Review of the environmental prenatal exposome and its relationship to maternal and fetal health

Abstract

Environmental chemicals comprise a major portion of the human exposome, with some shown to impact the health of susceptible populations, including pregnant women and developing fetuses. The placenta and cord blood serve as important biological windows into the maternal and fetal environments. In this article we review how environmental chemicals (defined here to include man-made chemicals [e.g., flame retardants, pesticides/ herbicides, per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances], toxins, metals, and other xenobiotic compounds) contribute to the prenatal exposome and highlight future directions to advance this research field. Our findings from a survey of recent literature indicate the need to better understand the breadth of environmental chemicals that reach the placenta and cord blood, as well as the linkages between prenatal exposures, mechanisms of toxicity, and subsequent health outcomes. Research efforts tailored towards addressing these needs will provide a more comprehensive understanding of how environmental chemicals impact maternal and fetal health.

UV-B Filter Octylmethoxycinnamate Alters the Vascular Contractility Patterns in Pregnant Women with Hypothyroidism

“…Organic UV filters are emerging contaminants present ubiquitously in the environment. Human exposure to these EDCs is a global concern due to their adverse effects on human hormone systems [ 75 , 76 ] and an important target for thyroid disruption [ 76 ] namely in vulnerable populations such as pregnant women [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

“…Among the main endocrine disruptive activities of EDCs the modulation of thyroid activity is highlighted [ 1 ], with studies reporting that EDCs exposure may be correlated with the incidence of thyroid diseases [ 3 , 4 ]. This is particularly relevant on populations more susceptible to endocrine disruption, such as pregnant women and developing fetuses [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”

A Comprehensive Non-targeted Analysis Study of the Prenatal Exposome

“…Environmental exposures have been shown to play an important role in the development of human disease along with exposures to endogenous chemicals and genetic predisposition. 1,2 Exposures to environmental contaminants during pregnancy are of critical importance due to the increased risk for adverse health outcomes that occur during periods of critical and unique susceptibility to biological perturbations, which can increase the risk of both maternal and child adverse health outcomes [3][4][5][6] .…”

“…Prenatal exposures to industrial chemicals have been shown to increase the risk of complications during pregnancy, such as preterm birth, pregnancy-related hypertension, adverse birth outcomes, developmental and neurodevelopmental problems during infancy, and disease during adulthood. [3][4][5][6] Approximately 40,000 chemicals are registered on the inventory of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) as actively used chemicals in the U.S. 7,8 This number does not include chemicals that are regulated by other U.S. statutes, such as pesticides, foods and food additives, drugs, cosmetics, tobacco and tobacco products, and nuclear materials and munitions. 7,8 The actual number of all chemicals used in the U.S. remains unclear but exceeds 40,000.…”

Exposure to toxic metals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and the risk of preeclampsia and preterm birth in the United States: a review

“…During pregnancy, the placenta serves as a "gatekeeper" between maternal and fetal exposures, because it can completely filter or reduce fetal exposure to various toxicants or the opposite as shown by corresponding cord blood levels of certain metals exceeding the levels detected in maternal samples. 34,35 For example, Chen et al 36 demonstrated that mercury levels in cord red blood cells were 1.5 times higher than levels in maternal red blood cells.…”