1000080112449, Kishi, Reiko, 1000000619885, Ikeda-Araki, Atsuko, 1000070632389, Miyashita, Chihiro, 1000090580936, Itoh, Sachiko, 1000010733371, Kobayashi, Sumitaka, 1000090752907, Ait Bamai, Yu, 1000060732120, Yamazaki, Keiko, 1000080836164, Tamura, Naomi, 1000050733367, Minatoya, Machiko, Ketema, Rahel Mesfin, Poudel, Kritika, Miura, Ryu, Masuda, Hideyuki, Itoh, Mariko, Yamaguchi, Takeshi, 1000050781267, Fukunaga, Hisanori, Ito, Kumiko, Goudarzi, Houman, 1000080112449, Kishi, Reiko, 1000000619885, Ikeda-Araki, Atsuko, 1000070632389, Miyashita, Chihiro, 1000090580936, Itoh, Sachiko, 1000010733371, Kobayashi, Sumitaka, 1000090752907, Ait Bamai, Yu, 1000060732120, Yamazaki, Keiko, 1000080836164, Tamura, Naomi, 1000050733367, Minatoya, Machiko, Ketema, Rahel Mesfin, Poudel, Kritika, Miura, Ryu, Masuda, Hideyuki, Itoh, Mariko, Yamaguchi, Takeshi, 1000050781267, Fukunaga, Hisanori, Ito, Kumiko, and Goudarzi, Houman
Background:The Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children’s Health is an ongoing study consisting of twobirth cohorts of different population sizes: the Sapporo cohort and the Hokkaido cohort. Our primary objectives areto (1) examine the effects that low-level environmental chemical exposures have on birth outcomes, including birthdefects and growth retardation; (2) follow the development of allergies, infectious diseases, and neurobehavioraldevelopmental disorders, as well as perform a longitudinal observation of child development; (3) identify high-riskgroups based on genetic susceptibility to environmental chemicals; and (4) identify the additive effects of variouschemicals, including tobacco.Methods:The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the progress of the Hokkaido Study, summarizerecent results, and suggest future directions. In particular, this report provides the latest details from questionnairesurveys, face-to-face examinations, and a collection of biological specimens from children and measurements oftheir chemical exposures.Results:The latest findings indicate different risk factors of parental characteristics on birth outcomes and themediating effect between socioeconomic status and children that are small for the gestational age. Maternal serumfolate was not associated with birth defects. Prenatal chemical exposure and smoking were associated with birthsize and growth, as well as cord blood biomarkers, such as adiponectin, leptin, thyroid, and reproductive hormones.We also found significant associations between the chemical levels and neuro development, asthma, and allergies.Conclusions:Chemical exposure to children can occur both before and after birth. Longer follow-up for children iscrucial in birth cohort studies to reinforce the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis. In contrast,considering shifts in the exposure levels due to regulation is also essential, which may also change the associationto health outcomes. Thi