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Toxics
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Prenatal Exposures and Children’s Health
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Prenatal Exposures and Children’s Health

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Toxicology and Epidemiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2022) | Viewed by 17448

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Whitney Cowell

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
Interests: prenatal environmental exposures; chemical/non-chemical stress interactions; placental signalling; endogenous biomarkers; fetal growth; pregnancy outcomes
Dr. Caitlin Howe

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Epidemiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
Interests: environmental mixtures; metals; nutrition; early growth; cardiometabolic health; epigenetics; DOHaD
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fetal development follows a carefully orchestrated sequence of physiological shifts that promote dynamic growth and the establishment of key regulatory systems, among other critical processes. Many environmental chemicals can cross the placenta to directly disrupt this developmental cascade and alter the programming of physiological systems with enduring consequences. The developing fetus also has increased susceptibility to many environmental exposures, given its immature detoxification and other cellular defense pathways. In addition to direct fetal exposure, environmental chemicals may alter the maternal milieu or function of the placenta, which can have downstream consequences for prenatal development. Growing evidence also highlights the importance of considering the combined effect of multiple co-occurring exposures and the potential modifying roles of psychosocial stress and nutritional status.

This issue will explore a variety of topics related to prenatal environmental exposures and the developmental origins of health and disease, with a particular emphasis on the following areas: prenatal programming and the potential for adaptation, environmental or endogenous biomarkers of exposure or effect, impacts on the placenta and/or maternal system, environmental mixtures, and the modifying effects of nutrition and the social environment. Original research articles and reviews are welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Whitney Cowell
Dr. Caitlin Howe
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • prenatal exposures
  • DOHaD
  • programming
  • child health
  • mixtures
  • environmental epidemiology
  • toxicology
  • nutrition

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 525 KiB  
Article
Prenatal PM2.5 Exposure in Relation to Maternal and Newborn Telomere Length at Delivery
by Teresa Durham, Jia Guo, Whitney Cowell, Kylie W. Riley, Shuang Wang, Deliang Tang, Frederica Perera and Julie B. Herbstman
Toxics 2022, 10(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10010013 - 3 Jan 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2587
Abstract
Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) is a ubiquitous air pollutant that is increasingly threatening the health of adults and children worldwide. One health impact of elevated PM2.5 exposure is alterations in telomere length [...] Read more.
Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) is a ubiquitous air pollutant that is increasingly threatening the health of adults and children worldwide. One health impact of elevated PM2.5 exposure is alterations in telomere length (TL)—protective caps on chromosome ends that shorten with each cell division. Few analyses involve prenatal PM2.5 exposure, and paired maternal and cord TL measurements. Here, we analyzed the association between average and trimester-specific prenatal PM2.5 exposure, and maternal and newborn relative leukocyte TL measured at birth among 193 mothers and their newborns enrolled in a New-York-City-based birth cohort. Results indicated an overall negative relationship between prenatal PM2.5 and maternal TL at delivery, with a significant association observed in the second trimester (β = −0.039, 95% CI: −0.074, −0.003). PM2.5 exposure in trimester two was also inversely related to cord TL; however, this result did not reach statistical significance (β = −0.037, 95% CI: −0.114, 0.039), and no clear pattern emerged between PM2.5 and cord TL across the different exposure periods. Our analysis contributes to a limited body of research on ambient air pollution and human telomeres, and emphasizes the need for continued investigation into how PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy influences maternal and newborn health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prenatal Exposures and Children’s Health)
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11 pages, 826 KiB  
Article
Spatially and Temporally Resolved Ambient PM2.5 in Relation to Preterm Birth
by Whitney Cowell, Elena Colicino, Xueying Zhang, Rachel Ledyard, Heather H. Burris, Michele R. Hacker, Itai Kloog, Allan Just, Robert O. Wright and Rosalind J. Wright
Toxics 2021, 9(12), 352; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9120352 - 14 Dec 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2686
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that maternal exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during pregnancy is associated with preterm birth; however, few studies have examined critical windows of exposure, which can help elucidate underlying biologic mechanisms and inform public health messaging for [...] Read more.
Growing evidence suggests that maternal exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during pregnancy is associated with preterm birth; however, few studies have examined critical windows of exposure, which can help elucidate underlying biologic mechanisms and inform public health messaging for limiting exposure. Participants included 891 mother–newborn pairs enrolled in a U.S.-based pregnancy cohort study. Daily residential PM2.5 concentrations at a 1 × 1 km2 resolution were estimated using a satellite-based hybrid model. Gestational age at birth was abstracted from electronic medical records and preterm birth (PTB) was defined as <37 completed weeks of gestation. We used Critical Window Variable Selection to examine weekly PM2.5 exposure in relation to the odds of PTB and examined sex-specific associations using stratified models. The mean ± standard deviation PM2.5 level averaged across pregnancy was 8.13 ± 1.10 µg/m3. PM2.5 exposure was not associated with an increased odds of PTB during any gestational week. In sex-stratified models, we observed a marginal increase in the odds of PTB with exposure occurring during gestational week 16 among female infants only. This study does not provide strong evidence supporting an association between weekly exposure to PM2.5 and preterm birth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prenatal Exposures and Children’s Health)
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21 pages, 3271 KiB  
Article
Prenatal Exposure to Chemical Mixtures and Cognitive Flexibility among Adolescents
by Anna V. Oppenheimer, David C. Bellinger, Brent A. Coull, Marc G. Weisskopf and Susan A. Korrick
Toxics 2021, 9(12), 329; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9120329 - 2 Dec 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2822
Abstract
Cognitive flexibility, the ability to smoothly adapt to changing circumstances, is a skill that is vital to higher-level executive functions such as problem-solving, planning, and reasoning. As it undergoes substantial development during adolescence, decrements in cognitive flexibility may not become apparent until this [...] Read more.
Cognitive flexibility, the ability to smoothly adapt to changing circumstances, is a skill that is vital to higher-level executive functions such as problem-solving, planning, and reasoning. As it undergoes substantial development during adolescence, decrements in cognitive flexibility may not become apparent until this time. There is evidence that prenatal exposure to individual chemicals may adversely impact executive functions in children, but few studies have explored the association of co-exposure to multiple chemicals with cognitive flexibility specifically among adolescents. We investigated this association among a diverse group of adolescents living near a Superfund site in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Specifically, using Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and multivariable regression analyses, we investigated the association of biomarkers of prenatal exposure to organochlorines (DDE, HCB, PCBs) and metals (lead, manganese) with cognitive flexibility, measured with four subtests of the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System. In BKMR models, we observed adverse joint associations of the chemical mixture with two of the four cognitive flexibility subtests. In covariate-adjusted linear regression models, a two-fold increase in cord blood Mn was associated with poorer performance on two of the subtests: Trail-Making (scaled score difference = −0.60; 95% CI: −1.16, −0.05 points) and Color-Word Interference (scaled score difference = −0.53; 95% CI: −1.08, 0.01 points). These adverse Mn-cognitive flexibility associations were supported by the results of the BKMR. There was little evidence of effect modification by sex and some evidence of effect modification by a measure of social disadvantage, particularly for the associations between HCB and cognitive flexibility. This study is among the first to provide evidence of an adverse association of prenatal exposure to a chemical mixture with cognitive flexibility in adolescence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prenatal Exposures and Children’s Health)
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23 pages, 2523 KiB  
Article
Prenatal Exposure to Chemical Mixtures and Inhibition among Adolescents
by Anna V. Oppenheimer, David C. Bellinger, Brent A. Coull, Marc G. Weisskopf, Michele Zemplenyi and Susan A. Korrick
Toxics 2021, 9(11), 311; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9110311 - 16 Nov 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2707
Abstract
Inhibition, one of the building blocks of executive function, is the ability to focus one’s attention despite interference from external stimuli. It undergoes substantial development during adolescence and may be susceptible to adverse impacts of prenatal exposure to chemical mixtures, yet few studies [...] Read more.
Inhibition, one of the building blocks of executive function, is the ability to focus one’s attention despite interference from external stimuli. It undergoes substantial development during adolescence and may be susceptible to adverse impacts of prenatal exposure to chemical mixtures, yet few studies have explored this association. The New Bedford Cohort (NBC) is a birth cohort of residents living near the New Bedford Harbor Superfund site in Massachusetts. Among adolescents from the NBC, we investigated the association of biomarkers of prenatal exposure to organochlorines (DDE, HCB, PCBs) and metals (Pb, Mn) with inhibition, assessed with the Delis–Kaplan Executive Function System Design Fluency (non-verbal task) and Color–Word Interference (verbal task) subtests. An exploratory mixtures analysis using Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) informed a traditional multivariable regression approach. NBC adolescents are diverse with 29% non-white and 31% in a low-income household at birth. Cord serum organochlorine concentrations and cord blood metals concentrations were generally similar to other birth cohorts. In BKMR models, we observed a suggestive adverse association of the chemical mixture with Color–Word Interference but not Design Fluency. In covariate-adjusted linear regression models including all five chemical exposure measures, a doubling of cord blood Mn was associated with poorer Color–Word Interference completion time scaled scores (difference = −0.74; 95% CI: −1.34, −0.14). This study provided evidence of an adverse joint association between prenatal exposure to a five-chemical mixture and verbal inhibition in adolescence with exposure to Mn potentially driving this overall association. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prenatal Exposures and Children’s Health)
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14 pages, 287 KiB  
Article
Organophosphate Pesticide Exposures in Early and Late Pregnancy Influence Different Aspects of Infant Developmental Performance
by Boonsita Suwannakul, Ratana Sapbamrer, Natrujee Wiwattanadittakul and Surat Hongsibsong
Toxics 2021, 9(5), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9050099 - 30 Apr 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2816
Abstract
Organophosphate (OP) pesticides can transfer from mother to fetus via the placenta and amniotic fluid and may affect the development of infants. This study aims to evaluate the associations between maternal OP concentrations collected in the 1st–2nd trimester and the 3rd trimester of [...] Read more.
Organophosphate (OP) pesticides can transfer from mother to fetus via the placenta and amniotic fluid and may affect the development of infants. This study aims to evaluate the associations between maternal OP concentrations collected in the 1st–2nd trimester and the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and the infant developmental performance. The Screening Test of the Bayley Scales of Infants and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID–III screening test) was used to assess development performance at 2 and 6 months of age. Multiple regression analysis showed a negative correlation between cognitive performance at 2 months and maternal diethylthiophosphate (DETP) levels in the 1st–2nd trimester (β ± SE = −0.012 ± 0.004, p < 0.05). We also found that expressive communication and fine motor performance at 6 months were negatively associated with maternal diethyldithiophosphate (DEDTP) levels in the 3rd trimester (β ± SE = −0.047 ± 0.016, p < 0.05, and β ± SE = −0.044 ± 0.017, p < 0.05, respectively). These results suggest that maternal ethylated OP concentrations at different timing of exposure during pregnancy may influence different aspects of infant developmental performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prenatal Exposures and Children’s Health)

Review

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13 pages, 315 KiB  
Review
A Review of Associations between Externalizing Behaviors and Prenatal Cannabis Exposure: Limitations & Future Directions
by Ami S. Ikeda, Valerie S. Knopik, L. Cinnamon Bidwell, Stephanie H. Parade, Sherryl H. Goodman, Eugene K. Emory and Rohan H. C. Palmer
Toxics 2022, 10(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10010017 - 5 Jan 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2811
Abstract
In utero cannabis exposure can disrupt fetal development and increase risk for various behavioral disruptions, including hyperactivity, inattention, delinquent behaviors, and later substance abuse, among others. This review summarizes the findings from contemporary investigations linking prenatal cannabis exposure to the development of psychopathology [...] Read more.
In utero cannabis exposure can disrupt fetal development and increase risk for various behavioral disruptions, including hyperactivity, inattention, delinquent behaviors, and later substance abuse, among others. This review summarizes the findings from contemporary investigations linking prenatal cannabis exposure to the development of psychopathology and identifies the limitations within the literature, which constrain our interpretations and generalizability. These limitations include a lack of genetic/familial control for confounding and limited data examining real world products, the full range of cannabinoids, and motives for use specifically in pregnant women. Taken together, our review reveals the need to continue to improve upon study designs in order to allow researchers to accurately draw conclusions about the development of behavioral consequences of prenatal cannabis exposure. Findings from such studies would inform policy and practices regarding cannabis use during pregnancy and move the field toward developing a comprehensive teratogenic profile of cannabis similar to what is characterized in the prenatal alcohol and tobacco literature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prenatal Exposures and Children’s Health)
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