Prenatal pesticide and PCB exposures and birth outcomes.
Evidence is inconsistent or poorly understood for links between polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 1,1'-dichloro-2,2'-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE), and organophosphate (OP) pesticides and adverse pregnancy outcomes, although they are known developmental toxicants. We measured biomarkers of maternal exposure to DDE, PCB, and OP metabolites in the third trimester of pregnancy among 404 mothers in a multiethnic cohort in New York City. We also determined maternal paraoxonase (PON1), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChe), and PON1Q192R gene variant. Higher multivariate-adjusted DDE levels (but not PCB) were associated with lower birth weight (-98 g/log10 DDE, p = 0.096) and head circumference (-0.54 cm/log10 DDE, p = 0.030). DDE and PCB levels were not related to birth length, Ponderal index, or gestational age. Birth length was shorter for mothers with PON192RR slow genotype compared with PON192QQ (p = 0.026), and head circumference was inversely associated with maternal PON1 activity (p = 0.004). With slow-activity PON1 or PON192, urinary diethylphosphates (SigmaDEPs) were associated with lower birth weight and dimethylphosphates (SigmaDMPs) with shorter birth length. No associations were found between birth outcomes and BuChe. In summary, we found suggestive relationships between prenatal environmental biomarkers and birth outcomes in this population. Maternal susceptibility factors including PON1 and maternal weight contributed to the observed effects.
Wolff
Mary S
MS
Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA. mary.wolff@mssm.edu
Engel
Stephanie
S
Berkowitz
Gertrud
G
Teitelbaum
Susan
S
Siskind
Jodi
J
Barr
Dana B
DB
Wetmur
James
J
D000328:Adult; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001724:Birth Weight; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D009519:New York City; D010575:Pesticides / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D010575:Pesticides; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase; C468406:PON1 protein, human