title: Association of Prenatal Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants with Obesity and Cardiometabolic Traits in Early Childhood: The Rhea Mother-Child Cohort (Crete, Greece).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may increase risk of obesity later in life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We examined the relation of in utero POPs exposure to offspring obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors at 4 years of age in the Rhea mother-child cohort in Crete, Greece (n = 689).
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in first-trimester maternal serum. We measured child weight, height, waist circumference, skinfold thicknesses, blood pressure (BP), blood levels of lipids, C-reactive protein, and adipokines at 4 years of age. Childhood obesity was defined using age- and sex-specific cut points for body mass index (BMI) as recommended by the International Obesity Task Force.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On multivariable regression analyses, a 10-fold increase in HCB was associated with a higher BMI z-score (adjusted β = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.86), obesity [relative risk (RR) = 8.14; 95% CI: 1.85, 35.81], abdominal obesity (RR = 3.49; 95% CI: 1.08, 11.28), greater sum of skinfold thickness (β = 7.71 mm; 95% CI: 2.04, 13.39), and higher systolic BP (β = 4.34 mmHg; 95% CI: 0.63, 8.05) at 4 years of age. Prenatal DDE exposure was associated with higher BMI z-score (β = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.5), abdominal obesity (RR = 3.76; 95% CI: 1.70, 8.30), and higher diastolic BP (β = 1.79 mmHg; 95% CI: 0.13, 3.46). PCBs were not significantly associated with offspring obesity or cardiometabolic risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prenatal exposure to DDE and HCB was associated with excess adiposity and higher blood pressure levels in early childhood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vafeiadi
authors.forename: Vaggelis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chalkiadaki
authors.forename: Panu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rantakokko
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiviranta
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karachaliou
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fthenou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venihaki
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sarri
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vassilaki
authors.forename: Soterios A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Kyrtopoulos
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oken
authors.forename: Manolis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kogevinas
authors.forename: Leda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chatzi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000633:toxicity; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000633:toxicity; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls