Prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins is associated with increased risk of wheeze and infections in infants

Stølevik, Solvor B.; Nygaard, Unni Cecilie; Haugen, Margaretha; Kvalem, Helen Engelstad; Meltzer, Helle Margrete; Alexander, Jan; Delft, J.H.M. van; Loveren, Henk Van; Løvik, Martinus; Granum, Berit

doi:10.1016/j.fct.2011.05.002

Cited by 63 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…To our knowledge, only a few studies have examined developmental exposures to PCBs in relation to wheezing and asthma, and their results have varied, with some reporting positive associations (Grandjean et al 2010; Stolevik et al 2011), whereas another reported an inverse association (Weisglas-Kuperus et al 2000, 2004). In contrast with these studies, we also estimated associations with specific PCB congeners, in addition to the sum of all quantified PCBs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies focusing on background prenatal exposures to PCBs have reported associations with increased respiratory and otitis media infections (Dallaire et al 2006; Glynn et al 2008; Weisglas-Kuperus et al 2000), altered immune cell counts (Glynn et al 2008; Jusko et al 2011; Weisglas-Kuperus et al 2000), and reduced antibody responses to childhood vaccines (Heilmann et al 2006; Weisglas-Kuperus et al 2000). Reports on atopic diseases such as asthma and wheeze have been divergent, with two studies reporting positive associations (Grandjean et al 2010; Stolevik et al 2011) and another reporting an inverse association (Weisglas-Kuperus et al 2000, 2004). At least two studies have reported positive associations between prenatal exposures to p,p ´-DDE and asthma in offspring at 4–9 years of age (Karmaus et al 2001; Sunyer et al 2005), whereas evidence for immunological effects of HCB has mostly been obtained from animal studies (Ezendam et al 2005; Michielsen et al 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Maternal Concentrations of Persistent Organochlorine Pollutants and the Risk of Asthma in Offspring: Results from a Prospective Cohort with 20 Years of Follow-up

Hansen

Strøm

Olsen

et al. 2014

Environ Health Perspect

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Background: Previous findings suggest that developmental exposures to persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs) may be detrimental for the development of the immune system in the offspring. Whether these suspected immunoregulatory effects persist beyond early childhood remains unclear.Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between maternal serum concentrations of POPs and the risk of asthma in offspring after 20 years of follow-up.Methods: A birth cohort with 965 women was formed in 1988–1989 in Aarhus, Denmark. Concentrations of six polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (congeners 118, 138, 153, 156, 170, 180), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p´-DDE) were quantified in maternal serum (n = 872) collected in gestation week 30. Information about offspring use of asthma medications was obtained from the Danish Registry of Medicinal Product Statistics.Results: Maternal serum concentrations of HCB and dioxin-like PCB-118 were positively associated with offspring asthma medication use after 20 years of follow-up (p for trend < 0.05). Compared with subjects in the first tertile of maternal concentration, those in the third tertile of PCB-118 had an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.90 (95% CI: 1.12, 3.23). For HCB the HR for the third versus the first tertile of maternal concentration was 1.92 (95% CI: 1.15, 3.21). Weak positive associations were also estimated for PCB-156 and the non-dioxin-like PCBs (PCBs 138, 153, 170, 180). No associations were found for p,p´-DDE.Conclusions: Maternal concentrations of PCB-118 and HCB were associated with increased risk of asthma in offspring followed through 20 years of age.Citation: Hansen S, Strøm M, Olsen SF, Maslova E, Rantakokko P, Kiviranta H, Rytter D, Bech BH, Hansen LV, Halldorsson TI. 2014. Maternal concentrations of persistent organochlorine pollutants and the risk of asthma in offspring: results from a prospective cohort with 20 years of follow-up. Environ Health Perspect 122:93–99; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1206397

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal Concentrations of Persistent Organochlorine Pollutants and the Risk of Asthma in Offspring: Results from a Prospective Cohort with 20 Years of Follow-up

Hansen

Strøm

Olsen

et al. 2014

Environ Health Perspect

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“…Prenatal exposure to environmental contaminants may increase IgE levels in cord blood [4,5] and in early childhood [6] and may be associated with respiratory or allergic symptoms in preschool children (wheezing or food allergy) [7,8]. Some of these contaminants are present in seafood, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, other polychlorinated compounds, perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), and metals [9,10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal fish and shellfish consumption and wheeze, eczema and food allergy at age two: a prospective cohort study in Brittany, France

et al. 2013

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BackgroundEnvironmental exposures, including dietary contaminants, may influence the developing immune system. This study assesses the association between maternal pre-parturition consumption of seafood and wheeze, eczema, and food allergy in preschool children. Fish and shellfish were studied separately as they differ according to their levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (which have anti-allergic properties) and their levels of contaminants.MethodsThe PELAGIE cohort included 3421 women recruited at the beginning of pregnancy. Maternal fish and shellfish intake was measured at inclusion by a food frequency questionnaire. Wheeze, eczema, and food allergy were evaluated by a questionnaire completed by the mother when the child was 2 years old (n = 1500). Examination of the associations between seafood intake and outcomes took major confounders into account. Complementary sensitivity analyses with multiple imputation enabled us to handle missing data, due mostly to attrition.ResultsModerate maternal pre-parturition fish intake (1 to 4 times a month) was, at borderline significance, associated with a lower risk of wheeze (adjusted OR = 0.69 (0.45-1.05)) before age 2, compared with low intake (< once/month). This result was not, however, consistent: after multiple imputation, the adjusted OR was 0.86 (0.63-1.17). Shellfish intake at least once a month was associated with a higher risk of food allergy before age 2 (adjusted OR = 1.62 (1.11-2.37)) compared to low or no intake (< once/month). Multiple imputation confirmed this association (adjusted OR = 1.52 (1.05-2.21)).ConclusionsThis study suggests that maternal pre-parturition shellfish consumption may increase the risk of food allergy. Further large-scale epidemiologic studies are needed to corroborate these results, identify the contaminants or components of shellfish responsible for the effects observed, determine the persistence of the associations seen at age 2, and investigate potential associations with health effects observable at later ages, such as allergic asthma.

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“…The guidance suggests a weight of evidence approach for the spectrum of available immunotoxicology data. Human studies, such as the epidemiological studies showing an association between prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins and increased risk of wheeze and infections in infants [35], or studies on prenatal exposure to perfluoralkyl substances that demonstrate an association with altered vaccine antibody levels and immune-related health outcomes [36], provide the strongest type of evidence that chemical exposures present a potential hazard to the immune system. However, epidemiological studies often lack precise information on exposure and may not control for important confounding variables.…”

Section: The Use Of Immunotoxicity Data In Risk Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immunotoxicology: A brief history, current status and strategies for future immunotoxicity assessment

Germolec

Luebke

Rooney

et al. 2017

Current Opinion in Toxicology

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Prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins is associated with increased risk of wheeze and infections in infants

Cited by 63 publications

References 45 publications

Maternal Concentrations of Persistent Organochlorine Pollutants and the Risk of Asthma in Offspring: Results from a Prospective Cohort with 20 Years of Follow-up

Maternal Concentrations of Persistent Organochlorine Pollutants and the Risk of Asthma in Offspring: Results from a Prospective Cohort with 20 Years of Follow-up

Maternal fish and shellfish consumption and wheeze, eczema and food allergy at age two: a prospective cohort study in Brittany, France

Immunotoxicology: A brief history, current status and strategies for future immunotoxicity assessment

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