The exposure of pregnant women to environmental toxins is of major concern because of their potential harm on the fetus. However, the detection of fetal exposure to environmental toxins still remains a major challenge. We propose that meconium analysis is a promising tool to meet this challenge.
Aims : (1) To compare the prevalence and amount of fetal exposure to environmental toxins through the analysis of meconium, cord blood and neonatal hair and to determine the degree of agreement among these three methods, (2) to determine the relationship between the prevalence and amount of maternal exposure to environmental toxins during pregnancy, as determined by serial analyses of maternal hair and blood, to the prevalence and amount of fetal exposure to environmental toxins as determined by meconium, cord blood and neonatal hair analyses, and (3) to compare adverse immediate (birth weight, length, head circumference, gestational age) and long term (postnatal growth and neurobehavioral development up to 2 yrs from enrollment) outcomes that are associated with antenatal exposure to environmental toxins as determined by maternal blood, maternal hair, meconium, cord blood and neonatal hair analyses. Study design: Pregnant women (n=750) will be recruited, at midgestation, from the Outpatient Clinic of the Bulacan Provincial Hospital, Philippines and their blood and hair will be obtained at the time of recruitment and at delivery. Umbilical cord blood, meconium and neonatal hair will also be obtained. The samples will be analyzed, by atomic absorption spectrometry, for lead, mercury and cadmium and by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for the following pesticides and their metabolites: propoxur, transfluthrin, Malathion, DDT, chlorpyrifos, bioallethrin, pretilachlor, lindane, cyfluthrin and cypermethrin. Pertinent maternal and infant data will be obtained after birth. The infants will be subsequently followed up at scheduled intervals for 2 years, to study their physical growth and neurobehavioral development using a battery of tests. Data analysis: The relationship between the presence/amount of environmental toxins in meconium, maternal blood, maternal hair, cord blood or neonatal hair to the immediate and two year outcome in the infants will be studied, while controlling for potential confounders. The presence/amount of environmental toxins in maternal blood, hair, cord blood, meconium and neonatal hair will be also evaluated to determine which substrate (s) provide(s) the best index of exposure for a given toxin. Expected benefits: Meconium analysis may provide a powerful tool to study the prevalence and degree of fetal exposure to environmental toxins and its associated adverse effects. This project can also serve as a model for the study of environmental pollutant problems during pregnancy at a local, national or global level.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01HD039428-01A1
Application #
6434734
Study Section
Alcohol and Toxicology Subcommittee 4 (ALTX)
Program Officer
Collman, Gwen W
Project Start
2002-04-01
Project End
2007-03-31
Budget Start
2002-04-01
Budget End
2003-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$538,764
Indirect Cost
Name
Wayne State University
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Detroit
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48202
Ostrea, Enrique M; Ostrea, Angelo M; Villanueva-Uy, Ma Esterlita et al. (2015) Alluvial and riparian soils as major sources of lead exposure in young children in the Philippines: the role of floods. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 22:5082-91
Ostrea Jr, Enrique M; Villanueva-Uy, Esterlita; Bielawski, Dawn et al. (2014) Trends in long term exposure to propoxur and pyrethroids in young children in the Philippines. Environ Res 131:13-6
Ostrea Jr, Enrique M; Reyes, Alexis; Villanueva-Uy, Esterlita et al. (2012) Fetal exposure to propoxur and abnormal child neurodevelopment at 2 years of age. Neurotoxicology 33:669-75
Ostrea Jr, Enrique M; Villanueva-Uy, Esterlita; Bielawski, Dawn et al. (2011) Analysis of House Dust and Children's Hair for Pesticides: A Comparison of Markers of Ongoing Pesticide Exposure in Children. J Bioanal Biomed 4:
Reyes, A; Pacifico, R; Benitez, B et al. (2010) Use of the Griffiths Mental Development Scales in an agro-industrial province in the Philippines. Child Care Health Dev 36:354-60
Ostrea Jr, Enrique M; Bielawski, Dawn M; Posecion Jr, Norberto C et al. (2009) Combined analysis of prenatal (maternal hair and blood) and neonatal (infant hair, cord blood and meconium) matrices to detect fetal exposure to environmental pesticides. Environ Res 109:116-22
Posecion, Norberto C; Ostrea, Enrique M; Bielawski, Dawn M (2008) Quantitative determination of paraquat in meconium by sodium borohydride-nickel chloride chemical reduction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 862:93-9
Ostrea Jr, Enrique M; Villanueva-Uy, Esterlita; Ngerncham, Sopapan et al. (2008) An epidemiologic study comparing fetal exposure to tobacco smoke in three Southeast Asian countries. Int J Occup Environ Health 14:257-62
Rohlman, Diane S; Villanueva-Uy, Esterlita; Ramos, Essie Ann M et al. (2008) Adaptation of the Behavioral Assessment and Research System (BARS) for evaluating neurobehavioral performance in Filipino children. Neurotoxicology 29:143-51
Ostrea Jr, Enrique M; Bielawski, Dawn M; Posecion Jr, Norberto C et al. (2008) A comparison of infant hair, cord blood and meconium analysis to detect fetal exposure to environmental pesticides. Environ Res 106:277-83

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