AAA and HOMA-IR2 (homeostasis model assessment of IR) after intervention-induced modifications in fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) among French Polynesian adolescents. FM, FFM, plasma levels of BCAA and AAA, HOMA-IR2 were recorded at baseline and post intervention among 226 adolescents during a 5-month school-based intervention on diet and physical activity. Participants were divided into two subgroups according to their college attendance status which determined their intervention adherence: externs/half-residents (n = 157) and residents (n = 69). Four ordinal categories of body composition changes post-intervention were created for the analysis (FMgain/FFMlost < FMgain/FFMgain < FMlost/FFMlost < FMlost/FFMgain). After 5 months, changes in BCAA (p−trend < 0.001) and AAA (p−trend = 0.007) concentrations were positively associated with ordinal categories of body composition. HOMA-IR2 significantly decreased with FMlost (−0.40; 95% CI, −0.60 to −0.20) and increased with FMgain (0.23; 95% CI, 0.11 to 0.36). Our results suggest that FM loss is associated with a decrease in concentrations of obesity and IR metabolic markers which is more substantial when FM loss is accompanied with FFM gain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnoudewa Priscille Pana
- Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; (M.P.P.); (P.A.); (E.A.-L.-S.)
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; (M.P.P.); (P.A.); (E.A.-L.-S.)
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Centre de Toxicologie du Québec, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec City, QC G1V 5B3, Canada
| | - Elhadji Anassour-Laouan-Sidi
- Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; (M.P.P.); (P.A.); (E.A.-L.-S.)
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Institut National de Santé Publique, Québec City, QC G1V 5B3, Canada
| | - Edouard Suhas
- Non-Communicable Diseases Unit, Oceanian Islands Ecosystems, UMR 241, Louis Malardé Institute, Papeete 98714, French Polynesia;
| | - Clémence Mahana Iti Gatti
- Laboratory of Marine Biotoxins, Institut Louis Malardé (ILM), UMR 241-EIO (IFREMER, ILM, IRD, Université de Polynésie Française), Papeete 98713, French Polynesia;
| | - Michel Lucas
- Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 4G2, Canada; (M.P.P.); (P.A.); (E.A.-L.-S.)
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-418-525-4444 (ext. 81976)
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Aker A, Caron-Beaudoin É, Ayotte P, Ricard S, Gilbert V, Avard E, Lemire M. Non-persistent exposures from plasticizers or plastic constituents in remote Arctic communities: a case for further research. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2022; 32:400-407. [PMID: 35347231 PMCID: PMC9119853 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-022-00425-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persistent organic pollutant exposures are well-documented in the Arctic, but fewer studies examined non-persistent chemicals, despite increased market food and consumer product consumption. OBJECTIVE To measure phenol, paraben, phthalate, and alternative plasticizer concentrations in Inuit adults. METHODS The study included 30 pooled urine samples from Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 Nunavik Inuit Health Survey (Q2017) participants. Creatinine-adjusted geometric mean concentrations (GM) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were compared across sex, age, and regions, and compared to those in the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) and the First Nations Biomonitoring Initiative (FNBI). RESULTS Q2017 bisphenol-A concentrations were double the CHMS 2018-2019 concentrations [GM (95% CI): 1.98 (1.69-2.31) versus 0.71 (0.60-0.84) µg/g creatinine], but in line with FNBI [1.74 (1.41-2.13) µg/g creatinine]. Several phthalate concentrations were higher in Q2017 versus CHMS, particularly monobenzyl phthalate, which was was 19-fold higher in Q2017 versus CHMS 2018-2019 [45.26 (39.35-52.06) versus 2.4 (2.0-2.9) µg/g creatinine] and four-fold higher than FNBI. There were also four-fold higher concentrations of the two alternate plasticizer 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate (TIXB) metabolites in Q2017 compared to CHMS 2018-2019. Women and people living in Ungava Bay had generally higher concentrations of non-persistent chemicals. SIGNIFICANCE The results suggest higher concentrations of certain non-persistent chemicals in Inuit versus the general Canadian population. IMPACT Few studies have explored non-persistent chemical distributions in Northern communities, despite the increasing consumer product and market food consumption. We analyzed 30 pooled samples from the Qanuilirpitaa? Nunavik Inuit Health Survey 2017 to assess exposures to common plasticizes and plastic constituents and compare their levels with the general Canadian population and First Nation groups. We observed particularly higher levels of bisphenol-A, of monobenzyl phthalate, and of two 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate (TXIB) metabolites among Nunavimmiut compared to the general Canadian population, notably among women and Ungava Bay residents. Larger studies are required to confirm our findings and identify potential adverse health effects from these exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira Aker
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, 1050 Ch Ste-Foy, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, 1030 Avenue de la Médecine, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Élyse Caron-Beaudoin
- Department of Health and Society, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, 828 West 10th Avenue, Research Pavilion, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, 1050 Ch Ste-Foy, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, 1030 Avenue de la Médecine, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Toxicologie du Québec, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Sylvie Ricard
- Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Kuujjuaq, QC, Canada
| | - Véronique Gilbert
- Kativik Regional Government based in Saint-Laurent, Saint-Laurent, QC, Canada
| | - Ellen Avard
- Nunavik Research Centre, Makivik Corporation, Kuujjuaq, QC, Canada
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, 1050 Ch Ste-Foy, Quebec, QC, Canada.
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, 1030 Avenue de la Médecine, Quebec, QC, Canada.
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes, Université Laval, 1030 Avenue de la Médecine, Quebec, QC, Canada.
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Caron-Beaudoin É, Ayotte P, Aker A, Blanchette C, Ricard S, Gilbert V, Avard E, Lemire M. Exposure to benzene, toluene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Nunavimmiut aged 16 years and over (Nunavik, Canada) - Qanuilirpitaa 2017 survey. Environ Res 2022; 206:112586. [PMID: 34932977 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
There are numerous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that Inuit may be exposed to from combustion, cooking, heating, vehicle exhaust, active and passive smoking and other local sources of contaminants such as oil spills or open-air burning in landfills. To better assess the levels of exposure to these non-persistent chemicals, we measured a suite of benzene, toluene (two VOCs) and PAHs metabolites in pooled urine samples from youth and adults aged 16 years old and over who participated in the Qanuilirpitaa? 2017 Inuit Health Survey (Q2017), a population health survey conducted in Nunavik. A cost-effective pooling strategy was established and 30 different pools from individual urine samples (n = 1266) were created by grouping individual urine samples by sex, age groups and regions. To assess smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke, cotinine levels were measured in individual urine samples. We found that benzene, toluene, all detected PAHs metabolites and cotinine levels were significantly higher in Q2017 compared to adults in the Canadian Health Measure Survey Cycle 4 (2014-2015) or the general U.S population (2015-2016). Moreover, mean levels of one benzene metabolite, S-phenylmercapturic acid, and several PAHs metabolites, 1-naphthol, 2-and 3-hydroxyfluorene, and 4- and 9-hydroxyphenanthrene, known to be associated with smoking habits, were higher in Q2017 compared to reference values (RV95) established for non-smokers in the general Canadian population. Furthermore, benzene and PAHs metabolites were all correlated with cotinine levels. Our results suggest that the high smoking prevalence in Nunavik is an important contributor to the elevated benzene and PAHs exposure. Other local sources may add to that exposure, although we were not able to account for their contribution. These data highlight the importance of regional and community efforts for reducing smoking and to encourage smoke-free homes in Nunavik, while continuing to investigate and reduce other possible local sources of exposure to benzene, toluene and PAHs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élyse Caron-Beaudoin
- Department of Health and Society, Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Ontario, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Axe santé des Populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Centre de toxicologie du Québec, Institut national de santé Publique du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Amira Aker
- Axe santé des Populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Caty Blanchette
- Axe santé des Populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Sylvie Ricard
- Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Kuujjuaq, QC, Canada
| | | | - Ellen Avard
- Nunavik Research Centre, Makivik Corporation, Kuujjuaq, QC, Canada
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Axe santé des Populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
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Charles D, Berg V, Nøst TH, Bergdahl IA, Huber S, Ayotte P, Wilsgaard T, Averina M, Sandanger T, Rylander C. Longitudinal changes in concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (1986-2016) and their associations with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Environ Res 2022; 204:112129. [PMID: 34597662 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Positive associations have been reported between persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); however, causality has not been established. Over the last decades, environmental exposure to legacy POPs has decreased, complicating epidemiological studies. In addition, physiological risk factors for T2DM may also influence POP concentrations, contributing to a complex network of factors that could impact associations with T2DM. Longitudinal studies on this topic are lacking, and few have assessed prospective and cross-sectional associations between repeated POP measurements and T2DM in the same individuals, which may shed light on causality. OBJECTIVES To compare longitudinal trends in concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in T2DM cases and controls, and to examine prospective and cross-sectional associations between PCBs, OCPs and T2DM at different time-points before and after T2DM diagnosis in cases. METHODS We conducted a longitudinal, nested case-control study (1986-2016) of 116 T2DM cases and 139 controls from the Tromsø Study. All participants had three blood samples collected before T2DM diagnosis in cases, and up to two samples thereafter. We used linear mixed-effect models to assess temporal changes of POPs within and between T2DM cases and controls, and logistic regression models to investigate the associations between different POPs and T2DM at different time-points. RESULTS PCBs, trans-nonachlor, cis-nonachlor, oxychlordane, cis-heptachlor epoxide, p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDT declined more slowly in cases than controls, whereas β-HCH and HCB declined similarly in both groups. Most POPs showed positive associations between both pre- and post-diagnostic concentrations and T2DM, though effect estimates were imprecise. These associations were most consistent for cis-heptachlor epoxide. DISCUSSION The observed positive associations between certain POPs and T2DM may be because of higher POP concentrations within prospective T2DM cases, due to slower temporal declines as compared to controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolley Charles
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Vivian Berg
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037, Tromsø, Norway; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Diagnostic Services, University Hospital of North-Norway, NO-9038, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Therese Haugdahl Nøst
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037, Tromsø, Norway; Department of Community Medicine and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ingvar A Bergdahl
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Sustainable Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Sandra Huber
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Diagnostic Services, University Hospital of North-Norway, NO-9038, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval University, Québec, QC, Canada; Centre de Toxicologie du Québec, INSPQ, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Tom Wilsgaard
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Maria Averina
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037, Tromsø, Norway; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Diagnostic Services, University Hospital of North-Norway, NO-9038, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Torkjel Sandanger
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037, Tromsø, Norway; NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, NO-9007, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Charlotta Rylander
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037, Tromsø, Norway.
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Bastien K, Muckle G, Ayotte P, Courtemanche Y, Dodge NC, Jacobson JL, Jacobson SW, Saint-Amour D. Associations between developmental exposure to environmental contaminants and spatial navigation in late adolescence. New Dir Child Adolesc Dev 2022; 2022:11-35. [PMID: 36044011 PMCID: PMC9590243 DOI: 10.1002/cad.20478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Inuit communities in Northern Quebec (Canada) are exposed to environmental contaminants, particularly to mercury, lead and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Previous studies reported adverse associations between these neurotoxicants and memory performance. Here we aimed to determine the associations of pre- and postnatal exposures to mercury, lead and PCB-153 on spatial navigation memory in 212 Inuit adolescents (mean age = 18.5 years) using a computer task which requires learning the location of a hidden platform based on allocentric spatial representation. Contaminant concentrations were measured in cord blood at birth and blood samples at 11 years of age and at time of testing. Multivariate regression models showed that adolescent mercury and prenatal PCB-153 exposures were associated with poorer spatial learning, whereas current exposure to PCB-153 was associated with altered spatial memory retrieval at the probe test trial. These findings suggest that contaminants might be linked to different aspects of spatial navigation processing at different stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Bastien
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- École de Psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Yohann Courtemanche
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Neil C Dodge
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Joseph L Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Sandra W Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Dave Saint-Amour
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Centre de Recherche, Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Cirtiu CM, Valcke M, Gagné M, Bourgault MH, Narame C, Gadio S, Poulin P, Ayotte P. Biological monitoring of exposure to rare earth elements and selected metals in the Inuit population of Nunavik, Canada. Chemosphere 2022; 289:133142. [PMID: 34863726 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In Nunavik (Northern Quebec, Canada), some mining projects are envisioned, that could increase the contamination of the environment by various chemicals, including rare earth elements (REEs), and implicitly Inuit population exposure. The objective of this study was to determine the baseline biological exposure of the population to these elements, before the potential mining development occurs. In the framework of the 2017 Qanuilirpitaa? Inuit health survey, urine samples were obtained from a representative sample of the adult Nunavik population, which were used to constitute 30 pooled samples according to age, sex and Nunavik subregions. Pooled samples were analyzed using sensitive and accurate methods involving ICP-MS platforms to quantify urinary concentrations of 17 REEs and 7 elements of interest in Nunavik (arsenic, antimony, chromium, cobalt, nickel, thallium and uranium). REEs were mostly not detected in pooled samples from this population. Detectable concentrations were found in some samples for cerium (range: 0.5-0.7 nmol/L; 27% > method detection limit (MDL) and lanthanum (range: 0.2-0.4 nmol/L; 33% > MDL). As for the other elements of interest, antimony, arsenic, cobalt and thallium were detected in 100% of the samples, whereas chromium and nickel were detected in 83% and 80% of the samples, respectively. Concentrations of arsenic (geometric mean (GM) = 0.5 μmol/L) and cobalt (GM = 5.2 nmol/L) were greater than in the general Canadian population; the opposite was observed for nickel (GM = 8.9 nmol/L). Arsenic concentrations increased significantly with age, whereas the opposite trend was observed for nickel and thallium. In this first biomonitoring study focusing on REEs and carried out in a representative sample of the Nunavik population, we found no evidence of significant exposure from pooled samples analysis. These results could eventually be used as baseline values in future studies aiming to assess temporal trends of exposure to REEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciprian Mihai Cirtiu
- Centre de toxicologie du Québec, Direction de la santé environnementale et de la toxicologie, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, 945 Avenue Wolfe, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 5B3, Canada.
| | - Mathieu Valcke
- Unité Évaluation et soutien à la gestion des risques, Direction de la santé environnementale et de la toxicologie, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, 190, boulevard Crémazie Est, Montréal, Quebec, H2P 1E2, Canada; Département de santé environnementale et de santé au travail, École de santé publique de l'Université de Montréal, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128 Succ. Centre-ville, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Michelle Gagné
- Unité Évaluation et soutien à la gestion des risques, Direction de la santé environnementale et de la toxicologie, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, 190, boulevard Crémazie Est, Montréal, Quebec, H2P 1E2, Canada
| | - Marie-Hélène Bourgault
- Unité Évaluation et soutien à la gestion des risques, Direction de la santé environnementale et de la toxicologie, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, 190, boulevard Crémazie Est, Montréal, Quebec, H2P 1E2, Canada
| | - Céline Narame
- Centre de toxicologie du Québec, Direction de la santé environnementale et de la toxicologie, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, 945 Avenue Wolfe, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 5B3, Canada
| | - Souleymane Gadio
- Bureau d'information et d'études en santé des populations, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, 945 Avenue Wolfe, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 5B3, Canada
| | - Patrick Poulin
- Unité Évaluation et soutien à la gestion des risques, Direction de la santé environnementale et de la toxicologie, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, 945 avenue Wolfe, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 5B3, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Centre de toxicologie du Québec, Direction de la santé environnementale et de la toxicologie, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, 945 Avenue Wolfe, Quebec City, Quebec, G1V 5B3, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, 1050, avenue de la Médecine, Quebec City, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada; Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, 1050 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Quebec City, Quebec, G1S 4L8, Canada
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Farmus L, Till C, Green R, Hornung R, Martinez Mier EA, Ayotte P, Muckle G, Lanphear BP, Flora DB. Critical windows of fluoride neurotoxicity in Canadian children. Environ Res 2021; 200:111315. [PMID: 34051202 PMCID: PMC9884092 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fluoride has been associated with IQ deficits during early brain development, but the period in which children are most sensitive is unknown. OBJECTIVE We assessed effects of fluoride on IQ scores across prenatal and postnatal exposure windows. METHODS We used repeated exposures from 596 mother-child pairs in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals pregnancy and birth cohort. Fluoride was measured in urine (mg/L) collected from women during pregnancy and in their children between 1.9 and 4.4 years; urinary fluoride was adjusted for specific gravity. We estimated infant fluoride exposure (mg/day) using water fluoride concentration and duration of formula-feeding over the first year of life. Intelligence was assessed at 3-4 years using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-III. We used generalized estimating equations to examine the associations between fluoride exposures and IQ, adjusting for covariates. We report results based on standardized exposures given their varying units of measurement. RESULTS The association between fluoride and performance IQ (PIQ) significantly differed across prenatal, infancy, and childhood exposure windows collapsing across child sex (p = .001). The strongest association between fluoride and PIQ was during the prenatal window, B = -2.36, 95% CI: -3.63, -1.08; the association was also significant during infancy, B = -2.11, 95% CI: -3.45, -0.76, but weaker in childhood, B = -1.51, 95% CI: -2.90, -0.12. Within sex, the association between fluoride and PIQ significantly differed across the three exposure windows (boys: p = .01; girls: p = .01); among boys, the strongest association was during the prenatal window, B = -3.01, 95% CI: -4.60, -1.42, whereas among girls, the strongest association was during infancy, B = -2.71, 95% CI: -4.59, -0.83. Full-scale IQ estimates were weaker than PIQ estimates for every window. Fluoride was not significantly associated with Verbal IQ across any exposure window. CONCLUSION Associations between fluoride exposure and PIQ differed based on timing of exposure. The prenatal window may be critical for boys, whereas infancy may be a critical window for girls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Farmus
- Faculty of Health, York University, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Rivka Green
- Faculty of Health, York University, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard Hornung
- Pediatrics and Environmental Health, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - E Angeles Martinez Mier
- Department of Cardiology, Operative Dentistry and Dental Public Health, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indiana, USA
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Centre de Recherche Du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada; Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- Centre de Recherche Du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, Canada; School of Psychology, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada; Child & Family Research Institute, BC Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
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Parajuli RP, Goodrich JM, Chan HM, Lemire M, Ayotte P, Hegele RA, Basu N. Variation in biomarker levels of metals, persistent organic pollutants, and omega-3 fatty acids in association with genetic polymorphisms among Inuit in Nunavik, Canada. Environ Res 2021; 200:111393. [PMID: 34062203 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biomarker measures of contaminant exposure and nutrient status can help increase understanding of the risks and benefits associated with the consumption of traditional foods by Inuit. While gene-environment and gene-nutrient interactions may help explain variations in biomarker measures, the role of genetic polymorphisms is largely understudied especially for vulnerable sub-populations. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to characterize the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in key genes and blood concentrations of environmental chemicals and nutrients among Inuit. METHODS Blood samples from 665 individuals who participated in the Qanuippitaa Survey (Nunavik, Canada) in 2004 were analyzed for toxicants and nutrients. DNA was extracted and 140 SNPs in classes relevant to the toxicokinetics and/or toxicodynamics of the target contaminants and nutrients, and/or are involved in cardiovascular health and lipid metabolism were genotyped using the Sequenom iPLEX Gold platform. RESULTS Geometric means (μg/L) of mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), DDE, PCB-153, and selenium (Se) were 11.1, 2.8, 39.9, 2.9, 1.1 and 301.2, respectively. Red blood cell membrane levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were 5.1%/total fatty acid (TFA) and 1.3%/TFA respectively. Out of 106 SNPs which met our inclusion criteria, biomarker levels for Hg, Cd, Pb, DDE, PCB-153, DHA, and EPA differed (p < 0.05) by genotype for 20, 13, 12, 19, 21, 9 and 8 SNPs, respectively. Following Bonferroni correction (p < 0.0005), only 9 SNPs remained significant (rs2274976 in MTHFR, rs174602 in FADS2, rs7115739 and rs74771917 in FADS3, rs713041 in GPX4, rs2306283 and rs4149056 in SLCO1B1, rs1885301 in ABCC2/MRP2, and rs4244285 in CYP2C19; 5 associated with Hg, 2 with Pb, 2 with DDE, 4 with PCB-153, 1 with DHA). CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that polymorphisms in environmentally-responsive genes can influence biomarker levels of key toxicants and nutrients. While there are no immediate clinical or public health implications of these findings, we believe that such gene-environment and gene-nutrient studies provide a foundation that will inform and provide direction to future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajendra Prasad Parajuli
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Jaclyn M Goodrich
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Hing Man Chan
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Melanie Lemire
- Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Robert A Hegele
- Department of Medicine and Robarts Research Institute, Western University, ON, Canada
| | - Niladri Basu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Adlard B, Lemire M, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC, Long M, Ólafsdóttir K, Odland JO, Rautio A, Myllynen P, Sandanger TM, Dudarev AA, Bergdahl IA, Wennberg M, Berner J, Ayotte P. MercuNorth - monitoring mercury in pregnant women from the Arctic as a baseline to assess the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention. Int J Circumpolar Health 2021; 80:1881345. [PMID: 34080521 PMCID: PMC8183506 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2021.1881345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to mercury (Hg) is a global concern, particularly among Arctic populations that rely on the consumption of marine mammals and fish which are the main route of Hg exposure for Arctic populations.The MercuNorth project was created to establish baseline Hg levels across several Arctic regions during the period preceding the Minamata Convention. Blood samples were collected from 669 pregnant women, aged 18-44 years, between 2010 and 2016 from sites across the circumpolar Arctic including Alaska (USA), Nunavik (Canada), Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Northern Lapland (Finland) and Murmansk Oblast (Russia). Descriptive statistics were calculated, multiple pairwise comparisons were made between regions, and unadjusted linear trend analyses were performed.Geometric mean concentrations of total Hg were highest in Nunavik (5.20 µg/L) and Greenland (3.79 µg/L), followed by Alaska (2.13 µg/L), with much lower concentrations observed in the other regions (ranged between 0.48 and 1.29 µg/L). In Nunavik, Alaska and Greenland, blood Hg concentrations have decreased significantly since 1992, 2000 and 2010 respectively with % annual decreases of 4.7%, 7.5% and 2.7%, respectively.These circumpolar data combined with fish and marine mammal consumption data can be used for assessing long-term Hg trends and the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Adlard
- Population Studies Division, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Axe Santé Des Populations Et Pratiques Optimales En Santé, Centre De Recherche Du CHU De Québec, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département De Médecine Sociale Et Préventive, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Eva C Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Center for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.,Greenland Center for Health Research, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Manhai Long
- Center for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Kristín Ólafsdóttir
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Jon O Odland
- Institute of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.,International Research Laboratory for Reproductive Ecotoxicology (IL RET), The National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Arja Rautio
- Thule Institute and Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu and University of Arctic, Oulu, Finland
| | - Päivi Myllynen
- Northern Finland Laboratory Centre Nordlab, Northern Finland Laboratory Centre Nordlab, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Torkjel M Sandanger
- Environmental Chemistry Department, NILU-Norwegian Institute for Air Research, the Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway.,Department of Community Medicine, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromso, Norway
| | - Alexey A Dudarev
- Department of Arctic Environmental Health, Northwest Public Health Research Center, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Ingvar A Bergdahl
- Section of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Maria Wennberg
- Section of Sustainable Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - James Berner
- Department of Environment and Health, Division of Community Health, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Axe Santé Des Populations Et Pratiques Optimales En Santé, Centre De Recherche Du CHU De Québec, Québec, QC, Canada.,Département De Médecine Sociale Et Préventive, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.,Centre De Toxicologie, Institut National De Santé Publique Du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
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Lamoureux-Tremblay V, Chauret M, Muckle G, Maheu F, Suffren S, Jacobson SW, Jacobson JL, Ayotte P, Lepore F, Saint-Amour D. Altered functional activations of prefrontal brain areas during emotional processing of fear in Inuit adolescents exposed to environmental contaminants. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2021; 85:106973. [PMID: 33741477 PMCID: PMC8137647 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2021.106973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to mercury, lead and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been associated with emotional dysregulation, but their neuronal correlates have yet to be examined. Inuit from Nunavik (Northern Quebec, Canada) face internalizing problems and are among the most exposed individuals to these environmental contaminants in the world. The aim of this study was to examine the link between pre- and postnatal exposure to these contaminants and brain fear-circuitry in Inuit adolescents. Facial expression stimuli were presented to participants (mean age = 18.3 years) in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. Fear conditioning and extinction tasks included neutral faces as the conditioned threat and safety cues and a fearful face paired with a shrieking scream as the unconditioned stimulus. Functional MRI data were gathered at the conditioning phase (n = 71) and at the extinction phase (n = 62). Mercury, lead and PCB 153 concentrations were measured in blood samples at birth (cord blood) and at the time of the adolescent testing to estimate pre- and postnatal exposure, respectively. For each time point, exposures were categorized in tertiles (low, moderate and high exposed groups). Mixed analyses of variance were conducted for each contaminant of interest controlling for sex, age, socioeconomic status, drug/alcohol use, food insecurity and contaminant co-exposure. Results revealed greater differential activation during the conditioning phase in the right orbitofrontal cortex in participants with moderate and high concentrations of cord blood PCB 153 compared to those in the low exposure group. During the extinction phase, the high prenatal mercury exposed group showed a lower differential activation in the right and left anterior cingulate cortex compared to those in the low-exposed group; whereas there was a higher differential activation in right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the high postnatal lead exposed group compared to the moderate- and low-exposed groups. Our study is the first to show alterations in the prefrontal brain areas in fear conditioning and extinction tasks in relation to environmental contaminant exposures. The observed brain correlates may advance our understanding of the emotional problems associated with environmental chemical toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mélissa Chauret
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- Centre de Recherche du CHUQ de Québec-Université Laval, École de Psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Françoise Maheu
- Research Centre of CHU Ste-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Sabrina Suffren
- Research Centre of CHU Ste-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Sandra W Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
| | - Joseph L Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Franco Lepore
- Département de Psychologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Dave Saint-Amour
- Département de Psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Research Centre of CHU Ste-Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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Pontual MDM, Ayotte P, Little M, Furgal C, Boyd AD, Muckle G, Avard E, Ricard S, Gauthier MJ, Sidi EAL, Lemire M. Seasonal variations in exposure to methylmercury and its dietary sources among pregnant Inuit women in Nunavik, Canada. Sci Total Environ 2021; 755:143196. [PMID: 33183817 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Among populations living in close connection with the sea, rivers and lakes for subsistence, diet varies according to local monthly wildlife species availability and food preferences. This may lead to variations in methylmercury (MeHg) exposure over a year, although no biomonitoring studies have documented this issue in Circumpolar populations, the most exposed to international Hg emissions. Our aim was to characterize seasonal variations in MeHg exposure among pregnant Inuit women from Nunavik and to identify country foods responsible for these variations. Between October 2016 and March 2017, 97 participants were recruited. Blood mercury (Hg) was tested and hair Hg was measured by centimeter as a surrogate for monthly MeHg exposure over the past year. Latent class growth analysis was conducted to identify groups of pregnant women with similar hair Hg monthly trajectories. Country foods consumption was documented by season. Seasonal daily intakes of MeHg were estimated based on concentrations in country foods. Retrospective monthly hair Hg analyses revealed that MeHg exposure was lowest in winter, and highest in summer and early fall months. Three latent classes (groups) of pregnant women with similar trajectories of monthly hair Hg variations were identified: high (n = 20, 21%), moderate (n = 38, 41%) and low variation (n = 35, 38%). Beluga meat was the country food contributing to most of daily MeHg intake, primarily during summer and fall, and was the only one associated with the odds of being classified into moderate and high variation groups (OR 95% CI: 1.19 [1.01-1.39] and 1.25 [1.04-1.50]). These findings underscore the importance of monthly variations in exposure to MeHg due to the seasonality of local foods consumed and responsible for elevated MeHg exposure. Further studies critically need to understand local diet fluctuations over a year to adequately assess MeHg exposure, adopt timely preventive interventions and evaluate the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana de Moraes Pontual
- Chaire Littoral, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Axe Santé des Populations et Pratiques Optimales en Santé: Hôpital Saint-Sacrement, 1050 Chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada.
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval: Pavillon Ferdinand Vandry 1050, avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Axe Santé des Populations et Pratiques Optimales en Santé Hôpital Saint-Sacrement, 1050 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada; Centre de toxicologie, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, 945 avenue Wolfe, Québec, QC G1V 5B3, Canada.
| | - Matthew Little
- School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Chris Furgal
- Indigenous Environmental Studies & Sciences Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada.
| | - Amanda D Boyd
- The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States.
| | - Gina Muckle
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Axe Santé des Populations et Pratiques Optimales en Santé Hôpital Saint-Sacrement, 1050 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada; École de psychologie, Université Laval: Pavillon Félix-Antoine-Savard, FAS-1222, 2325 rue des Bibliothèques, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Ellen Avard
- Nunavik Research Centre, Makivik Corporation, Kuujjuaq, QC, Canada.
| | - Sylvie Ricard
- Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Kuujjuaq, QC, Canada.
| | | | - Elhadji Anassour-Laouan Sidi
- Bureau d'information et d'études en santé des populations, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, 945 avenue Wolfe, Québec, QC G1V 5B3, Canada.
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Chaire Littoral, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Axe Santé des Populations et Pratiques Optimales en Santé: Hôpital Saint-Sacrement, 1050 Chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval: Pavillon Ferdinand Vandry 1050, avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Axe Santé des Populations et Pratiques Optimales en Santé Hôpital Saint-Sacrement, 1050 Chemin Sainte-Foy, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada.
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Ashley-Martin J, Dodds L, Arbuckle TE, Lanphear B, Muckle G, Foster WG, Ayotte P, Zidek A, Asztalos E, Bouchard MF, Kuhle S. Urinary phthalates and body mass index in preschool children: The MIREC Child Development Plus study. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2021; 232:113689. [PMID: 33445101 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Childhood exposure to phthalates, a class of chemicals with known reproductive and developmental effects, has been hypothesized to increase the risk of obesity, but this association is not well understood in preschool children. We examined the association between urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites and concurrently measured body mass index (BMI) and skinfolds among children between the ages of two and five years. We collected anthropometric measures and biomonitoring data on approximately 200 children enrolled in the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals Child Development Plus study. We measured 22 phthalate metabolites in children's urine and used the 19 metabolites detected in at least 40% of samples. Our primary outcome was BMI z-scores calculated using the World Health Organization growth standards. Skinfold z-scores were secondary outcomes. We used multivariable linear regression to evaluate the association between tertiles of phthalate concentrations and each anthropometric measure. We also used weighted quantile sum regression to identify priority exposures of concern. Our analytic sample included 189 singleton-born children with complete anthropometric data. Children with concentrations of the parent compound di-n-butyl phthalate (∑DnBP) in the third tertile had 0.475 (95% CI: 0.068, 0.883) higher BMI z-scores than those in the lower tertile. ∑DnBP was identified as a priority exposure in the weighted quantile sum regression BMI model. In this population of Canadian preschool aged children, we identified DnBP as a potential chemical of concern in regard to childhood obesity. Future research with serial phthalate measurements and anthropometric measurements in young children will help confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian Ashley-Martin
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada.
| | - Linda Dodds
- Perinatal Epidemiology Research Unit, Dalhousie University. 5850-5980 University Ave, Halifax, NS, B3K 6R8, Canada.
| | - Tye E Arbuckle
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada.
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences. Simon Fraser University. 8888 University Drive Burnaby, B.C, V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | - Gina Muckle
- Laval University and CHU Research Centre, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Warren G Foster
- McMaster University Health Sciences Center, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (INSPQ), Quebec, Canada.
| | - Angelika Zidek
- Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
| | | | - Maryse F Bouchard
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Montreal, Canada.
| | - Stefan Kuhle
- Perinatal Epidemiology Research Unit, Dalhousie University. 5850-5980 University Ave, Halifax, NS, B3K 6R8, Canada.
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Medehouenou TCM, Roy C, Tremblay PY, St-Jean A, Meziou S, Muckle G, Ayotte P, Lucas M. Metabolic features of adiposity and glucose homoeostasis among school-aged inuit children from Nunavik (Northern Quebec, Canada). Int J Circumpolar Health 2021; 80:1858605. [PMID: 33395372 PMCID: PMC7801047 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2020.1858605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
In contrast to most Indigenous people in Canada, Inuit appeared until recently to have been protected from type 2 diabetes (T2D) related to obesity. We assessed the associations of metabolites (amino acids, acylcarnitines) with adiposity and biomarkers of T2D in school-aged Inuit children of Nunavik (Canada). Concentrations of metabolite were measured in plasma samples from a cross-sectional analysis of 248 children (mean age = 10.8 years). We assessed associations of plasma metabolites with adiposity measures (BMI, skinfold thicknesses) and T2D markers (insulin, glucose, adiponectin). Plasma concentrations of valine and tyrosine were higher in obese and overweight children compared to those of normal weight children (P < 0.05). An increment of 1-SD in BMI (SD = 3.3 kg/m2) was statistically associated with an increment of 0.21 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.33) for valine, 0.15 (95% CI: 0.02, 0.27) for isoleucine and 0.17 (95% CI: 0.04, 0.29) for tyrosine. Insulin concentration increased with concentrations of all amino acids (P < 0.05) except methionine. None of the acylcarnitines measured were statistically significantly associated with adiposity or T2D biomarkers A signature of metabolites, particularly higher levels of branched-chain amino acids, might allow for early detection of T2D among school-aged Inuit children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thierry Comlan Marc Medehouenou
- Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec - Université Laval , Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Cynthia Roy
- Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec - Université Laval , Québec, Quebec, Canada.,Centre de Toxicologie du Québec, INSPQ , Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pierre-Yves Tremblay
- Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec - Université Laval , Québec, Quebec, Canada.,Centre de Toxicologie du Québec, INSPQ , Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Audray St-Jean
- Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec - Université Laval , Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Salma Meziou
- Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec - Université Laval , Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec - Université Laval , Québec, Quebec, Canada.,School of Psychology, Université Laval , Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec - Université Laval , Québec, Quebec, Canada.,Centre de Toxicologie du Québec, INSPQ , Québec, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université Laval , Québec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Michel Lucas
- Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec - Université Laval , Québec, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université Laval , Québec, Quebec, Canada
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Caron-Beaudoin É, Ayotte P, Blanchette C, Muckle G, Avard E, Ricard S, Lemire M. Perfluoroalkyl acids in pregnant women from Nunavik (Quebec, Canada): Trends in exposure and associations with country foods consumption. Environ Int 2020; 145:106169. [PMID: 33041046 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are persistent and ubiquitous environmental contaminants that potentially disrupt endocrine system functions. While some PFAAs (perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)) are regulated, currently used fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) can be transported to the Arctic and are degraded in a number of PFAAs which biomagnify in Arctic wildlife (e.g. perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUdA)). OBJECTIVES From 2004 to 2017, 279 pregnant Inuit women were recruited as part of biomonitoring projects in Nunavik. Our goal was to evaluate: (i) time-trends in plasma/serum PFAAs levels in pregnant Nunavimmiut women between 2004 and 2017; (ii) compare plasma/serum PFAAs levels in Nunavimmiut women in 2016-2017 to those measured in women of childbearing age in the Canadian Health Measure Survey (CHMS); and (iii) evaluate the associations of PFAAs levels with the consumption of country foods and pregnancy and maternal characteristics during pregnancy in the 97 participants recruited in 2016-2017. METHODS Individual blood sample were collected for serum or plasma PFAAs (PFOS, PFOA, pentafluorobenzoic acid (PFBA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluorohexane-1-sulfonic acid (PFHxS), PFNA, PFDA, PFUdA) analyses. Socio-demographic data, pregnancy and maternal characteristics and country foods consumption were documented using a questionnaire. Omega-3 and -6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were measured in red blood cell membranes and their ratio used as a biomarker of marine country foods consumption. Time-trends in PFAAs levels were evaluated using ANCOVA models adjusted for relevant co-variables. Serum/plasma levels of PFAAs in the 97 pregnant women aged 16 to 40 years old and recruited in 2016-2017 were compared to those measured in women aged 18 to 40 years old from the CHMS cycle 5 (2016-2017) using the geometric means (GM) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Multivariate regression analyses were performed to examine associations between concentrations of PFAAs and country foods consumption data. RESULTS Statistically-significant downward time trends were noted for concentrations of PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS in pregnant Nunavik women between 2004 and 2017. Conversely, between 2011 and 2016-2017, PFNA, PFDA and PFUdA maternal serum levels increased by 19, 13 and 21% respectively. Among participants in 2016-2017, mean concentrations for PFNA (GM: 2.4 μg/L), PFDA (0.53 μg/L) and PFUdA (0.61 μg/L) were higher than those measured in women aged 18-40 years old in the Cycle 5 (2016-2017) of the CHMS. PFOA (0.53 μg/L) and PFHxS (0.26 μg/L) were lower than in CHMS, whereas PFBA, PFHxA and PFBS were not detected in 2016-2017. Ratios of serum/plasma levels of PFNA/PFOA, PFNA/PFOS, PFNA/PFHxS and PFUdA/PFDA were significantly higher in the 97 pregnant women from Nunavik recruited in 2016-2017 compared to CHMS, highlighting their distinct exposure profile. In multivariate models, PFHxS, PFOS, PFNA, PFDA and PFUdA levels in 2016-2017 were strongly associated with the omega-3/omega-6 PUFA ratio, indicating a positive association between marine country foods consumption and higher exposure to PFAAs. CONCLUSIONS The exposure of pregnant women to long-chain PFAAs (PFNA, PFDA and PFUdA) increased from 2004 to 2017 in Nunavik. Associations noted between PFAAs levels and the omega-3/omega-6 ratio highlights the importance of implementing additional strict regulations on PFAAs and their precursors to protect the high nutritional quality and cultural importance of country foods in Nunavik.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élyse Caron-Beaudoin
- Department of Health and Society and Department of Environmental and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, VCH Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Centre de toxicologie du Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Caty Blanchette
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Gina Muckle
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; École de psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Ellen Avard
- Nunavik Research Centre, Makivik Corporation, Kuujjuaq, QC, Canada
| | - Sylvie Ricard
- Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Kuujjuaq, QC, Canada
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
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Green R, Till C, Cantoral A, Lanphear B, Martinez-Mier EA, Ayotte P, Wright RO, Tellez-Rojo MM, Malin AJ. Associations between Urinary, Dietary, and Water Fluoride Concentrations among Children in Mexico and Canada. Toxics 2020; 8:E110. [PMID: 33233802 PMCID: PMC7711675 DOI: 10.3390/toxics8040110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Fluoride, which may be toxic to the developing brain, is added to salt in Mexico and drinking water in Canada to prevent dental caries. We compared childhood urinary fluoride (CUF) concentrations in Mexico City and Canada to characterize patterns of fluoride exposure in these two populations. We also examined associations of CUF with dietary and water fluoride levels in Mexico City and Canada respectively. We included 561 children (ages 4–6; mean age 4.8 years) from the Programming Research in Obesity, Growth, Environment, and Social Stress (PROGRESS) cohort in Mexico City, and 645 children (ages 2–6; mean age 3.7 years) from the Maternal–Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) cohort in Canada. We applied Spearman correlations, T-tests, ANOVA or covariate-adjusted linear regression to examine associations of CUF (mg/L; adjusted for specific gravity) with demographics and dietary or water fluoride concentrations. We used Welch equivalence testing to compare means across cohorts. Mean (SD) CUF was equivalent (t = 4.26, p < 0.001) in PROGRESS: 0.74 (0.42) and fluoridated Canadian communities: 0.66 (0.47), but lower in non-fluoridated Canadian communities: 0.42 (0.31) (t = −6.37, p < 0.001). Water fluoride concentrations were significantly associated with CUF after covariate adjustment for age and sex in MIREC (B = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.59, p < 0.001). In contrast, daily food and beverage fluoride intake was not associated with CUF in PROGRESS (p = 0.82). We found that CUF levels are comparable among children in Mexico City and fluoridated Canadian communities, despite distinct sources of exposure. Community water fluoridation is a major source of fluoride exposure for Canadian children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rivka Green
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada; (R.G.); (C.T.)
| | - Christine Till
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada; (R.G.); (C.T.)
| | - Alejandra Cantoral
- Departamento de Salud, Universidad Iberoamericana, Ciudad de México 01219, Mexico
| | - Bruce Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC V5A 1S6, Canada;
| | | | - Pierre Ayotte
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada;
| | - Robert O. Wright
- Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (R.O.W.); (A.J.M.)
| | - Martha M. Tellez-Rojo
- School of Public Health, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca 62100, Mexico;
| | - Ashley J. Malin
- Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (R.O.W.); (A.J.M.)
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Adamou TY, Riva M, Muckle G, Laouan Sidi EA, Lemire M, Ayotte P. Blood mercury and plasma polychlorinated biphenyls concentrations in pregnant Inuit women from Nunavik: Temporal trends, 1992-2017. Sci Total Environ 2020; 743:140495. [PMID: 32758811 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The Inuit of Nunavik (Northern Quebec, Canada) are exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and mercury (Hg) through their consumption of marine country foods. A temporal trend study was initiated in 1992 to monitor circulating levels of PCBs and Hg in pregnant Inuit women, since the fetus is most at risk of adverse health effects. We set out (1) to describe temporal trends of PCBs and Hg levels in pregnant Nunavik women between 1992 and 2017; (2) to determine the prevalence of participants exceeding the guidance values in 2017; (3) to investigate relations between marine country food intake and contaminant levels over the study period. A total of 559 pregnant women provided a blood sample for contaminant analysis from 1992 to 2017. PCB congeners were quantified in plasma (serum) by gas chromatography (GC) coupled to electron capture detection or mass spectrometry (MS). We determined whole blood mercury concentration by cold vapor atomic absorption or inductively-coupled plasma MS. We performed multilevel modeling to assess temporal trends in contaminant levels and relations with marine country food consumption. Concentrations of total PCBs and Hg decreased by 84% and 65% between 1992 and 2017, respectively. Nevertheless, 10% and 22% of women in 2017 exceeded guidance values for PCBs and Hg, respectively. While the decline in marine country food intake is the only factor associated with decreasing Hg levels, other factors may explain the decline in PCB levels. Despite the significant decline in PCBs and Hg levels from 1992 to 2017, exposure to these contaminants is still quite prevalent among pregnant Nunavik women. Most of the decline in Hg exposure is likely due to a shift away from marine country foods to store-bought foods, which is a concern given the cultural and nutritional importance of country foods and the high food insecurity that prevails in Nunavik.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thérèse Yéro Adamou
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Axe Santé des Populations et Pratiques Optimales en Santé, Hôpital Saint-Sacrement, 1050 Chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada; Faculté des sciences infirmières, Université Laval, Pavillon Ferdinand Vandry 1050, avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Mylène Riva
- Canada Research Chair in Housing, Community, and Health, Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University, Avenue des Pins, Montréal, QC H3A 1A3, Canada; Department of Geography, McGill University, Burnside Hall Building, 805 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC H3A 0B9, Canada.
| | - Gina Muckle
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Axe Santé des Populations et Pratiques Optimales en Santé, Hôpital Saint-Sacrement, 1050 Chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada; École de psychologie, Université Laval, Pavillon Félix-Antoine-Savard, 2325 rue des Bibliothèques, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Elhadji Anassour Laouan Sidi
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Axe Santé des Populations et Pratiques Optimales en Santé, Hôpital Saint-Sacrement, 1050 Chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada.
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Axe Santé des Populations et Pratiques Optimales en Santé, Hôpital Saint-Sacrement, 1050 Chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Pavillon Ferdinand Vandry 1050, avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Axe Santé des Populations et Pratiques Optimales en Santé, Hôpital Saint-Sacrement, 1050 Chemin Ste-Foy, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Pavillon Ferdinand Vandry 1050, avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; Centre de toxicologie, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, 945 avenue Wolfe, Québec, QC G1V 5B3, Canada.
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Ntantu Nkinsa P, Muckle G, Ayotte P, Lanphear BP, Arbuckle TE, Fraser WD, Bouchard MF. Organophosphate pesticides exposure during fetal development and IQ scores in 3 and 4-year old Canadian children. Environ Res 2020; 190:110023. [PMID: 32777276 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Organophosphate pesticides are widely used in agriculture and for other purposes, leading to ubiquitous exposure in human populations. Some studies reported cognitive deficits in children exposed prenatally to organophosphate pesticides, but findings from recent studies were inconsistent. Furthermore, recent biomonitoring studies suggest exposure levels have decreased. Hence, the risks from current prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides for child neurodevelopment are uncertain. Furthermore, sex-differences also remain to be better documented in relation to potential neurodevelopmental effects. OBJECTIVE To examine the association between prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides and IQ scores among boys and girls living in several major Canadian cities. METHODS We used data from the MIREC cohort (Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals). Women were recruited in 2008-2011 from 10 Canadian cities during their first trimester of pregnancy, and urine spot samples were collected for measurement of three dimethyl alkyl phosphate (DMAP) and three diethyl alkyl phosphate (DEAP) metabolites. When children were 3-4 years of age, we used the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scales of Intelligence-III (WPPSI-III) to assess cognitive ability of children from 6 out of the 10 cities (Halifax, Hamilton, Kingston, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver). We analysed the association between maternal exposure to organophosphate pesticides (DMAP and DEAP urinary metabolites) and children's IQ scores with generalized estimating equations (GEEs) to take into account the clustered-data resulting from the six study sites. All analyses were sex-stratified (n = 296 boys and 311 girls). RESULTS The participants were predominantly well-educated, white women, with a relatively high household income. Children had a mean age of 3.4 years at the moment of IQ assessment (range, 3.0-4.1 years). In girls, there was no association between IQ scores and DEAPs or DMAPs. Higher concentrations of DEAPs were significantly associated with poorer Verbal IQ scores (for a 10-fold increase in concentrations, -6.28; 95% CIs, -12.13, -0.43) in boys. The association for Performance IQ in boys also indicated poorer scores with higher DEAP concentrations, but the confidence intervals included the null value (-4.05; 95% CIs, -10.19, 2.10). The relation between DMAPs and IQ scores in boys was also negative, but association estimates were small and not significant. CONCLUSION Urinary metabolites of organophosphate pesticides were not associated with IQ in girls, but we observed that higher maternal urinary DEAPs were associated with poorer Verbal IQ in boys. However, exposure misclassification may be an issue as only one urine sample per woman was analysed. The present study contributes to the accumulating evidence linking exposure to organophosphate pesticides during fetal development with poorer cognitive function in children, bringing data on the risks in a context of low exposure levels encountered in primarily urban populations from Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Ntantu Nkinsa
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montreal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
| | - Gina Muckle
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, École de Psychologie, Université Laval, Quebec, Québec, Canada.
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Centre de Toxicologie du Québec, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec, Canada.
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Tye E Arbuckle
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
| | - William D Fraser
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université de Sherbrooke, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
| | - Maryse F Bouchard
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montreal; CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre Mother and Child University Hospital Center, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
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Tahir E, Cordier S, Courtemanche Y, Forget-Dubois N, Desrochers-Couture M, Bélanger RE, Ayotte P, Jacobson JL, Jacobson SW, Muckle G. Effects of polychlorinated biphenyls exposure on physical growth from birth to childhood and adolescence: A prospective cohort study. Environ Res 2020; 189:109924. [PMID: 32798778 PMCID: PMC7529953 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Given that their traditional lifestyle and diet still relies on fish and other marine species for sustenance, the Inuit are highly exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and PCBs are increasingly linked to obesity. However, evidence is not consistent regarding which periods of exposure are most relevant. In this study, we examine whether in utero, childhood, and adolescent exposure to PCBs are related to physical growth at adolescence. METHOD Inuit adolescents from Canada (N=212) enrolled in a prospective longitudinal cohort study since birth were assessed for height, weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass index (FMI) and fat free mass index (FFMI) at 18 years of age. PCB 153 concentrations were quantified in blood samples obtained at birth (umbilical cord), 11, and 18 years of age. Maternal anthropometrics were measured and those for the newborns collected from medical records. Data on biological mothers and participants' sociodemographic characteristics and food security were collected using interviews. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to test associations between PCB 153 concentrations and adolescent anthropometric measures. RESULTS Cord PCB 153 was not related to height or FFMI at adolescence. By contrast, analyses showed that cord PCB 153 was related to higher BMI, FMI and marginally to weight in girls but not boys. Child PCB 153 was not related to height, weight or FFMI in adolescence. Child PCB 153 was related to lower BMI and FMI at adolescence in both sexes, particularly among those considered overweight or obese during childhood. Adolescent PCB 153 was not associated with any outcome. CONCLUSION This study suggests that prenatal exposure to PCBs may have a long-term effect on growth in early adulthood among girls and identifies the peri-pubertal period as another window of sensitivity for the action of PCBs. Our findings also suggest that exposure to PCBs and body size be documented in multiple time periods from infancy to adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emad Tahir
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Sylvaine Cordier
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada; Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S1085, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Yohann Courtemanche
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Nadine Forget-Dubois
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Richard E Bélanger
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada; Département de Pédiatrie, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada; Centre de Toxicologie du Québec, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Joseph L Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Sandra W Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Gina Muckle
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada; École de Psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada.
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47
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Tahir E, Ayotte P, Little M, Bélanger RE, Lucas M, Mergler D, Laouan Sidi EA, McHugh NGL, Lemire M. Anemia, iron status, and associated protective and risk factors among children and adolescents aged 3 to 19 years old from four First Nations communities in Quebec. Can J Public Health 2020; 111:682-693. [PMID: 32170646 PMCID: PMC7501325 DOI: 10.17269/s41997-020-00304-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Anemia and iron deficiency (ID) are frequent among Indigenous children of Canada, but few data are available in Quebec. The present study aimed to characterize anemia and ID prevalence and associated protective and risk factors among First Nations youth in Quebec. METHODS The 2015 First Nations (JES!-YEH!) pilot study was conducted among children and adolescents (3 to 19 years; n = 198) from four First Nations communities in Quebec. Blood and urine samples and anthropometric measurements were collected. Hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), plasma hs-CRP, and urinary cotinine levels were measured. Factors associated with anemia and ID (including traditional and market food consumption) were assessed using an interview-administered food frequency questionnaire, based on which nutritional intakes were calculated. Structural equation models were used to test associations. RESULTS The prevalence of anemia and ID was elevated (16.8% and 20.5% respectively). Traditional meat, fruit, and fruit juice (natural and powdered)-via their positive association with vitamin C intake-were the only food variables positively associated with SF (coefficient [95% CI] 0.017 [0.000, 0.114]; 0.090 [0.027, 0.161]; and 0.237 [0.060, 0.411]). Male sex was also associated with higher SF (0.295 [0.093, 0.502]). Inflammation status (hs-CRP > 5 mg/L) was inversely associated with Hb (- 0.015 [- 0.025, - 0.005]), whereas SF was positively associated with Hb (0.066 [0.040, 0.096]). Fruit and juice consumption was also positively associated with Hb, via vitamin C intake and SF (0.004 [0.001, 0.010]; 0.008 [0.003, 0.017]). CONCLUSIONS Interventions fostering healthier food environments as well as higher consumption of traditional meats and foods naturally rich in vitamin C, which is known to enhance iron absorption, and fighting inflammation could contribute to decrease the high prevalence of anemia and ID in this young Indigenous population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emad Tahir
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Centre de toxicologie du Québec, INSPQ, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Matthew Little
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | - Richard E Bélanger
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Département de pédiatrie, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Michel Lucas
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Donna Mergler
- CINBIOSE, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Elhadji A Laouan Sidi
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Nancy Gros-Louis McHugh
- First Nations of Québec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission, Wendake, QC, Canada
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, 1050 chemin Sainte-Foy, Quebec City, QC, G1S 4L8, Canada.
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48
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Lamoureux-Tremblay V, Muckle G, Maheu F, Jacobson SW, Jacobson JL, Ayotte P, Bélanger RE, Saint-Amour D. Risk factors associated with developing anxiety in Inuit adolescents from Nunavik. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2020; 81:106903. [PMID: 32512128 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2020.106903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the relation between anxiety among the at-risk population of Inuit adolescents and diverse developmental risk factors including exposure to environmental chemicals, a subject of concern in Nunavik. Anxiety was assessed in 89 Inuit participants (mean age = 18.4 years; range = 16.2-21.9) with the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Potential risk factors for anxiety were documented at birth, 11 years of age and 18 years of age, including blood levels of chemicals (mercury, lead, PCBs) and nutrients, as well as age, sex, estimated IQ, drug and alcohol use, bullying, exposure to domestic violence, food insecurity, crowding and socio-economic status. Results showed that participants scored high on both measures of anxiety, particularly the SCARED, for which the mean score was above the clinical threshold. Multiple regression results show that significant risk predictors obtained from the SCARED scores were female sex (β = 0.32), higher current blood mercury concentration (β = 0.26), food insecurity (β = 0.26) and bullying experiences in the last year (β = 0.21). The significant predictors for the STAI trait anxiety were food insecurity (β = 0.25) and lower estimated IQ (β = -0.31), whereas food insecurity (β = 0.21), lower blood levels of vitamin E (β = -0.25) and higher cord blood mercury concentrations (β = 0.25) were found for STAI situational anxiety. Further regression analyses suggested that the adolescent-related variables were the most important risk factors. Our findings show that Inuit adolescents are at risk for anxiety via multiple contributing factors, particularly current exposure to mercury, food insecurity and female sex.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gina Muckle
- École de Psychologie, Université Laval, 2325, rue des Bibliothèques, Québec, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Françoise Maheu
- Université de Montréal, 90 Avenue Vincent-D'Indy, Outremont, Montréal, Québec H2V 2S9, Canada
| | - Sandra W Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Drive, Detroit 48201, United States
| | - Joseph L Jacobson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Drive, Detroit 48201, United States
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Faculté de Médecine, 1050, Avenue de la Médecine, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, Université Laval, Québec, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Richard E Bélanger
- Département de Pédiatrie, Université Laval, Centre mère-enfant Soleil du CHU de Québec, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, Québec, Québec G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Dave Saint-Amour
- Université du Québec à Montréal, 320 Sainte-Catherine Est, Pavillon J.A. De Sève, Montréal, Québec H2X 1L7, Canada..
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49
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Cordier S, Anassour-Laouan-Sidi E, Lemire M, Costet N, Lucas M, Ayotte P. Association between exposure to persistent organic pollutants and mercury, and glucose metabolism in two Canadian Indigenous populations. Environ Res 2020; 184:109345. [PMID: 32172074 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The body burden of metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is particularly high in populations that rely on fish and other marine species for sustenance. This exposure has been associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, but results remain contrasted. OBJECTIVE We studied this association in two Indigenous populations of northern Québec (Canada) with markedly different prevalences of diabetes and levels of exposure to POPs and mercury. METHODS As part of health surveys conducted in 2004-2009, diabetes prevalence and glucose metabolism (glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, HOMA-B) in non-diabetic fasting adults were assessed using similar protocols in two populations: Inuit from Nunavik (n = 877) and Cree from Eeyou Istchee territory (n = 780). Blood mercury, plasma polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine (OC) pesticides/metabolites and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) levels were measured in samples collected at the time of examination. Logistic and linear regressions and restricted cubic splines analyses were conducted adjusting for sex, age, waist circumference, smoking and omega-3 fatty acid content in plasma phospholipids. RESULTS Diabetes prevalence was higher in Cree (20%) than in Inuit (7%), whereas environmental exposure was 2 to 3-fold greater in Inuit than in Cree participants. In the range of exposure common to the two populations, we observed similar linear increases in the risk of diabetes with increasing contaminant exposure. Among Cree participants, fasting glucose was positively associated with plasma PBDE level, and HOMA-B negatively associated with concentrations of ∑PCBs, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, PBDEs and ∑OC pesticides. Among Inuit participants, a trend towards reduced insulin secretion was observed in association with most contaminants, but the relation was nonlinear (greater reduction at intermediate levels of exposure). A significant increase in fasting glucose levels was observed at elevated blood mercury levels (>16 μg/L). CONCLUSION The observed association between POPs exposure and diabetes risk in the two populations studied should be confirmed using prospective design. Our results suggest the need for additional research on the physiopathological process through which POPs exposure may induce type 2 diabetes in these Indigenous populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Cordier
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, Canada; Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé. environnement et travail) - UMR_S1085, F-35000, Rennes, France.
| | | | - M Lemire
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - N Costet
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé. environnement et travail) - UMR_S1085, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - M Lucas
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - P Ayotte
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Québec, Canada; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval, Québec, Canada; Centre de toxicologie du Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Québec, Canada
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50
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Kenny TA, Archambault P, Ayotte P, Batal M, Chan HM, Cheung W, Eddy TD, Little M, Ota Y, Pétrin-Desrosiers C, Plante S, Poitras J, Polanco F, Singh G, Lemire M. Oceans and human health—navigating changes on Canada’s coasts. Facets (Ott) 2020. [DOI: 10.1139/facets-2020-0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Ocean conditions can affect human health in a variety of ways that are often overlooked and unappreciated. Oceans adjacent to Canada are affected by many anthropogenic stressors, with implications for human health and well-being. Climate change further escalates these pressures and can expose coastal populations to unique health hazards and distressing conditions. However, current research efforts, education or training curriculums, and policies in Canada critically lack explicit consideration of these ocean–public health linkages. The objective of this paper is to present multiple disciplinary perspectives from academics and health practitioners to inform the development of future directions for research, capacity development, and policy and practice at the interface of oceans and human health in Canada. We synthesize major ocean and human health linkages in Canada, and identify climate-sensitive drivers of change, drawing attention to unique considerations in Canada. To support effective, sustained, and equitable collaborations at the nexus of oceans and human health, we recommend the need for progress in three critical areas: ( i) holistic worldviews and perspectives, ( ii) capacity development, and ( iii) structural supports. Canada can play a key role in supporting the global community in addressing the health challenges of climate and ocean changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiff-Annie Kenny
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada
| | - Philippe Archambault
- Département de biologie, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- ArcticNet, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Pierre Ayotte
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada
| | - Malek Batal
- Département de nutrition, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
- Centre de recherche en santé publique (CReSP), Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
| | - Hing Man Chan
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - William Cheung
- Institute of Oceans and Fisheries (IOF), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Tyler D. Eddy
- Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research, Fisheries & Marine Institute, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1C 5R3, Canada
| | - Matthew Little
- School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Yoshitaka Ota
- Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus Center, EarthLab, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-5674, USA
- School of Marine and Environmental Affairs (SMEA), University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-5685, USA
| | - Claudel Pétrin-Desrosiers
- Département de médecine familiale et de médecine d’urgence, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada
- Association canadienne des médecins pour l’environnement/Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (ACME/CAPE), Toronto, ON M5T 2C2, Canada
| | - Steve Plante
- Département Sociétés territoires et développement, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, QC G5L 3A1, Canada
| | - Julien Poitras
- Département de médecine familiale et de médecine d’urgence, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Fernando Polanco
- School of Medicine, St. George’s University, St. George’s, Grenada, West Indies
| | - Gerald Singh
- Department of Geography, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Mélanie Lemire
- Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de québec, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1S 4L8, Canada
- Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
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