Editorial Material
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Barrett M. Welch, Alexander P. Keil, Jessie P. Buckley, Antonia M. Calafat, Kate E. Christenbury, Stephanie M. Engel, Katie M. O'Brien, Emma M. Rosen, Tamarra James-Todd, Ami R. Zota, Kelly K. Ferguson
Summary: Preterm birth is a major cause of neonatal mortality, especially in the United States. Environmental chemical exposure, such as phthalates, may contribute to preterm birth. Prenatal phthalate exposure has been associated with adverse neurodevelopment in children and disordered development of the male reproductive tract.
OBSTETRICAL & GYNECOLOGICAL SURVEY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jennifer J. Yland, Yu Zhang, Paige L. Williams, Vicente Mustieles, Stylianos Vagios, Irene Souter, Antonia M. Calafat, Russ Hauser, Carmen Messerlian
Summary: This study found that preconception and prenatal exposure to phthalates may increase the risk of preterm birth, particularly in late pregnancy, especially the DEHP metabolites. This suggests that these chemicals may have adverse effects on women's health and fetal development.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yunjiang Yu, Xiao-Di Qin, Michael S. Bloom, Chu Chu, Xin Dai, Qin-Qin Li, Zan-Xiong Chen, Min-Li Kong, Yan-Qi Xie, Wen-Jie Meng, Bo-Yi Yang, Li-Wen Hu, Xiao-Wen Zeng, Xiao-Miao Zhao, Yang Zhou, Guang-Hui Dong
Summary: The study found that high maternal PFAS exposure was associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, while individual paternal PFAS exposure showed a contradictory relationship. Family-level PFAS mixture concentration was positively associated with preterm birth risk.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Juan Liu, Fengyu Ruan, Shuting Cao, Yuanyuan Li, Shunqing Xu, Wei Xia
Summary: Exposure to multi-metal mixture is associated with a higher risk of preterm birth, with Vanadium identified as the most important risk factor among co-exposed metals for PTB.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Yu Zhang, Vicente Mustieles, Paige L. Williams, Jennifer Yland, Irene Souter, Joseph M. Braun, Antonia M. Calafat, Russ Hauser, Carmen Messerlian
Summary: The study found associations between prenatal urinary bisphenol A (BPA) and paraben concentrations with preterm birth, particularly during mid-to-late pregnancy and among female infants. The risk of preterm birth may be compound, sex, and window specific.
FERTILITY AND STERILITY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dennis Khodasevich, Nina Holland, Alan Hubbard, Kim Harley, Julianna Deardorff, Brenda Eskenazi, Andres Cardenas
Summary: This study investigated the impact of prenatal exposure to 11 phthalate metabolites on epigenetic aging in children. The results suggest that certain phthalates are associated with epigenetic aging in children, and the effect may vary depending on sex and timing of measurement.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jooah Lee, Jeeyoung Kim, Sabrina Shafi Zinia, Jaehyun Park, Sungho Won, Woo Jin Kim
Summary: Exposure to phthalates during pregnancy has been found to affect the human endocrine system and have negative effects on pregnant women and their children. A study was conducted in a Korean birth cohort to investigate the association between prenatal phthalate exposure and DNA methylation patterns in the cord blood of infants. The results revealed significant associations between phthalate levels and DNA methylation at multiple CpG sites, suggesting that these alterations in DNA methylation may serve as biomarkers of maternal exposure to phthalates and provide insights into the mechanisms of phthalate impact on maternal and neonatal health.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Katherine W. Reeves, Gabriela Vieyra, Nydjie P. Grimes, Jaymie Meliker, Rebecca D. Jackson, Jean Wactawski-Wende, Robert Wallace, R. Thomas Zoeller, Carol Bigelow, Susan E. Hankinson, JoAnn E. Manson, Jane A. Cauley, Antonia M. Calafat
Summary: The study found that certain phthalate biomarkers were associated with greater percentage decreases in total hip and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD), suggesting that phthalate exposure may have clinically significant effects on BMD and potentially increase fracture risk.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gabriela Vieyra, Susan E. Hankinson, Youssef Oulhote, Laura N. Vandenberg, Lesley Tinker, JoAnn E. Manson, Aladdin H. Shadyab, Cynthia A. Thomson, Wei Bao, Matthew Allison, Andrew O. Odegaard, Katherine W. Reeves
Summary: This study evaluated the associations between urinary phthalate biomarkers and visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue. The findings showed positive associations between certain phthalate biomarkers and visceral adipose tissue three years later, as well as a positive association between another phthalate biomarker and subcutaneous adipose tissue. The study provides supportive evidence for the relationship between phthalate compounds and abdominal fat accumulation, contributing to a better understanding of the link between obesity and chronic diseases.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Guilan Xie, Ruiqi Wang, Wenfang Yang, Landi Sun, Mengmeng Xu, Boxing Zhang, Liren Yang, Li Shang, Cuifang Qi, Mei Chun Chung
Summary: This study found an association between prenatal PM2.5 exposure and reduced birth weight and impaired renal function. Each 10 μg/m³ increment in prenatal PM2.5 was associated with decreased birth weight, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and increased uric acid (UA). Renal function played a partial role in the relationship between prenatal PM2.5 and birth weight.
Article
Pediatrics
Emma Ronde, Nina M. M. Frerichs, Shauni Brantenaar, Sofia El Manouni El Hassani, Alfian N. N. Wicaksono, James A. A. Covington, Nanne K. H. De Boer, Tim G. G. De Meij, Thomas Hankemeier, Irwin K. M. Reiss, Sam Schoenmakers
Summary: The study suggests that urinary volatile organic compounds may have potential as non-invasive biomarkers for predicting preterm birth and identifying intra-uterine infection and urinary tract infection. Further research in larger populations is recommended.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sophia M. Blaauwendraad, Vincent WV. Jaddoe, Susana Santos, Kurunthachalam Kannan, Gert R. Dohle, Leonardo Trasande, Romy Gaillard
Summary: Fetal exposure to bisphenols and phthalates during pregnancy may have an impact on the development of the reproductive system, particularly in boys. This population-based cohort study investigated the associations between maternal gestational urinary concentrations of these chemicals and offspring reproductive outcomes. The findings suggest that higher maternal concentrations of certain bisphenols and phthalates are associated with alterations in reproductive development in boys.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jilei Lin, Siying Cheng, Jing Zhang, Liebin Zhao, Shuhua Yuan, Lei Zhang, Yong Yin
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the composite effects of different kinds of phthalates on depression risk in the U.S population. The results showed that urinary mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP) and mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) were independent risk factors for depression. There was an incrementally higher risk of depression and moderate/severe depression associated with higher levels of phthalates exposure. Non-Hispanic Black participants were more likely to be affected by high levels of MiBP and MBzP exposure than Mexican American participants.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Nathalie Nidens, Anna Kroenke, Anne Jurkutat, Maike Schlingmann, Tanja Poulain, Matthias Nuechter, Hannu Kiviranta, Antje Koerner, Mandy Vogel, Christian Lindh, Carl-Gustaf Bornehag, Wieland Kiess
Summary: This study found that prenatal exposure to phthalates may affect the birth weight of female infants in a sex-specific manner. This suggests that early exposure to phthalates may have an impact on infant weight development.
BEST PRACTICE & RESEARCH CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qian Li, Corina Lesseur, Pranathi Srirangam, Kirtan Kaur, Karen Hermetz, W. Michael Caudle, Nancy Fiedler, Parinya Panuwet, Tippawan Prapamontol, Warangkana Naksen, Panrapee Suttiwan, Brittney O. Baumert, Ke Hao, Dana Boyd Barr, Carmen J. Marsit, Jia Chen
Summary: The aim of this study is to evaluate changes in the placental transcriptome associated with prenatal exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides. The study found significant negative associations between DEP metabolite and two specific placental gene modules in early and late pregnancy, suggesting that prenatal OP exposure may disrupt placental gene networks in a time-dependent manner.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Corina Lesseur, Khyatiben Pathak, Patrick Pirrotte, Melissa N. Martinez, Kelly K. Ferguson, Emily S. Barrett, Ruby H. N. Nguyen, Sheela Sathyanarayana, Daniele Mandrioli, Shanna H. Swan, Jia Chen
Summary: This study examined the association between prenatal glyphosate exposure and length of gestation, finding that maternal glyphosate and AMPA exposure were associated with shortened gestational length only among spontaneous deliveries. The results suggest widespread exposure to glyphosate in the general population, potentially impacting reproductive health. Larger confirmatory studies are needed to further investigate the effects, especially in vulnerable populations like pregnant women and newborns.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gabriella M. Anic, Brian L. Rostron, Hoda T. Hammad, Dana M. van Bemmel, Arseima Y. Del Valle-Pinero, Carol H. Christensen, Gladys Erives, Lisa M. Faulcon, Benjamin C. Blount, Yuesong Wang, Lanqing Wang, Deepak Bhandari, Antonia M. Calafat, Heather L. Kimmel, Colm D. Everard, Wilson M. Compton, Kathryn C. Edwards, Maciej L. Goniewicz, Binnian Wei, Andrew Hyland, Dorothy K. Hatsukami, Stephen S. Hecht, Raymond S. Niaura, Nicolette Borek, Bridget K. Ambrose, Cindy M. Chang
Summary: Limited data are available on how biomarkers of tobacco exposure change when smokers switch to using electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). This study found that transitioning to exclusive ENDS use or quitting tobacco led to significant reductions in most biomarker concentrations, while dual users experienced smaller changes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Allergy
Keadrea Wilson, Tebeb Gebretsadik, Margaret A. Adgent, Christine Loftus, Catherine Karr, Paul E. Moore, Sheela Sathyanarayana, Nora Byington, Emily Barrett, Nicole Bush, Ruby Nguyen, Terry J. Hartman, Kaja Z. LeWinn, Alexis Calvert, W. Alex Mason, Kecia N. Carroll
Summary: This study investigated the association between breastfeeding duration and child asthma. The results showed a linear protective trend between the duration of any breastfeeding and ever asthma. Furthermore, there was a duration-dependent protective association between exclusive breastfeeding and child asthma outcomes. The protective associations were stronger in dyads with children born by vaginal delivery.
ANNALS OF ALLERGY ASTHMA & IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Sung Kyun Park, Xin Wang, Ning Ding, Carrie A. Karvonen-Gutierrez, Antonia M. Calafat, William H. Herman, Bhramar Mukherjee, Sioban D. Harlow
Summary: This study found a positive association between serum PFAS concentrations and incident diabetes risk, with specific PFAS such as n-PFOA and PFHxS potentially increasing the risk of diabetes. Reducing exposure to these chemicals may be crucial in lowering the risk of diabetes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Danielle R. Stevens, Paige A. Bommarito, Alexander P. Keil, Thomas F. McElrath, Leonardo Trasande, Emily S. Barrett, Nicole R. Bush, Ruby H. N. Nguyen, Sheela Sathyanarayana, Shanna Swan, Kelly K. Ferguson
Summary: This study examined the association between prenatal phthalate metabolite mixtures and fetal growth, and found that the association was modified by fetal sex and omega-3 intake during pregnancy.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jefferey L. Burgess, Julia M. Fisher, Amy Nematollahi, Alesia M. Jung, Miriam M. Calkins, Judith M. Graber, Casey C. Grant, Shawn C. Beitel, Sally R. Littau, John J. Gulotta, Darin D. Wallentine, R. Jeffrey Hughes, Charles Popp, Antonia M. Calafat, Julianne C. Botelho, Alissa D. Coleman, Natasha Schaefer-Solle, Paola Louzado-Feliciano, Simi O. Oduwole, Alberto J. Caban-Martinez
Summary: This study compared serum PFAS concentrations in firefighters from multiple fire departments with a general population sample. The results showed elevated concentrations of several PFAS in firefighters from four departments.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Paige A. Bommarito, David E. Cantonwine, Danielle R. Stevens, Barrett M. Welch, Angel D. Davalos, Shanshan Zhao, Thomas F. McElrath, Kelly K. Ferguson
Summary: This study characterized different profiles of fetal growth using ultrasound measurements, which is important for distinguishing between pathological fetal growth restriction and constitutional smallness.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Maristella Lucchini, Traci A. Bekelman, Mingyi Li, Emily A. Knapp, Yanan Dong, Suyin Ballard, Sean Deoni, Anne L. Dunlop, Amy J. Elliott, Assiamira Ferrara, Chloe Friedman, Maren Galarce, Diane Gilbert-Diamond, Deborah Glueck, Monique Hedderson, Christine W. Hockett, Margaret R. Karagas, Monique K. LeBourgeois, Amy Margolis, Julia McDonald, Pakkay Ngai, Matthew Pellerite, Katherine Sauder, Tengfei Ma, Dana Dabelea
Summary: This study investigates the changes in sleep habits of children aged 4-12 during the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. The findings show that there was a shift to later sleep midpoint, increased sleep latency, and reduced frequency of naps during the pandemic. Children from racial/ethnic minoritized communities had shorter sleep duration, later sleep midpoint, and higher frequency of naps, highlighting the need for further investigation and addressing underlying causes.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jonathon P. Leider, Emily Burke, Ruby H. N. Nguyen, Christine Plepys, Chelsey Kirkland, Beth Resnick, Laura Magan
Summary: This study aims to investigate the trends in degree conferrals, degree-associated debt, and employment outcomes among undergraduate public health degree (UGPHD) graduates. The results show that over 18,000 UGPHDs are awarded each year, totaling more than 140,000 in the past 20 years. UGPHD graduates are highly diverse, with over 80% being women and 55% being individuals from communities of color. They primarily work in for-profit organizations (34%), healthcare (28%), nonprofits (11%), academic organizations (10%), government (10%), and other industries (6%). The degree-associated debt is $24,000, and the median first-year earnings are $34,000. The study concludes that while the growth in UGPHD conferrals has slowed, it remains one of the fastest-growing degrees nationally. However, limited pathways into government remain a significant challenge.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erin R. Wallace, Erin Buth, Adam A. Szpiro, Yu Ni, Christine T. Loftus, Erin Masterson, Drew B. Day, Bob Z. Sun, Alexis Sullivan, Emily Barrett, Ruby HN. Nguyen, Morgan Robinson, Kurunthachalam Kannan, Alex Mason, Sheela Sathyanarayana, Kaja Z. LeWinn, Nicole R. Bush, Catherine J. Karr
Summary: The study examined the association between prenatal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure and behavior in children aged 4-6 years. The results showed that the exposure to 2-hydroxynaphthalene was associated with lower behavior problem scores, while other PAH metabolites were not associated. Boys and children breastfed for more than 6 months were more susceptible, but there was no statistically significant evidence for interaction.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ruby H. N. Nguyen, Emily A. Knapp, Xiuhong Li, Carlos A. Camargo, Elisabeth Conradt, Whitney Cowell, Karen J. Derefinko, Amy J. Elliott, Alexander M. Friedman, Gurjit K. Khurana Hershey, Julie A. Hofheimer, Barry M. Lester, Cindy T. McEvoy, Jenae M. Neiderhiser, Emily Oken, Steven J. Ondersma, Sheela Sathyanarayana, Meagan E. Stabler, Annemarie Stroustrup, Irene Tung, Monica McGrath
Summary: This study analyzed cross-sectional data from 21,905 pregnancies enrolled in the ECHO program in the United States. The study identified characteristics associated with opioid use during pregnancy, including race, pregnancy period, parity, tobacco use, illegal drug use, and maternal depression.
JOURNAL OF WOMENS HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Allergy
Rachel L. Miller, Holly Schuh, Aruna Chandran, Izzuddin M. Aris, Casper Bendixsen, Jeffrey Blossom, Carrie Breton, Carlos A. Camargo Jr, Glorisa Canino, Kecia N. Carroll, Sarah Commodore, Jose F. Cordero, Dana M. Dabelea, Assiamira Ferrara, Rebecca C. Fry, Jody M. Ganiban, James E. Gern, Frank D. Gilliland, Diane R. Gold, Rima Habre, Marion E. Hare, Robyn N. Harte, Tina Hartert, Kohei Hasegawa, Gurjit K. Khurana Hershey, Daniel J. Jackson, Christine Joseph, Jean M. Kerver, Haejin Kim, Augusto A. Litonjua, Carmen J. Marsit, Cindy McEvoy, Eneida A. Mendonca, Paul E. Moore, Flory L. Nkoy, Thomas G. O'Connor, Emily Oken, Dennis Ownby, Matthew Perzanowski, Katherine Rivera-Spoljaric, Patrick H. Ryan, Anne Marie Singh, Joseph B. Stanford, Rosalind J. Wright, Robert O. Wright, Antonella Zanobetti, Edward Zoratti, Christine C. Johnson
Summary: This study found that the incidence rates of asthma with recurrent exacerbations (ARE) are influenced by time, geography, age, race and ethnicity, sex, and parental history. Children aged 2-4 years, Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic Black children, and those with a parental history of asthma had the highest rates of ARE.
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Theresa M. Boyer, Paige A. Bommarito, Barrett M. Welch, John D. Meeker, Tamarra James-Todd, David E. Cantonwine, Thomas F. McElrath, Kelly K. Ferguson
Summary: Excessive gestational weight gain can lead to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. This study explores the association between maternal exposure to phthalates and altered gestational weight gain. The findings suggest that phthalates may be related to higher gestational weight gain, especially among individuals with pre-pregnancy obesity. Further research should investigate the sensitivity to phthalate exposures in pregnant people with obesity.
REPRODUCTIVE TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
P. A. Bommarito, A. Friedman, B. M. Welch, D. E. Cantonwine, M. Ospina, A. M. Calafat, J. D. Meeker, T. F. Mcelrath, K. K. Ferguson
Summary: This study investigated the temporal trends and predictors of OPE exposure in pregnant women from 2007 to 2018. The results showed that concentrations of most OPE biomarkers varied according to sociodemographic factors, suggesting higher burdens of exposure among participants with higher pre-pregnancy BMI, those belonging to racial and ethnic minority populations, and lower educational attainment.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Matthew J. Maenner, Zachary Warren, Ashley Robinson Williams, Esther Amoakohene, Amanda V. Bakian, Deborah A. Bilder, Maureen S. Durkin, Robert T. Fitzgerald, Sarah M. Furnier, Michelle M. Hughes, Christine M. Ladd-Acosta, Dedria McArthur, Elise T. Pas, Angelica Salinas, Alison Vehorn, Susan Williams, Amy Esler, Andrea Grzybowski, Jennifer Hall-Lande, Ruby H. N. Nguyen, Karen Pierce, Walter Zahorodny, Allison Hudson, Libby Hallas, Kristen Clancy Mancilla, Mary Patrick, Josephine Shenouda, Kate Sidwell, Monica DiRienzo, Johanna Gutierrez, Margaret H. Spivey, Maya Lopez, Sydney Pettygrove, Yvette D. Schwenk, Anita Washington, Kelly A. Shaw
Summary: In 2020, the estimated prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among 8-year-old children was approximately 1 in 36, with boys being 3.8 times more likely to have ASD than girls. The prevalence of ASD was lower among White children compared to other racial and ethnic groups, and Black children with ASD were more likely to have an intellectual disability.
MMWR SURVEILLANCE SUMMARIES
(2023)