Associations between pre- and post-natal exposure to phthalate and DINCH metabolites and gut microbiota in one-year old children.

The gut microbiota is a collection of symbiotic microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract. Its sensitivity to chemicals with widespread exposure, such as phthalates, is little known. We aimed to investigate the impact of perinatal exposure to phthalates on the infant gut microbiota at 12 months of age.

Epigenetic footprints: Investigating placental DNA methylation in the context of prenatal exposure to phenols and phthalates.

Background: Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) such as phthalates and phenols can affect placental functioning and fetal health, potentially via epigenetic modifications. We investigated the associations between pregnancy exposure to synthetic phenols and phthalates estimated from repeated urine sampling and genome wide placental DNA methylation.

Methods: The study is based on 387 women with placental DNA methylation assessed with Infinium MethylationEPIC arrays and with 7 phenols, 13 phthalates, and two non-phthalate plasticizer metabolites measured in pools of urine samples collected twice during pregnancy.

Fetal and Infancy Exposure to Phenols, Parabens, and Phthalates and Anthropometric Measurements up to 36 Months, in the Longitudinal SEPAGES Cohort.

Background: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals may play a role in adiposity development during childhood. Until now literature in this scope suffers from methodologic limitations in exposure assessment using one or few urine samples and missing assessment during the infancy period.

Objectives: We investigated the associations between early-life exposure to quickly metabolized chemicals and post-natal growth, relying on repeated within-subject urine collections over pregnancy and infancy.

Longitudinal Associations between Prenatal Exposure to Phthalates and Steroid Hormones in Maternal Hair Samples from the SEPAGES Cohort.

We assessed phthalate-hormone associations in 382 pregnant women of the new-generation SEPAGES cohort (2014-2017, France) using improved exposure and outcome assessments. Metabolites from seven phthalate compounds and the replacement di(isononyl)cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH) were measured in within-subject pools of repeated urine samples collected at the second and third pregnancy trimesters (≈21 samples/trimester). Metabolites from five steroid hormones were measured in maternal hair samples collected at delivery, reflecting cumulative levels over the previous weeks to months.

Early-Life Exposure to a Mixture of Phenols and Phthalates in Relation to Child Social Behavior: Applying an Evidence-Based Prioritization to a Cohort with Improved Exposure Assessment.

Background: Previous studies aiming at relating exposure to phenols and phthalates with child social behavior characterized exposure using one or a few spot urine samples, resulting in substantial exposure misclassification. Moreover, early infancy exposure was rarely studied.

Objectives: We aimed to examine the associations of phthalates and phenols with child social behavior in a cohort with improved exposure assessment and to identify the chemicals supported by a higher weight of evidence.

Levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Norwegian children stratified by age and sex - Data from the Bergen Growth Study 2.

Background And Aim: Due to the persistence, bioaccumulation and potential adverse health effects, there have been restrictions and phase out in the production of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) since the early 2000s. Published serum levels of PFAS during childhood are variable and may reflect the impact of age, sex, sampling year and exposure history. Surveying the concentrations of PFAS in children is vital to provide information regarding exposure during this critical time of development.

Prenatal exposure to synthetic phenols and phthalates and child respiratory health from 2 to 36 months of life.

Exposure to phthalates and synthetic phenols is ubiquitous. Some of them are suspected to impact child respiratory health, although evidence still remains insufficient. This study investigated the associations between prenatal exposure to phthalates and phenols, individually and as a mixture, and child respiratory health assessed by objective lung function measures since 2 months of age.

Exposure to a mixture of non-persistent environmental chemicals and neonatal thyroid function in a cohort with improved exposure assessment.

Background: In vitro and toxicological studies have shown that non-persistent environmental chemicals can perturb thyroid hormone homeostasis. Epidemiological studies with improved exposure assessment (i.e.

Estimated Transfer of Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from Maternal Serum to Breast Milk in Women Highly Exposed from Contaminated Drinking Water: A Study in the Ronneby Mother-Child Cohort.

Background: Infancy perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure from breastfeeding is partially determined by the transfer efficiencies (TEs) of PFAS from maternal serum into breast milk. However, to our knowledge there are no studies of such TEs in highly exposed populations.

Objectives: We estimated the TEs of PFAS from maternal serum into colostrum and breast milk in a cohort of women with a wide range of PFAS exposures.

Changes in perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentrations in human milk over the course of lactation: A study in Ronneby mother-child cohort.

Background: Little is known about how PFAS concentrations in human milk change over the course of lactation, although this is an important determinant of cumulative infant exposure from breastfeeding.

Objective: To estimate changes in PFAS concentrations in human milk over the course of lactation in a population with a wide range of exposure from background-to high-exposed.

Methods: We measured PFAS concentrations in colostrum and mature milk samples from women in the Ronneby Mother-Child Cohort.

Effects of early exposure to phthalates on cognitive development and visual behavior at 24 months.

Background And Objectives: Studies focusing on the neurodevelopmental effects of phthalates seldom consider exposure during infancy, a critical period for brain development. Most rely on parent-completed questionnaires to assess child neurodevelopment, which may be subject to reporting error. We studied the associations between prenatal and infancy exposure to phthalates and objective measures of neurodevelopment at the age of two.

Phenol and Phthalate Effects on Thyroid Hormone Levels during Pregnancy: Relying on Assays and Adverse Outcome Pathways to Inform an Epidemiological Analysis.

Background: Studies characterizing associations between phenols, phthalates and thyroid hormones during pregnancy produce inconsistent results. This divergence may be partly attributable to false positives due to multiple comparison testing of large numbers of chemicals, and measurement error as studies rely on small numbers of biospecimens despite high intra-individual variability in urinary chemical metabolite concentrations.

Objectives: This study employs chemical filtering and expanded urinary biomonitoring to evaluate associations between phenol/phthalate exposures and serum thyroid hormones assessed during pregnancy.

Pregnancy Exposure to Phenols and Anthropometric Measures in Gestation and at Birth.

Background: Some synthetic phenols alter pathways involved in fetal development. Despite their high within-subject temporal variability, earlier studies relied on spot urine samples to assess pregnancy exposure. In this study, we examined associations between prenatal phenol exposure and fetal growth.

Peripherally administered persistent organic pollutants distribute to the brain of developing chicken embryo in concentrations relevant for human exposure.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) can reach the fetal brain and contribute to developmental neurotoxicity. To explore the distribution of POPs to the fetal brain, we exposed chicken embryos to a POP mixture, containing 29 different compounds with concentrations based on blood levels measured in the Scandinavian human population. The mixture was injected into the allantois at embryonic day 13 (E13), aiming at a theoretical concentration of 10 times human blood levels.

Pre- and early post-natal exposure to phthalates and DINCH in a new type of mother-child cohort relying on within-subject pools of repeated urine samples.

For non-persistent chemicals such as phthalates, a single spot urine sample only reflects exposure in the past few hours. Collecting repeated urine samples for each participant over windows of sensitivity is expected to improve exposure characterization but has rarely been done. We aimed to rely on within-subject pools of repeated urine samples to assess phthalate exposure during pregnancy and infancy.

Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and associations with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder in children.

Background: Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may be a risk factor for neurodevelopmental deficits and disorders, but evidence is inconsistent.

Objectives: We investigated whether prenatal exposure to PFAS were associated with childhood diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Methods: This study was based on the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study and included n = 821 ADHD cases, n = 400 ASD cases and n = 980 controls.

Associations between a mixture of phenols and phthalates and child behaviour in a French mother-child cohort with repeated assessment of exposure.

Background: Synthetic phenols and phthalates can interfere with biological pathways involved in brain development. Despite the high within-subject temporal variability of urinary concentrations observed for their metabolites, studies investigating effects of phenols and phthalates on child behaviour often relied on a limited number of spot biospecimens to assess exposure. Besides, the majority did not consider mixture effects.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from Svalbard - A comparison of concentrations in plasma sampled 15 years apart.

The objective of the present study was to investigate recent concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in white whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from Svalbard and compare them to concentrations found in white whales sampled from that same area 15 years ago. Plasma collected from live-captured white whales from two time periods (2013-2014, n = 9, and 1996-2001, n = 11) were analysed for 19 different PFASs. The 11 PFASs detected included seven C-C perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) and three C-C perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs) as well as perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA).

Exposure to phenols during pregnancy and the first year of life in a new type of couple-child cohort relying on repeated urine biospecimens.

Background: Parabens, bisphenol A and triclosan have been forbidden or restricted in specific types of consumer goods in Europe and France. Limited biomonitoring data are available in France since the implementation of these regulations, and exposure data on infants is scarce worldwide. Understanding the predictors of phenol urinary concentrations will help identify potential targets for prevention.

Prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and associations with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and cognitive functions in preschool children.

Background: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent organic pollutants that are suspected to be neurodevelopmental toxicants, but epidemiological evidence on neurodevelopmental effects of PFAS exposure is inconsistent. We investigated the associations between prenatal exposure to PFASs and symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and cognitive functioning (language skills, estimated IQ and working memory) in preschool children, as well as effect modification by child sex.

Material And Methods: This study included 944 mother-child pairs enrolled in a longitudinal prospective study of ADHD symptoms (the ADHD Study), with participants recruited from The Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa).

Menstrual cycle characteristics as determinants of plasma concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort (MoBa study).

Introduction: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are fluorinated organic compounds that have been used in a variety of industrial and consumer applications. Menstruation is implicated as a possible route of elimination for PFASs in women. The overall purpose of this study was to examine menstrual cycle characteristics as determinants of plasma PFAS concentrations in women.

Levels, variability and determinants of environmental phenols in pairs of Norwegian mothers and children.

Background: Exposure to environmental phenols including parabens, bisphenols (BPs), oxybenzone/benzophenone-3 (BP-3) and triclosan (TCS) is ubiquitous. Due to evidence of their estrogenic activity, they have been considered as chemicals of concern. The exposure of the Norwegian population to these compounds is presently unknown.