Esther Vizcaino

Polybromodiphenyl ethers in mothers and their newborns from a non-occupationally exposed population (Valencia, Spain)

Polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were analyzed in blood serum of pregnant women and in cord blood serum of their newborns from a general population cohort (n = 174; Valencia, Spain). The most abundant PBDE congeners identified were BDE 47, BDE 99, BDE 153, BDE 154 and BDE 209. Their cord blood serum concentrations were about 45% of those in maternal serum but after lipid normalization about the same concentrations were observed in both types of samples. Thus, median of total PBDEs was 9.6 ng/g lipid in cord serum (range between not detected and 140 ng/g lipid) and 9.6 ng/g lipid in maternal serum (range between not detected and 120 ng/g lipid). The distributions of these compounds were dominated by BDE 47 in both cases. In cord blood serum the decreasing order of abundance was BDE 47>BDE 99>BDE 209>BDE 153>BDE 154. The congener composition in maternal serum followed a similar trend: BDE 47>BDE 153>BDE 154>BDE 209>BDE 99. The congener concentrations exhibited a higher degree of correlation in cord blood than in maternal serum. Use of the maternal determinants for categorization of the observed maternal and fetal PBDE concentrations only showed significant associations for the levels in umbilical cord. Neonates from rural areas exhibited statistically significantly lower concentrations than those from urban, semi-urban or metropolitan sites. Maternal serum also showed this difference but the higher dispersion of the concentrations in maternal serum did not afford its recognition with statistical significance. The lower qualitative and quantitative variability in the PBDE concentrations of cord blood serum than maternal serum suggest that the latter is reflecting PBDE contributions from a wider diversity of sources than the former whereas cord blood sera seem to represent the long term standing stock of these compounds accumulated in the maternal tissues.

Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants and rapid weight gain and overweight in infancy

To examine the effects of prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on rapid growth in the first 6 months of life and overweight at 14 months of age.

Prenatal exposure to organochlorine compounds and birth size.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible association between birth size and cord concentrations of some organochlorine compounds (OCs), including 4,4′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), 4,4′-1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-dichlorodiphenyl)ethylene (DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), 4 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners (118, 138, 153, and 180), and their sum (ΣPCBs) in a birth cohort in Valencia, Spain. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 494 mothers and their newborns (born 2003–2006) participated in the study. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed between birth weight, length, or head circumference and OC concentrations. RESULTS: Median concentrations of 4,4′-DDT, 4,4′-DDE, HCB, β-HCH, and ΣPCBs were 0.02, 0.46, 0.22, 0.09, and 0.35 ng/mL, respectively. For birth weight there was a significant decrease of 63 and 107 g for each 10-fold increase in cord serum 4,4′-DDT and 4,4′-DDE concentrations, and a marginally significant decrease of 79 and 53 g for each 10-fold increase in HCB and β-HCH concentrations. A significant decrease of 0.39 cm in birth length was found for each 10-fold increase in HCB concentrations. For newborns with cord 4,4′-DDT concentrations above the median there was a significant decrease of 0.26 cm in birth head circumference. CONCLUSIONS: These results reveal that prenatal exposure to some OCs could impair the anthropometric development of the fetus, reducing the birth weight, length, and head circumference.

Prenatal exposure to organochlorine compounds and neonatal thyroid stimulating hormone levels

It has been suggested that prenatal exposure to some organochlorine compounds (OCs) may adversely affect thyroid function and may, therefore, impair neurodevelopment. The main aim of this study was to examine the relationship of cord serum levels of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (4,4′-DDT), 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (4,4′-DDE), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), four individual polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) congeners (118, 138, 153, and 180), and their sum, with neonatal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in blood samples in a mother–infant cohort in Valencia, Spain. This study included 453 infants born between 2004 and 2006. We measured OC concentrations in umbilical cord serum and TSH in blood of newborns shortly after birth. Associations between neonatal TSH levels and prenatal OC exposure adjusted for covariates were assessed using multivariate linear regression analyses. Neonatal TSH levels tended to be higher in newborns with β-HCH levels in umbilical cord above 90th percentile (104 ng/g lipid) than in those with levels below the median (34 ng/g lipid), with an adjusted increment in neonatal TSH levels of 21% (95% confidence interval=−3, 51; P=0.09). No statistically significant association was found between the remaining OCs and TSH at birth. Prenatal exposure to β-HCH may affect neonatal thyroid hormone status and its function in neurological development.

Analysis of whole congener mixtures of polybromodiphenyl ethers by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in both environmental and biological samples at femtogram levels☆

A sensitive and selective method for the determination of the whole congener distribution of polybromodiphenyl ethers in environmental and biological samples in one single instrumental run is described. The method is based on gas chromatography coupled to low-resolution mass spectrometry in negative ion chemical ionization mode. It allows determination of these compounds at concentration levels lower than 10(-14)g. A programmed temperature vaporization injector has been used to ensure maximum compound transfer to the chromatographic column while maintaining low thermal degradation levels of the more brominated congeners. Selectivity was increased by modification of the MS source parameters for optimization of the abundance of the high mass fragment ions. Under optimized condition, good repeatability (1.7-9.1%) and reproducibility (4.1-20%), and low detection limits, ranging between 1.5 and 15 pg ml(-1), were obtained. These features afforded reliable quantification of these compounds in snow and human samples at the concentrations in which these compounds are found.

Pre-natal exposure to dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene and infant lower respiratory tract infections and wheeze

The aim of our study was to examine whether pre-natal exposure to dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) increases the risk of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and wheeze in infants. The study is based on a birth cohort of 1,455 mother–child pairs. Maternal serum concentrations of DDE, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were measured during pregnancy. Parental reports on LRTI and wheeze were obtained when children were 12–14 months old. 35.4% of children developed at least one LRTI episode and 33.6% at least one wheezing episode during their first 12–14 months of life. Median DDE, PCBs and HCB concentrations were 116.3, 113.7 and 46.4 ng·g−1 lipid, respectively. DDE concentrations were associated with LRTI risk (relative risk (RR) per 10% increase 1.11, 95% CI 1.00–1.22), also after adjustment for PCBs and HCB. In all quartiles of DDE exposure, the risk of LRTI was increased compared with the lowest quartile, but the increase was statistically significant only in the third quartile (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.08–1.62). No association was observed for PCBs and HCB. Results were similar for wheeze. This study suggests that pre-natal DDE exposure is associated with a higher risk of LRTI and wheeze in infants independently of exposure to other organochlorine compounds.

Gestational Weight Gain and Exposure of Newborns to Persistent Organic Pollutants

Background: Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) during fetal development can increase the risk of adverse health effects during childhood. Maternal characteristics and physiological changes during gestation, such as gestational weight gain (GWG), may have an influence in the overall burden of POPs in neonates. However, the associations between GWG and POP concentrations are still not well established. Objective: We examined the association of GWG with cord serum POPs concentrations after adjusting for prepregnancy maternal body mass index (BMI) and other potential determinants of the transfer of POPs into newborns. The GWG values were evaluated after grouping by the reference guidelines of the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Methods: We measured levels of 14 organochlorine pesticides, 7 polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), and 14 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in 325 cord serum samples from a Spanish birth cohort. Multivariable models were used to estimate associations of GWG, prepregnancy BMI, and other maternal determinants on cord serum concentrations of POPs. Results: Neonatal concentrations of POPs were inversely associated with GWG after adjustment for age, prepregnancy BMI, educational level, and fish consumption. On average, neonates of women with IOM-recommended GWG have lower POP concentrations than do neonates of mothers with inadequate GWG. Conclusions: The present findings suggest an association between neonatal exposure to POPs and inadequate GWG during pregnancy. Encouraging pregnant women to meet the recommended IOM guidelines for GWG may reduce the accumulation of POPs in newborns. Citation: Vizcaino E, Grimalt JO, Glomstad B, Fernández-Somoano A, Tardón A. 2014. Gestational weight gain and exposure of newborns to persistent organic pollutants. Environ Health Perspect 122:873–879; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1306758

Prenatal Exposure to Polybrominated Flame Retardants and Fetal Growth in the INMA Cohort (Spain).

Our aim was to investigate the relation between PBDEs and fetal growth or newborn anthropometry in a Spanish cohort (2003–2008). PBDE congeners (BDE-47, -99, -153, -154, and -209) were determined in serum of 670 mothers at gestational week 12 and in 534 umbilical cord samples. Abdominal circumference (AC), estimated fetal weight (EFW), femur length (FL), and biparietal diameter (BPD) during gestation were measured by ultrasounds. At birth, weight (BW), head circumference (HC), and length (BL) were also measured. We assessed growth in the intervals between 12–20 and 20–34 weeks of gestation and size at birth by standard deviation (SD)-scores adjusted for constitutional characteristics. We conducted multivariate linear regression analyses between PBDE congeners and their sum (ΣPBDEs) and outcomes. We found statistically significant inverse associations between ΣPBDEs and AC, EFW, and BPD at weeks 20–34 and HC at birth. Regarding congeners, the association was clearer with BDE-99, with inverse associations being found with AC, EFW, and BPD at weeks 20–34, and with BW and HC at delivery. These outcomes decreased between 1.3% and 3.5% for each 2-fold PBDE increase. Concerning matrices, we found statistically significant inverse associations with BPD, HC, and BW when using maternal serum, and for AC and EFW with cord serum. In conclusion, PBDEs may impair fetal growth in late pregnancy and reduce birth size.

Organochlorine compounds and ultrasound measurements of fetal growth in the INMA cohort (Spain)

Background Several studies have reported decreases in birth size associated with exposure to organochlorine compounds (OCs), but uncertainties remain regarding the critical windows of prenatal exposure and the effects on fetal body segments. Objective We examined the relationship between prenatal OC concentrations and fetal anthropometry. Methods We measured 4,4´-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (4,4´-DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners (138, 153, and 180) in 2,369 maternal and 1,140 cord serum samples in four Spanish cohorts (2003–2008). We used linear mixed models to obtain longitudinal growth curves for estimated fetal weight (EFW), abdominal circumference (AC), biparietal diameter (BPD), and femur length (FL) adjusted by parental and fetal characteristics. We calculated standard deviation (SD) scores of growth at 0–12, 12–20, and 20–34 weeks of gestation as well as size at gestational week 34 for the four parameters. We studied the association between OCs and the fetal outcomes by cohort-specific linear models and subsequent meta-analyses. Results PCBs were associated with a reduction in AC up to mid-pregnancy, and BPD and FL from gestational week 20 onward. An inverse association was also found between HCB and AC growth in early pregnancy. The reduction of these parameters ranged from –4% to –2% for a doubling in the OC concentrations. No association between 4,4´-DDE and fetal growth was observed. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first study to report an association between prenatal exposure to some PCBs and HCB and fetal growth: AC during the first two trimesters of pregnancy, and BPD and FL later in pregnancy. Citation Lopez-Espinosa MJ, Murcia M, Iñiguez C, Vizcaino E, Costa O, Fernández-Somoano A, Basterrechea M, Lertxundi A, Guxens M, Gascon M, Goñi-Irigoyen F, Grimalt JO, Tardón A, Ballester F. 2016. Organochlorine compounds and ultrasound measurements of fetal growth in the INMA cohort (Spain). Environ Health Perspect 124:157–163; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408907

Prenatal and postnatal insecticide use and infant neuropsychological development in a multicenter birth cohort study

There is little evidence about exposure to currently used insecticides during early life periods and adverse effects on child neuropsychological development. The aim of this study is to examine the association between residential insecticide use during pregnancy and infancy, and the development of children. Study subjects were participants in the INMA (Environment and Childhood) Project, a Spanish multicenter birth cohort study. Prenatal and postnatal use of indoor insecticides and other variables were obtained from personal interview during pregnancy and infancy. Mental and psychomotor development was assessed around 14months using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. The associations were analyzed by linear regression models. 54% of women used indoor insecticides at home during pregnancy and 47% postnatally. 34% of women used insecticide sprays and 33% used plug-in devices during pregnancy. During infancy, the percentage of women who used insecticide sprays decreased (22%), but the use of plug-in devices was similar to the prenatal period (32%). The use of insecticide sprays during pregnancy was associated with a decrement in psychomotor development (β=-1.9; 95%CI: -3.4, -0.5) but postnatal use did not associate with mental and psychomotor development. The negative effect was enhanced according to some modifying factors, such as being female, higher levels of prenatal exposure to PCB and mercury and belonging to the lowest social class. We found certain evidence about the adverse effect of using insecticide sprays during pregnancy on the psychomotor development of children. Some socio-demographic factors and other exposures could enhance that effect.