title: Environmental Chemicals in an Urban Population of Pregnant Women and Their Newborns from San Francisco.
abstract: Exposures to environmental pollutants in utero may increase the risk of adverse health effects. We measured the concentrations of 59 potentially harmful chemicals in 77 maternal and 65 paired umbilical cord blood samples collected in San Francisco during 2010-2011, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hydroxylated PBDEs (OH-PBDEs), and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in serum and metals in whole blood. Consistent with previous studies, we found evidence that concentrations of mercury (Hg) and lower-brominated PBDEs were often higher in umbilical cord blood or serum than in maternal samples (median cord:maternal ratio > 1), while for most PFCs and lead (Pb), concentrations in cord blood or serum were generally equal to or lower than their maternal pair (median cord:maternal ratio ≤ 1). In contrast to the conclusions of a recent review, we found evidence that several PCBs and OCPs were also often higher in cord than maternal serum (median cord:maternal ratio > 1) when concentrations are assessed on a lipid-adjusted basis. Our findings suggest that for many chemicals, fetuses may experience higher exposures than their mothers and highlight the need to characterize potential health risks and inform policies aimed at reducing sources of exposure.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morello-Frosch
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Education, San Francisco State University , San Francisco, California 94132, United States.
authors.forename: Lara J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Cushing
authors.forename: Bill M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Jesdale
authors.affiliation: Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California , San Francisco, California 94143, United States.
authors.forename: Jackie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Environmental Protection Agency , Berkeley, California 94710, United States.
authors.forename: Weihong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Environmental Protection Agency , Berkeley, California 94710, United States.
authors.forename: Tan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Environmental Protection Agency , Berkeley, California 94710, United States.
authors.forename: Miaomiao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Environmental Protection Agency , Berkeley, California 94710, United States.
authors.forename: Suhash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harwani
authors.affiliation: Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Environmental Protection Agency , Berkeley, California 94710, United States.
authors.forename: Syrago-Styliani E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Petropoulou
authors.affiliation: Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Environmental Protection Agency , Berkeley, California 94710, United States.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Duong
authors.affiliation: Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Environmental Protection Agency , Berkeley, California 94710, United States.
authors.forename: June-Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Environmental Protection Agency , Berkeley, California 94710, United States.
authors.forename: Myrto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petreas
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gajek
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alvaran
authors.forename: Jianwen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: She
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dobraca
authors.forename: Rupali
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California , San Francisco, California 94143, United States.
authors.forename: Tracey J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Woodruff
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005260:Female; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D011247:Pregnancy; D012495:San Francisco; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls