Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants and offspring allergic sensitization and lung function at 20 years of age.
BACKGROUND
Prenatal exposures to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been associated with asthma medication use and self-reported symptoms, but associations with lung function and allergic sensitization have been minimally explored. The aim of the study was to examine the associations between prenatal exposures to POPs and allergic sensitization and lung function in 20-year-old offspring.


METHODS
In a Danish cohort of 965 pregnant women established in 1988-1989, six polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) were quantified in archived maternal serum drawn in gestational week 30 (n = 872). Among those with available maternal exposure information, at age 20, 421 offspring attended attended a clinical examination including measurements of allergic sensitization (serum-specific IgE ≥ 0.35 kUA /L) (n = 418) and lung function [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1 ) and forced vital capacity (FVC)] (n = 414).


RESULTS
There were no associations between maternal concentrations of POPs and offspring allergic sensitization at 20 years of age. Maternal concentrations of POPs were, however, positively associated with offspring airway obstruction (FEV1 /FVC < 75%). Compared to offspring in the first tertile of exposure, offspring in the third tertile of dioxin-like PCB exposure had an OR of 2.96 (95% CI: 1.14-7.70). Similar associations for non-dioxin-like PCBs, HCB, and p,p'-DDE were 2.68 (1.06-6.81), 2.63 (1.07, 6.46), and 2.87 (1.09, 7.57), respectively. No associations were observed with reduced lung function (FEV1 % of predicted value < 90%).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that prenatal exposure to POPs appears to be associated with airway obstruction but not allergic sensitization at 20 years of age. The findings support that chronic obstructive lung diseases may have at least part of their origins in early life.
Centre for Fetal Programming, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
S
S
Hansen
Centre for Fetal Programming, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
M
M
Strøm
Centre for Fetal Programming, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
S F
SF
Olsen
The Allergy Centre, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.|Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Allergy, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
R
R
Dahl
Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Allergy, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
H J
HJ
Hoffmann
Centre for Fetal Programming, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
C
C
Granström
Department of Public Health, Section for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
D
D
Rytter
Department of Public Health, Section for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
B H
BH
Bech
Research Centre for Prevention and Health, the Capital Region of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Department of Clinical Experimental Research, Glostrup University Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark, Denmark.|Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
A
A
Linneberg
Centre for Fetal Programming, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
E
E
Maslova
Chemicals and Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland.
H
H
Kiviranta
Chemicals and Health Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland.
P
P
Rantakokko
Centre for Fetal Programming, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland.|Unit for Nutrition Research, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland.
T I
TI
Halldorsson
D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000009:adverse effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D055815:Young Adult
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
allergic sensitization; lung function; persistent organic pollutants (POPs); prenatal exposure