Long-term health effects of early life exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE)-contaminated drinking water: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

BackgroundWhile adult exposure to PCE is known to have toxic effects, there is little information on the long-term impact of prenatal and early childhood exposure. We undertook a retrospective cohort study to examine the effects of their early life exposure to PCE-contaminated drinking water. This retrospective cohort study examined whether prenatal and early childhood exposure to PCE-contaminated drinking water influenced the risk of a variety of chronic conditions among adults who were born between 1969 and 1983 in the Cape Cod area of Massachusetts.MethodsEight hundred and thirty-one participants with prenatal and early childhood PCE exposure and 547 unexposed participants were studied. Individuals completed questionnaires to gather information on demographic characteristics, chronic conditions, and other sources of solvent exposure. The location of residences from birth through 1990 were used to estimate PCE exposure with U.S. EPA’s water distribution system modeling software (EPANET) modified to incorporate a leaching and transport model.ResultsNo associations were observed between early life PCE exposure and current occurrence of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, color blindness, near- and far sightedness and dry eyes. In contrast, a 1.8-fold increased risk of cancer (95% CI: 0.8, 4.0) was seen among individuals with any early life exposure. These results were based on 31 participants (23 exposed and 8 unexposed) who reported cancers at a variety of anatomical sites, particularly the cervix. A 1.5-fold increase in the risk of epilepsy (95% CI: 0.6, 3.6, based on 16 exposed and 7 unexposed participants) was also observed among individuals with any early life exposure that was further increased to 1.8 (95% CI: 0.7, 4.6) among those with exposure at or above the sample median.ConclusionsThese results suggest that the risk of epilepsy and certain types of cancer such as cervical cancer may be increased among adults who were exposed to PCE-contaminated drinking water exposure during gestation and early childhood. These findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the study limitations and confirmed in follow-up investigations of similarly exposed populations with medically-confirmed diagnoses. This relatively young study population should also be monitored periodically for subsequent changes in disease risk.

Association of prenatal and early life exposure to tetrachloroethylene (PCE) with polycystic ovary syndrome and other reproductive disorders in the cape cod health study: A retrospective cohort study

“…In a prospective cohort study in women with occupational exposure to organic solvent, the occurrence of a major fetal malformation was increased among women with a risk ratio of 13 (95% CI: 1.8–99.5) [17]. Additionally, associations have been previously reported from this cohort between prenatal PCE exposure and neurological outcomes such as color vision deficits, diminished performance on neuropsychological tests of visuospatial functioning, learning and memory, motor, attention and mood [18–20], stillbirths (RR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.01–5.59), placental abruption (RR:1.35, 95% CI: 0,68–2.67) [21], central nervous system birth defects (OR: 3.1, 95% CI: 0.9–11.0) and oral clefts (OR: 3.2, 95% CI: 0.7–15) [22]. However, few studies have assessed the association of prenatal PCE exposure and PCOS, as well as other adult onset reproductive disorders in women.…”

“…The mother’s cohort was comprised of married women who resided in the Cape Cod area of Massachusetts from 1969 through 1983 in one of eight towns with VL/AC water distribution pipes and who had at least one birth (termed index birth) during this time period. Enrollment methods have been previously described [18] and are summarized here. Eligible mothers were identified by reviewing birth certificates and cross-matching the address on the birth certificate with information collected from water companies on the location and installation year of VL/AC pipes.…”

Unusual case of anxiety: trichloroethylene neurotoxicity

“…However the psychiatric effects are less well-described or understood. [1][2][3] Recent studies have found evidence of alterations of functional brain metabolism in the frontotemporal areas in persons with a history of significant solvent exposure, and this could account for mood changes seen in this case. 3 4 Studies on solvent neurotoxicity showed that 16% of patients who were exposed to solvents presented to a physician with a 'peak exposure period' seeking medical treatment.…”

Target Organ Metabolism, Toxicity, and Mechanisms of Trichloroethylene and Perchloroethylene: Key Similarities, Differences, and Data Gaps

“…For instance, perturbations in visual contrast sensitivity have been observed with chronic exposure to as little as 0.3 ppm PCE (Schreiber et al, 2002;New York State Department of Health, 2010), whereas effects in other organs (e.g., liver or kidney) are not observed until airborne concentrations of PCE are at least two to three orders-of-magnitude higher (US EPA, 2011a). A very recent study reported an increased risk of epilepsy in humans exposed to PCE through contaminated public water supplies during gestation or early childhood (Aschengrau et al, 2015). In addition to the epidemiologic evidence, there are many well-documented neurotoxic effects of both PCE and TCE in experimental animals.…”