Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Résumé : International audience
Long-term exposure to persistent pollutants with hormonal properties (endocrine-disrupting chemicals, EDCs) may contribute to the risk of prostate cancer (PCa). However, epidemiological evidence remains limited. We investigated the relationship between PCa and plasma concentrations of universally widespread pollutants, in particular p,p'-dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene (DDE) and the non-dioxin like polychlorinated biphenyl congener 153 (PCB153). We evaluated before treatment 576 men with newly diagnosed PCa and 655 controls in Guadeloupe (French West Indies). Exposure was analyzed according to case-control status. Associations were assessed by unconditional logistic regression analysis, controlling for confounding factors. Missing data were handled by multiple imputation. We estimated a significant positive association between DDE and PCa (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.53; 95% CI 1.02, 2.30 for the highest versus lowest quintile of exposure; PTrend = 0.01). PCB153 was inversely associated with PCa (OR 0.30; 95% CI 0.19, 0.47 for the highest versus lowest quintile of exposure values; PTrend < 0.001). Also, PCB153 was more strongly associated to low-grade than high grade PCa. Associations of PCa with DDE and PCB153 were in opposite directions. This may reflect differences in the mechanisms of action of these EDCs, and although our findings need to be replicated in other populations, they are consistent with complex effects of EDCs on human health.
ISSN: 0091-6765

hal-01118553
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01118553
DOI : 10.1289/ehp.1408407
PUBMED : 25493337

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Résumé : International audience
Safe drinking water is essential for well-being. Although microbiological contamination remains the largest cause of water-related morbidity and mortality globally, chemicals in water supplies may also cause disease, and evidence of the human health consequences is limited or lacking for many of them. We aimed to summarize the state of knowledge, identify gaps in understanding, and provide recommendations for epidemiological research relating to chemicals occurring in drinking water. Assessing exposure and the health consequences of chemicals in drinking water is challenging. Exposures are typically at low concentrations, measurements in water are frequently insufficient, chemicals are present in mixtures, exposure periods are usually long, multiple exposure routes may be involved, and valid biomarkers reflecting the relevant exposure period are scarce. In addition, the magnitude of the relative risks tends to be small. Research should include well-designed epidemiological studies covering regions with contrasting contaminant levels and sufficient sample size; comprehensive evaluation of contaminant occurrence in combination with bioassays integrating the effect of complex mixtures; sufficient numbers of measurements in water to evaluate geographical and temporal variability; detailed information on personal habits resulting in exposure (e.g., ingestion, showering, swimming, diet); collection of biological samples to measure relevant biomarkers; and advanced statistical models to estimate exposure and relative risks, considering methods to address measurement error. Last, the incorporation of molecular markers of early biological effects and genetic susceptibility is essential to understand the mechanisms of action. There is a particular knowledge gap and need to evaluate human exposure and the risks of a wide range of emerging contaminants.
ISSN: 0091-6765

hal-01118530
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01118530
PUBMED : 24380896
DOI : 10.1289/ehp.1206229
PUBMEDCENTRAL : PMC3948022

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Résumé : International audience
Background: Infant exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may contribute to obesity. However, many studies so far have been small, focused on transplacental exposure, used an inappropriate measure to assess postnatal exposure through breastfeeding if any, or did not discern between prenatal and postnatal effects.Objectives: We investigated prenatal and postnatal exposure to POPs and infant growth (a predictor of obesity).Methods: We pooled data from seven European birth cohorts with biomarker concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyl 153 (PCB-153) (n = 2,487), and p,p´-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p´-DDE) (n = 1,864), estimating prenatal and postnatal POPs exposure using a validated pharmacokinetic model. Growth was change in weight-for-age z-score between birth and 24 months. Per compound, multilevel models were fitted with either POPs total exposure from conception to 24 months or prenatal or postnatal exposure.Results: We found a significant increase in growth associated with p,p´-DDE, seemingly due to prenatal exposure (per interquartile increase in exposure, adjusted β = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.22). Due to heterogeneity across cohorts, this estimate cannot be considered precise, but does indicate that an association with infant growth is present on average. In contrast, a significant decrease in growth was associated with postnatal PCB-153 exposure (β = –0.10; 95% CI: –0.19, –0.01).Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the largest study to date of POPs exposure and infant growth, and it contains state-of-the-art exposure modeling. Prenatal p,p´-DDE was associated with increased infant growth, and postnatal PCB-153 with decreased growth at European exposure levels.
ISSN: 0091-6765

hal-01196597
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01196597
DOI : 10.1289/ehp.1308005
PUBMED : 25742056

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Résumé : International audience
BACKGROUND: Women of reproductive age can be exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) at work, and exposure to EDCs in pregnancy may affect fetal growth. OBJECTIVES: We assessed whether maternal occupational exposure to EDCs during pregnancy as classified by application of a job exposure matrix was associated with birth weight, term low birth weight (LBW), length of gestation, and preterm delivery. METHODS: Using individual participant data from 133,957 mother-child pairs in 13 European cohorts spanning births from 1994 through 2011, we linked maternal job titles with exposure to 10 EDC groups as assessed through a job exposure matrix. For each group, we combined the two levels of exposure categories (possible and probable) and compared birth outcomes with the unexposed group (exposure unlikely). We performed meta-analyses of cohort-specific estimates. RESULTS: Eleven percent of pregnant women were classified as exposed to EDCs at work during pregnancy, based on job title. Classification of exposure to one or more EDC group was associated with an increased risk of term LBW [odds ratio (OR) = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.49], as were most specific EDC groups; this association was consistent across cohorts. Further, the risk increased with increasing number of EDC groups (OR = 2.11; 95% CI: 1.10, 4.06 for exposure to four or more EDC groups). There were few associations (p < 0.05) with the other outcomes; women holding job titles classified as exposed to bisphenol A or brominated flame retardants were at higher risk for longer length of gestation. CONCLUSION: Results from our large population-based birth cohort design indicate that employment during pregnancy in occupations classified as possibly or probably exposed to EDCs was associated with an increased risk of term LBW.
ISSN: 0091-6765

hal-01405823
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01405823
DOI : 10.1289/EHP208
PUBMED : 27152464

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Résumé : International audience
Background: Glycol ethers (GE) are widely used organic solvents. Despite the potential neurotoxicity of several families of organic solvents, little is known about the impact of GE on the neurodevelopment of infants and children. Objectives: We investigated the relation between urinary concentrations of GE metabolites in pregnant women and neurocognitive abilities in their 6-year-old children in the PELAGIE mother-child cohort. Methods: Five GE metabolites were measured in first morning void urine samples of 204 French pregnant women in early pregnancy (<19 weeks of gestation). Psychologists assessed the neurocognitive abilities of their 6-year-old children with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children IV (WISC) and the Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment (NEPSY). We analyzed the results with linear (WISC) and Poisson regression models (NEPSY), adjusted for potential confounders, including child's stimulation at home. Results: GE metabolites were detected in 90-100% of maternal urine samples. The WISC Verbal Comprehension score was significantly lower for children with the highest tertile of urinary phenoxyacetic acid (PhAA) [beta (third vs. first tertile)=-6.53; 95% CI: -11.44, -1.62]. Similarly, the NEPSY Design Copying subtest score was lower in those with the highest tertile of urinary ethoxyacetic acid (EAA) [beta (third vs. first tertile)=-0.11; 95% CI: -0.21, 0.00]. The other GE metabolites we studied were not significantly associated with WISC or NEPSY scores. Conclusions: Prenatal urine concentrations of two GE metabolites were associated with lower WISC Verbal Comprehension Index scores and NEPSY Design Copying subscale scores, respectively, at age 6 years. PhAA is the primary metabolite of 2-phenoxyethanol (EGPhE), which is commonly found in cosmetics, and precursors of EAA are frequently used in cleaning agents. Additional research is needed to confirm our findings and further explore potential effects of prenatal GE exposures on neurocognitive performance in children.
ISSN: 0091-6765

hal-01519256
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01519256
DOI : 10.1289/EHP39
PUBMED : 27740510

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Résumé : International audience
BACKGROUND: Glycol ethers are present in a wide range of occupational and domestic products. Animal studies have suggested that some of them may affect ovarian function. OBJECTIVE: To study the relation between women's exposure to glycol ethers and time to pregnancy. METHODS: Urine from randomly selected women in the PELAGIE mother-child cohort who had samples collected before 19 weeks of gestation was tested to measure eight glycol ether metabolites by chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Time to pregnancy was collected at the beginning of the pregnancy by asking women how many months they took to conceive. Associations between metabolite levels and time to pregnancy were estimated in 519 women with complete data using discrete-time Cox proportional hazards models to adjust for potential confounders. RESULTS: Glycol ether metabolites were detected in 6% (for ethoxyacetic acid) to 93% (for phenoxyacetic and butoxyacetic acids) of urine samples. Phenoxyacetic acid was the only metabolite with a statistically significant association with longer time to pregnancy (fecundability OR 0.82; 95% CI: 0.63, 1.06 for the second and third quartile combined; fecundability OR 0.70; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.95 for a fourth-quartile (≥1.38 mg/L) vs. first-quartile concentration (<0.14 mg/L)). This association remained stable after multiple sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION: Phenoxyacetic acid, which was present in most of the urine samples tested in our study, was associated with increased time to pregnancy. This metabolite and its main parent compound, 2-phenoxyethanol, are plausible causes of decreased fecundability, but may also be surrogates for potential co-exposures frequently present in cosmetics.
ISSN: 0091-6765

hal-00866023
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00866023
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00866023/document
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00866023/file/Urinary_Glycol_Ether-accepted.pdf
DOI : 10.1289/ehp.1206103