Publications by authors named "Clara Amalie Gade Timmermann"

Article Synopsis
  • Exposure to PFAS, a type of environmental contaminant, has been linked to a weaker immune response to childhood vaccines, particularly measles, mumps, and rubella.
  • The study analyzed blood samples from pregnant women and their 18-month-old children to measure PFAS levels and specific vaccine-related antibodies.
  • Results showed non-significant declines in antibody concentrations related to maternal and child PFAS exposure, but a notable reduction in mumps antibodies was observed with higher levels of certain PFAS compounds, raising concerns about overall immune health.
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Background: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are endocrine disrupting chemicals with elimination half-lives ranging from four to eight years. Experimental studies found PFAS able to interfere with thyroid hormone-binding proteins. During the first 20 weeks of gestation (GW), the fetus is reliant on placental transfer of maternal thyroid hormones, mainly free thyroxine (FT4).

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Introduction: Bisphenol A (BPA) is frequently used in the production of plastics. It is an endocrine disruptor, and BPA exposure in mice has been associated with reduced offspring growth due to insufficient milk production. However, human studies of associations between BPA exposure and duration of breastfeeding are sparse.

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Context: Human exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been associated with reduced duration of breastfeeding, although not consistently so, and mechanisms by which PFAS might affect breastfeeding are unknown.

Objective: To examine the association between early pregnancy serum-PFAS concentrations and breastfeeding termination and to elucidate the potential role of serum-prolactin concentrations in pregnancy.

Materials And Methods: Pregnant women from the Odense Child Cohort provided blood samples for analysis of 5 major PFAS (n = 1300) and prolactin concentrations (n = 924).

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Previous studies have shown immunotoxic effects of environmental chemicals, and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently identified a need for more studies on PFAS immunotoxicity in different populations. In the Arctic, populations are exposed to several environmental chemicals through marine diet, and the objective of this study was therefore to examine the association between Greenlandic children's exposure to major environmental chemicals and their concentrations of diphtheria and tetanus vaccine antibodies after vaccination. The study includes cross-sectional data from Greenlandic children aged 7-12 years examined during 2012-2015.

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Background: In randomized trials, Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine has been associated with reduced all-cause mortality. BCG-induced Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) reactions have also been associated with reduced all-cause mortality. We aimed to assess the association between TST responses and subsequent mortality in three birth cohorts and conducted a meta-analysis of existing studies.

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The dietary intake of acrylamide (AA) is a health concern, and food is being monitored worldwide, but the extent of AA exposure from the diet is uncertain. The aim of this review was to provide an overview of estimated dietary intake. We performed a PubMed search identifying studies that used dietary questionnaires and recalls to estimate total dietary AA intake.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study analyzed the impact of maternal exposure to organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides during pregnancy on children's language development at ages 20-36 months, using urine samples to measure metabolite levels.
  • - Results showed high detection rates of the metabolites in urine samples, but overall, there were no significant associations found between these metabolites and the likelihood of delayed language development.
  • - Interestingly, a reduced chance of scoring below average language scores was observed for boys in relation to higher levels of one pyrethroid metabolite (3-PBA) and for girls with certain organophosphate metabolites (TCPY and DE).
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Background: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a non-persistent chemical with endocrine disrupting abilities used in a variety of consumer products. Fetal exposure to BPA is of concern due to the elevated sensitivity, which particularly relates to the developing brain. Several epidemiological studies have investigated the association between prenatal BPA exposure and neurodevelopment, but the results have been inconclusive.

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Introduction: The immunosuppressive properties of PFASs are widely recognized. Early-life exposure to PFAS has been linked to reduced immune response to childhood vaccinations and increased rates of common infectious diseases, but implications for hospitalizations are unclear.

Objectives: To investigate the association between maternal serum concentrations of five PFASs during pregnancy and the child's rate of hospitalization due to common infectious diseases between birth and 4 years of age.

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Background: The course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) seems to be aggravated by air pollution, and some industrial chemicals, such as the perfluorinated alkylate substances (PFASs), are immunotoxic and may contribute to an association with disease severity.

Methods: From Danish biobanks, we obtained plasma samples from 323 subjects aged 30-70 years with known SARS-CoV-2 infection. The PFAS concentrations measured at the background exposures included five PFASs known to be immunotoxic.

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Background: Phthalates are plastic softeners with anti-androgenic properties. Prenatal exposure has led to lower testosterone (T) levels and smaller testicles in adult rats. To our knowledge, no studies have examined associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and sex hormone concentrations in infants.

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Background: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of widely used persistent chemicals with suspected immunotoxic effects.

Objectives: The present study aimed to examine the association between infant PFAS exposure and antibody responses to measles vaccination as well as morbidity in a low-income country.

Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, children from Guinea-Bissau, West Africa, were followed from inclusion (4-7 months of age) through 2 years of age.

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Background: Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) are repellants that cross the placental barrier, enabling interference with fetal programming. Maternal PFAA concentrations have been associated with offspring obesity and dyslipidemia in childhood and adulthood, but this association has not been studied in infancy.

Objectives: We investigated associations between maternal PFAA concentrations and repeated markers of adiposity and lipid metabolism in infancy.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study explored the impact of prenatal phthalate exposure on the development of asthma, eczema, and rhinitis in children aged 5 years, based on a cohort of 552 pregnant women.
  • Despite the low levels of phthalate exposure observed, the results indicated no significant link between prenatal exposure and asthma, although some associations were found with rhinitis and eczema.
  • The findings suggest a potential public health concern regarding rhinitis, leading to recommendations for further research in larger cohorts and older children.
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Background: Fetal programming of the endocrine system may be affected by exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAAs), as they easily cross the placental barrier. In vitro studies suggest that PFAAs may disrupt steroidogenesis. "Mini puberty" refers to a transient surge in circulating androgens, androgen precursors, and gonadotropins in infant girls and boys within the first postnatal months.

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Article Synopsis
  • Asthma is the most prevalent non-communicable disease among children, and prenatal exposure to PFASs, concerning environmental chemicals, may influence its development.
  • In a study involving 981 mother-child pairs in Denmark, researchers assessed the relationship between prenatal PFAS exposure and asthma symptoms in children at age 5, relying on questionnaire data and serum PFAS measurements.
  • Results indicated no significant link between PFAS exposure and doctor-diagnosed asthma or wheeze, but it was notably associated with self-reported asthma for PFNA, highlighting the need for further investigation into PFAS's immunomodulatory effects.
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The objective of this study was to identify geographic, dietary, and other predictors for childhood exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and methylmercury in Greenlandic children. The study includes cross-sectional data from 367 Greenlandic children aged 7 to 12 years examined during 2012-2015. A parent or guardian participated in a structured interview, and a blood sample from the child was analysed for PFASs, PCBs and total mercury.

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Background: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent chemicals with suspected endocrine disrupting abilities applied in consumer products. PFASs have potentially modulating effects on glucose homeostasis. Insulin resistance prevails during third trimester of pregnancy, and this challenge of glucose homeostasis may reveal putative effects of PFAS concentrations on glycemic status.

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This study was undertaken to assess the potential impact of maternal exposures to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene (DDE) and methylmercury on the secondary sex ratios (the ratio of male to female live births) over a span of 23 years. The study includes prospective data from three Faroese birth cohorts, with a total of 2,152 healthy mother-child dyads recruited between 1986 and 2009. The Faroe Islands is a subarctic fishing community, where pilot whale meat and blubber are part of the traditional marine diet.

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Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are highly persistent chemicals that might be associated with asthma and allergy, but the associations remain unclear. Therefore, this study examined whether pre- and postnatal PFAS exposure was associated with childhood asthma and allergy. Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination in early life may have a protective effect against asthma and allergy, and MMR vaccination is therefore taken into account when evaluating these associations.

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The aim of this study was to determine whether maternal exposure to persistent perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) affect the capability to breastfeed. In two Faroese birth cohorts (N=1130), concentrations of five PFASs were measured in maternal serum during pregnancy or two weeks after term. Duration of breastfeeding was assessed by questionnaire and clinical interview.

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Objective: To test the hypothesis that having a scar and a positive tuberculin skin test (TST) response after vaccination with Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is associated with reduced infant mortality.

Methods: We studied cohorts of 2709 normal-birthweight (NBW) and 1102 low-birthweight (LBW) infants in Guinea-Bissau. Children were enrolled in randomised trials between year 2002 and 2008 and received BCG vaccination at birth.

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Background: The existing literature on the association between measles vaccination and subsequent risk of allergic disease is inconclusive. The aim of this study was, therefore, to determine whether measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination administered in early childhood was associated with asthma and allergic diseases at ages 5, 7 and 13 yrs in a birth cohort.

Methods: In the Faroe Islands, 640 children were followed from birth.

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