In the newly independent country of Ukraine, environmental pollution is severe; the contamination is due not only to the Chernobyl accident, but to intensive agricultural practices and outmoded industrial technology. The purpose of this study is to describe the burden of toxicants in placentas and milk of women who deliver infants in such circumstances, and to document their reproductive outcome. To our knowledge, this is the first population-based description of pregnancy outcome in a former Soviet country. To accomplish these aims, we are collaborating with the Ukrainian """"""""ELSPAC"""""""" study, one of several European studies initiated by the World Health Organization. We have obtained placenta and milk samples from over 2,200 women who delivered in two study sites and stored them for future analysis. Gross pathology and morphometrics have been done for all placentas. Medical records for the first 1200 women to deliver are in a computer file, as are questionnaire data from the same women. Environmental data from the two Ukrainian cities in which the study was conducted have been received. Methology checks to confirm quality of data are being conducted. Placentas and milk from a random sample of 200 women are being assayed for a variety of environmental pollutants.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Intramural Research (Z01)
Project #
1Z01ES049010-03
Application #
2574366
Study Section
Epidemiology and Biometry Training Committee (EB)
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1996
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
City
State
Country
United States
Zip Code
Little, R E; Gladen, Beth C; Birmingham, Karen et al. (2004) Preterm birth rates in Avon County, England, and urban Ukraine. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 113:154-9
Gladen, Beth C; Shkiryak-Nyzhnyk, Zoreslava A; Chyslovska, Nataliya et al. (2003) Persistent organochlorine compounds and birth weight. Ann Epidemiol 13:151-7
Little, Ruth E; Zadorozhnaja, Tamara D; Hulchiy, Olesya P et al. (2003) Placental weight and its ratio to birthweight in a Ukrainian city. Early Hum Dev 71:117-27
Little, Ruth E; Northstone, Kate; Golding, Jean et al. (2002) Alcohol, breastfeeding, and development at 18 months. Pediatrics 109:E72-2
Sasco, Annie J; Laforest, Laurent; Benhaim-Luzon, Veronique et al. (2002) Smoking and its correlates among preadolescent children in France. Prev Med 34:226-34
Monaghan, S C; Little, R E; Hulchiy, O et al. (2001) Risk factors for spontaneous preterm birth in two urban areas of Ukraine. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 15:123-30
Little, R E; Little, A S; Chislovska, N et al. (2001) Hospital admissions during pregnancy in two urban areas of Ukraine. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 15:323-7
Zadorozhnaja, T D; Little, R E; Miller, R K et al. (2000) Concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, and zinc in human placentas from two cities in Ukraine. J Toxicol Environ Health A 61:255-63
Monaghan, S C; Little, R E; Hulchiy, O et al. (2000) Preterm birth in two urban areas of Ukraine. Obstet Gynecol 95:752-5
Gladen, B C; Zadorozhnaja, T D; Chislovska, N et al. (2000) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in placenta. Hum Exp Toxicol 19:597-603

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