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 pilot 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 2,000 women who delivered in two study sites and stored them for future analysis. A complete record of the outcome of the pregnancy is being obtained; to date, 1000 records have been abstracted. Gross pathology and morphometrics have been done for all placentas. Bilingual codebooks have been written. We will soon award a contract to complete data gathering and conduct methology checks, and another to begin assays of the biological samples.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Intramural Research (Z01)
Project #
1Z01ES049010-02
Application #
5202197
Study Section
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1995
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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