Association Between Antibiotic Exposure During Pregnancy and Postpartum Depressive Symptoms: The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS) are a common mental health condition among women after delivery. Although various causative factors have been reported, PDS remains a challenging condition to predict and prevent. The disruption of the gut microbiota due to antibiotic exposure has been reported to affect psychiatric conditions.

Effect of Neonicotinoid Pesticides on Japanese Water Systems: Review with Focus on Reproductive Toxicity.

Neonicotinoid pesticides (NPs) are neurotoxic substances. They are highly effective as insecticides owing to their water solubility, permeability, and long-lasting activity. These molecules are structurally similar to nicotine and act as nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists.

Association between telomere length in human umbilical cord tissues and polychlorinated biphenyls in maternal and cord serum.

Environmental exposure to persistent organic pollutants during pregnancy has potential adverse health effects on the fetus. One of the environmental pollutants is polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB). Earlier, we reported the presence of PCBs in fetal tissues such as the umbilical cord.

Association between Total and Individual PCB Congener Levels in Maternal Serum and Birth Weight of Newborns: Results from the Chiba Study of Mother and Child Health Using Weighted Quantile Sum Regression.

Maternal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during pregnancy is associated with a low birth weight; however, the congener-specific effects of PCB congeners are not well defined. In this study, we used maternal serum samples from the Chiba Study of Mother and Child Health (C-MACH) cohort, collected at 32 weeks of gestational age, to analyze the effects of PCB congener exposure on birth weight by examining the relationship between newborn birth weight and individual PCB congener levels in maternal serum (n = 291). The median total PCB level in the serum of mothers of male and female newborns at approximately 32 weeks of gestation was 39 and 37 ng g lipid wt, respectively.

Assessment of Personal Relaxation in Indoor-Air Environments: Study in Real Full-Scale Laboratory Houses.

The relationship between chemical concentrations in indoor air and the human sense of comfort and relaxation have been reported. We investigated the effect of the sum of volatile organic compounds (ΣVOCs; sum of 79 VOCs) on the level of relaxation in two laboratory houses with almost identical interior and exterior appearances. The electroencephalogram (EEG) was monitored to evaluate the degree of personal relaxation objectively.

Association between sum of volatile organic compounds and occurrence of building-related symptoms in humans: A study in real full-scale laboratory houses.

It is well known that the indoor environment, particularly indoor air quality (IAQ), has significant effects on building-related symptoms (BRSs) in humans, such as irritation of mucosal membranes, headaches, and allergies, such as asthma and atopic dermatitis. In 2017, Chiba University launched the "Chemiless Town Project Phase 3" to investigate the relationship between IAQ and human health. Two laboratory houses (LHs) were built on a university campus in which the interiors and exteriors were similar, but the levels of indoor air volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were different.

Concentrations of Formic Acid, Acetic Acid, and Ammonia in Newly Constructed Houses.

Herein, the concentrations of formic acid, acetic acid, and ammonia in samples of indoor air for 47 new houses were measured two weeks after completion. The houses were fabricated with light-gauge steel structures. The measurements were performed in living rooms and bedrooms without furniture and outdoors.

Indoor Air Quality Analysis of Newly Built Houses.

Recently, people have become increasingly aware of potential health issues related to indoor environments. In this study, we measure the concentrations of various volatile organic compounds, carbonyl compounds, and semi-volatile organic compounds, as well as the ventilation rates, in 49 new houses with light-gauge steel structures one week after completion. The proper indoor air quality of new residential environments can be ensured by characterizing people's exposure to certain chemicals and assessing future risks.

An Altered DNA Methylation Status in the Human Umbilical Cord Is Correlated with Maternal Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls.

Maternal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) results in abnormal fetal development, possibly because of epigenetic alterations. However, the association between PCB levels in cord serum with fetal DNA methylation status in cord tissue is unclear. This study aims to identify alterations in DNA methylation in cord tissue potentially associated with PCB levels in cord serum from a birth cohort in Chiba, Japan (male neonates = 32, female neonates = 43).

The relationship of maternal PCB, toxic, and essential trace element exposure levels with birth weight and head circumference in Chiba, Japan.

Maternal exposure to high levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and trace elements is an important concern for fetal growth. In our previous study, we showed the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels in maternal serum from the Chiba Study of Mother and Child Health (C-MACH) cohort and their relationships between PCB levels in cord serum with birth weight of newborn. Various reports on the relationship between chemical exposure and birth status have been published; however, studies that analyze the effects of both PCB and metal exposure together in one cohort are still limited.

Alterations in urinary metabolomic profiles due to lead exposure from a lead-acid battery recycling site.

Lead poisoning is considered a public health threat, particularly in developing countries. Health problems from Pb exposure occur in many parts of the world, especially near Pb mines, Pb smelters, and used lead-acid battery (ULAB) recycling plants. In this study, we analyzed the urine metabolome of residents in a village located near a ULAB recycling facility to investigate the biological effects of Pb exposure (ULAB: n = 44, Reference: n = 51).

Fetal exposure markers of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs.

Fetal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated-p-dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) have been associated with a number of adverse health outcomes. Although the placenta acts as a barrier between the mother and the fetus, these contaminants transfer through the placenta exposing the fetus. Several studies have investigated placental transfer, but few have assessed the co-variation among these contaminants.

Dietary Habits and Cooking Methods Could Reduce Avoidable Exposure to PCBs in Maternal and Cord Sera.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), like other persistent organic pollutants, are accumulating throughout the food chain and pose health threats to humans, especially children and foetuses. There is no protocol for reducing the contamination levels of the PCBs in humans. This study identified food items and cooking methods that reduce serum PCB levels by analysing data collected from the Chiba Study of Mother and Child Health.

For a healthier future: a virtuous cycle for reducing exposure to persistent organic pollutants.

In the modern society, people are exposed to various pollutants during their lifetime. Worldwide, the status of children's health has changed in recent decades. Some studies have attempted to identify the causes of these changes and whether they relate to pollutant exposure; however, such attempts have faced major challenges because human life is complex, involving many social and environmental factors.

Assessment of questionnaire-based PCB exposure focused on food frequency in birth cohorts in Japan.

We investigated the relationship between food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) responses and serum polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels of mothers and fathers recruited from the Chiba Regional Center, which is one of the 15 regional centers of the Japan Environment and Children's Study (mothers: n = 1477, fathers: n = 219). The expected PCB values were estimated from the participants' FFQ answers and medical records (age, body mass index and number of deliveries). Based on the stepwise forward selection results of Bayesian regression models, age and fish and egg consumption were positively associated with PCB concentrations and a number of deliveries were negatively associated with PCB concentrations in mothers, whereas only age was positively associated with PCB concentrations in fathers.

Chiba study of Mother and Children's Health (C-MACH): cohort study with omics analyses.

Purpose: Recent epidemiological studies have shown that environmental factors during the fetal period to early childhood might affect the risk of non-communicable diseases in adulthood. This is referred to as the developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) concept. The Chiba study of Mother and Children's Health (C-MACH) is a birth cohort study based on the DOHaD hypothesis and involves multiomics analysis.

Maternal-fetal transfer rates of PCBs, OCPs, PBDEs, and dioxin-like compounds predicted through quantitative structure-activity relationship modeling.

The present study aims to predict the maternal-fetal transfer rates of the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and dioxin-like compounds using a quantitative structure-activity relationship model. The relation between the maternal-fetal transfer rate and the contaminants' physicochemical properties was investigated by multiple linear regression (MLR), partial least square regression (PLS), and random forest regression (RF). The 10-fold cross-validation technique estimated low predictive performances for both MLR and PLS models (R  = 0.

Correlation between human maternal-fetal placental transfer and molecular weight of PCB and dioxin congeners/isomers.

Establishing methods for the assessment of fetal exposure to chemicals is important for the prevention or prediction of the child's future disease risk. In the present study, we aimed to determine the influence of molecular weight on the likelihood of chemical transfer from mother to fetus via the placenta. The correlation between molecular weight and placental transfer rates of congeners/isomers of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins was examined.

Polychlorinated biphenyl levels in the blood of Japanese individuals ranging from infants to over 80 years of age.

Individuals' exposure to various persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and its adverse health effects have been a cause of concern. We measured blood PCB concentrations from samples taken from 507 Japanese individuals ranging from infants to those over 80 years of age. The blood PCB levels increased with age for both male (Spearman's r = 0.

The influence of environmental exposure to formaldehyde in nasal mucosa of medical students during cadaver dissection.

Background: Environmental exposure to formaldehyde is commonly associated with clinical symptoms such as mucosal irritation and olfactory disorders. However, the impact of such exposure on the development of mucosal inflammation and its outcome has not been carefully evaluated.

Methods: The observational non-comparative study was planned.

Establishment of sustainable health science for future generations: from a hundred years ago to a hundred years in the future.

Recently, we have investigated the relationship between environment and health from a scientific perspective and developed a new academic field, "Sustainable Health Science" that will contribute to creating a healthy environment for future generations. There are three key points in Sustainable Heath Science. The first key point is "focusing on future generations"-society should improve the environment and prevent possible adverse health effects on future generations (Environmental Preventive Medicine).

Strong correlation between the concentration of dioxins and total PCBs in current Japanese people.

The purpose of this study was to establish an economic and efficient method to screen total PCBs and total dioxins (PCDDs+PCDFs+Co-PCBs) in the highly exposed people in Japan. In this paper, we suggest use of total PCBs in human blood to represent other persistent organic pollutants, especially dioxins. Twenty blood samples were collected from Japanese volunteers.

The contamination levels of organochlorines and the pattern of gene expressions in human umbilical cords from intra-pairs of twins at delivery.

In this study, we examined the contamination levels of organochlorines and the patterns of gene expressions using umbilical cords of twins. The contamination levels of total PCBs, HCB and HCHs of intra-pair of twins were close to each other, but that of DDTs were not so as the others. It shows that the placental or fetal factor may influence the transfer or the accumulation of DDTs.