Exposure Levels of Environmental Endocrine Disruptors in Mother-Newborn Pairs in China and Their Placental Transfer Characteristics

Abstract

There is a growing concern about the potential health effects of exposure to various environmental chemicals during pregnancy and infancy. The placenta is expected to be an effective barrier protecting the developing embryo against some endocrine disruptors (EDs) circulating in maternal blood. The current study was designed to assess in utero exposure levels of non-persistent organic pollutants (non-POPs) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Chinese newborns and potential role of placenta barrier against fetal exposure to these commonly-used environmental endocrine disruptors. A total of 230 newborn-mother pairs were enrolled during 2010–2011, 201 pairs of which were recruited from Shanghai, and the other 29 pairs came from Wenzhou. Maternal blood, cord blood, and meconium specimens were collected in the subject population from Shanghai and analyzed for non-POPs, including mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), octylphenol (OP) and 4-nonylphenol (4-NP). A total of 19 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) congeners, which belong to POPs, were detected in maternal and cord blood specimens from the other 29 pairs. Fetal-maternal ratios (F-M ratios) and regression coefficients were presented to assess potential function of placenta on barricading the mother/fetal transfer of these EDs. Concentrations of the detected non-POPs in cord blood samples were approximately 20% lower than those in maternal blood, and regression coefficients of which were all over 0.80. In contrast, PBDEs levels in cord blood samples were significantly higher than those in maternal blood. MEHP levels in meconium were much higher than those in cord blood samples, and highly correlated. Therefore, observations demonstrated that the placental barrier slightly decreased the fetal exposure to most non-POPs, while PBDEs seemed to be totally transferred across the placenta and finally reached the fetus. For in utero exposure assessment of Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), MEHP level in meconium may be a useful biomarker.

Prenatal exposure to phthalates, bisphenol A and perfluoroalkyl substances and cord blood levels of IgE, TSLP and IL-33

“…These contaminants are ubiquitous in the environment; the majority of adults have detectable concentrations in their urine or plasma (NHANES, 2013;Saravanabhavan et al, 2013;Health Canada, 2013). Moreover, maternal urinary or plasma concentrations of phthalates, BPA, and perfluoroalkyl substances results in fetal exposure as these contaminants are known to cross the placenta (Mørck et al, 2010;US DHHS, 1995;Li et al, 2013).…”

Elevated Serum Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Alteration of Thyroid Hormones in Children from Guiyu, China

“…Before this work, a small study compared PBDE levels in children from another ewaste recycling area and a reference site in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, China [36]. The sum of PBDEs reported here in Guiyu children was much higher than that in Taizhou except BDE209, which may indirectly reflect more serious environmental pollution resulting from disassembling of electronic devices in Guiyu [37]. Although Guiyu and Taizhou are two famous e-waste destinations in China, the e-waste disassembling method is not the same.…”

Translational Research in Pediatrics IV: Solid Tissue Collection and Processing

“…[180][181][182][183] Tissue that would otherwise have been discarded, including placentas and umbilical cords, can be obtained for research purposes because their collection poses little risk to the patients. [185][186][187] The placenta has been used in child-health research to investigate preeclampsia, 188 maternal obesity, 63 endocrine disruptors, 189 attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, 64 Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, 190 and vertical virus transmissions. 65,66 Blood drawn from umbilical cord veins has been used for regenerative medicine 72 and stem cell research.…”

“…• Chagas disease 35 • Quilty effect, rejection, C myocarditis reactivation, fi brosis, hypertrophy, and ischemia; as well as lymphocytic cellular infi ltration of myocarditis 35 • Cardiovascular development 167,168 • Morphology and mechanical properties of the atrial intima 167 • Acquired immune defi ciency syndrome 204 • CD4+ T-cell 2 count and HIV viral load, fecal calprotectin, and bowel ultrasound, with the latter evaluating bowel wall thickness and mesenteric lymph nodes 204 Bone marrow PCR, PCR-RFLP, histologic evaluation (Giemsa staining), bone marrow culture 205 • Visceral leishmaniasis 205 • Leishmania DNA 205 Skin Histologic evaluation (H&E), immunoperoxidase 206 • Primary cutaneous plasmacytosis 206 • Search for cell infi ltration of dermis, clusters of B-lymphocytes CD20 reactive, and expression of κ light chains and λ light chains to diagnosis rare disease 206 • Exposure to endocrine disruptors during pregnancy and infancy 189 • Levels of non-POPs (including MEHP, OP, and 4-NP), and PBDEs 189 …”