Probabilistic estimates of prenatal lead exposure at 195 toxic hotspots in low- and middle-income countries.

Background: Prior estimates of pediatric lead-related disease burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) used population estimates of maternal blood lead levels (BLLs). This approach may underestimate fetal BLLs by not considering potentially high prenatal lead exposure from toxic hotspots OBJECTIVES: We developed a probabilistic approach to using the Adult Lead Methodology (ALM) to estimate fetal BLLs from prenatal exposure to lead-contaminated soil at hotspots in the Toxic Site Identification Program (TSIP).

Methods: We created distributions for each ALM parameter using published literature and extracted soil lead measurements from the TSIP database.

Blood lead levels in Mexico and pediatric burden of disease implications.

Background: Although there has been success in reducing lead exposure with the phase-out of leaded gasoline, exposure to lead in Mexico continues to threaten the health of millions, much of which is from lead-based glazes used in pottery that leaches into food.

Objectives: An extensive historical review and analysis of available data on blood lead levels in Mexican populations was conducted. We used a calculated geometric mean to evaluate the effect of lead on the pediatric burden of disease.

Prenatal bisphenol A exposure and maternally reported behavior in boys and girls.

Prenatal exposure to gonadal hormones plays a major role in the normal development of the male and female brain and sexually dimorphic behaviors. Hormone-dependent differences in brain structure and function suggest that exposure to exogenous endocrine disrupting chemicals may be associated with sex-specific alterations in behavior. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental chemical that has been shown to alter estrogen, androgen, and thyroid hormone signaling pathways.

Environmental health attitudes and behaviors: findings from a large pregnancy cohort study.

Objective: Environmental chemicals are widely found in food and personal care products and may have adverse effects on fetal development. Our aim was to examine women's attitudes about these chemicals and ask whether they try to limit their exposure during pregnancy.

Study Design: A multi-center cohort of women in the first trimester of pregnancy completed questionnaires including items on attitudes and behaviors related to environmental chemicals.

Prenatal phthalate exposures and neurobehavioral development scores in boys and girls at 6-10 years of age.

Background: There is concern over potential neurobehavioral effects of prenatal phthalate exposures, but available data are inconsistent.

Objectives: We examined associations between prenatal urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites and neurobehavioral scores among children.

Methods: We measured phthalate metabolite concentrations in urine samples from 153 pregnant participants in the Study for Future Families, a multicenter cohort study.

Prenatal exposure to methylmercury and LCPUFA in relation to birth weight.

Background: Epidemiologic studies have been inconclusive regarding the impact of coexposure to long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) and methylmercury (MeHg) from fish consumption during pregnancy on measures of fetal development.

Objectives: We evaluated the association between birth weight and prenatal maternal LCPUFA status and MeHg exposure in the Republic of Seychelles.

Methods: We measured LCPUFA in maternal whole blood collected at 28 weeks of gestation and following delivery and MeHg in maternal hair obtained at delivery.

Depressive symptoms are associated with allostatic load among community-dwelling older adults.

The allostatic load model has been used to quantify the physiological costs of the body's response to repeated stressful demands and may provide a useful, integrative perspective on the various correlates of late-life depressive symptoms. We interviewed 125 Rochester, NY adults, ranging in age from 67 to 94 years. We employed an allostatic load score as a measure of multisystem dysfunction in hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis function, immune function, anabolic activity, and cardiovascular activity.

Blood pressure and cognitive function: a prospective analysis among adolescents in Seychelles.

Objective: An inverse relationship between blood pressure (BP) and cognitive function has been found in adults, but limited data are available in adolescents and young adults. We examined the prospective relation between BP and cognitive function in adolescence.

Methods: We examined the association between BP measured at the ages of 12-15 years in school surveys and cognitive endpoints measured in the Seychelles Child Development Study at ages 17 (n = 407) and 19 (n = 429) years, respectively.

Choline status and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 5 years of age in the Seychelles Child Development Nutrition Study.

Choline is an essential nutrient that is found in many food sources and plays a critical role in the development of the central nervous system. Animal studies have shown that choline status pre- and postnatally can have long-lasting effects on attention and memory; however, effects in human subjects have not been well studied. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between plasma concentrations of free choline and its related metabolites in children and their neurodevelopment in the Seychelles Child Development Nutrition Study, an ongoing longitudinal study assessing the development of children born to mothers with high fish consumption during pregnancy.

Multisystem physiological dysfunction is associated with depressive symptoms in a population-based sample of older adults.

Objective: To evaluate the association between multisystem physiological dysfunction and depressive symptom severity in the US older adults.

Methods: We examined 2405 adults of age 60 years and older by using the data from the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We constructed a summary score of "physiological dysfunction," encompassing cardiovascular function, glucose regulation, liver function, and renal function.

Socioeconomic factors and phthalate metabolite concentrations among United States women of reproductive age.

Introduction: Relatively little is known about the socioeconomic correlates of phthalate metabolite urine concentrations among the general population, exposures of increasing public health concern, particularly for women of reproductive age.

Methods: We pooled data from the 2001-2008 cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to examine the associations between phthalate metabolite concentrations (including the molar sum of four di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) metabolites, the molar sum of two dibutyl phthalate (DBP) metabolites, and metabolites of benzylbutyl phthalate (BzBP) and diethyl phthalate (DEP)) with socioeconomic indicators (including ethnicity, education, income, and food security status) among women 20 to 39 years age. We also derived a socioeconomic status summary measure using factor analysis and investigated its associations with metabolite concentrations.

Physiologic dysfunction scores and cognitive function test performance in U.S. adults.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between a measure of cumulative physiologic dysfunction and specific domains of cognitive function.

Methods: We examined a summary score measuring physiologic dysfunction, a multisystem measure of the body's ability to effectively adapt to physical and psychological demands, in relation to cognitive function deficits in a population of 4511 adults aged 20 to 59 who participated in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994). Measures of cognitive function comprised three domains: working memory, visuomotor speed, and perceptual-motor speed.

Socioeconomic position and cognitive function in the Seychelles: a life course analysis.

Objective: Poorer socioeconomic conditions early in life have been linked with memory, attention and learning deficits in adulthood, as well as with specific areas of educational achievement. It remains unclear, however, whether these distal associations are mediated by more current socioeconomic factors. In this study, we sought to confirm the relation between early-life socioeconomic position (SEP) and adult cognitive function, and to examine potential mediation by contemporaneous SEP.

Associations between immunologic, inflammatory, and oxidative stress markers with severity of depressive symptoms: an analysis of the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Previous studies have demonstrated increased levels of serum markers of systemic inflammation and immune system function among individuals with depressive symptoms. Despite these observations, the biological mechanisms behind this association remain elusive. The objective of the present analysis was to examine the individual and joint associations of white blood cell counts, platelet counts, and C-reactive protein with depression severity and to determine whether oxidative stress might mediate these associations.