Intrauterine Exposure to Environmental Pollutants and Body Mass Index during the First 3 Years of Life

Abstract

ObjectiveWe investigated the association between body mass index (BMI) standard deviation score (SDS) and prenatal exposure to hexachlorobenzene, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), dioxin-like compounds, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).MethodsIn this prospective birth cohort study, we assessed a random sample of mother–infant pairs (n = 138) living in Flanders, Belgium, with follow-up until the children were 3 years of age. We measured body mass index as standard deviation scores (BMI SDS) of children 1–3 years of age as well as pollutants measured in cord blood.ResultsDDE correlated with BMI SDS, with effect modification by maternal smoking and the child’s age. At 1 year, children of smoking mothers had higher BMI SDS than did children of nonsmoking mothers. At 3 years, this difference was reduced because of the faster rate of decline in BMI SDS in the former group. This relationship held except for children with high levels of DDE. DDE had a small effect on BMI SDS at 3 years of age in children of nonsmoking mothers (difference in BMI SDS for DDE concentrations between the 90th and 10th percentiles = 0.13). On the other hand, smoking enhanced the relation between DDE and BMI SDS at 3 years (difference in BMI SDS for DDE concentrations between the 90th and 10th percentiles = 0.76). Increasing concentrations of PCBs were associated with higher BMI SDS values at all ages (parameter estimate = 0.003 ± 0.001; p = 0.03).ConclusionIn this study we demonstrated that intrauterine exposure to DDE and PCBs is associated with BMI during early childhood. Future studies are warranted to confirm our findings and to assess possible mechanisms by which these pollutants could alter energy metabolism.

Serum concentrations of organochlorine pesticides <i>p,p´</i>-DDE in adult Thai residents with background levels of exposure

“…Hence, global contamination by DDTs has caused serious concerns about possible adverse health effects to humans and animals (UNEP, 2001). Several previous studies have used DDT and its degradation products in human blood serum as biomarkers for health effects (Laden et al, 1999;Perry et al, 2005;Tiido et al, 2006;Qin et al, 2011), including possible negative effects of DDT on thyroid hormone function during pregnancy (Asawasinsopon et al, 2006;Chevrier et al, 2008;Langer et al, 2009), the effect of serum concentration of POPs in female during gestation (Meeker et al, 2009;Wang et al, 2009) as well as effect to their childhood (Verhulst et al, 2009). Other studies have suggested associations between organochlorine pesticides and type 2 diabetes as well as cardiovascular diseases (Codru et al, 2007;Rignell-Hydbom et al, 2009;Lee et al, 2011).…”

Obesity: Development, Epidemiology, Factors Affecting, Quantity, Health Hazards, Management and Natural Treatment-a Review

“…It is known that hormones are key regulators in our body metabolism, body weight mechanisms and many pollutants affect our hormones [37]. For convenience, we spend time in temperature controlled rooms [38,39].…”

Exposition maternelle aux polluants et altération de la santé métabolique à l’âge adulte

“…Cependant, dans un modèle de rongeur, une administration néonatale de diéthylstilbestrol qui induit une activation de la signalisation oestrogénique, entraîne aussi une obésité à l'âge adulte [22]. Une association positive entre les niveaux sériques de diéthylstilbes-trol mesurés à la naissance dans le sang du cordon et l'IMC (indice de masse corporelle) ultérieur des jeunes enfants a également été montrée [23]. Ces résultats soulignent l'importance des fenêtres d'exposition aux composés oestrogéniques dans la survenue des événements métaboliques futurs, possiblement parce que les oestrogènes ont des actions pléiotropes qui dépendent d'interactions contextuelles avec de nombreuses voies de signalisation comme la voie PPAR [24,25].…”