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Human exposure to pesticides in the general population occurs mainly through food consumption. However, specific dietary habits or food products that contribute to pesticide exposure are often unknown. In this study, we propose a combined screening for polyphenols and pesticide residues by liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) to assess the diet and the associated pesticide exposure. We measured 587 urine samples from women around the 34th week of pregnancy of a prospective mother–child cohort. A non-targeted screening for flavonoid-like compounds related to fruit and vegetable consumption was performed, prioritizing 164 features and identifying a total of 46 features by spectral library search. Based on a subset of markers, k-means clustering was performed, leading to four clusters with presumably similar dietary habits. The clusters were compared against food questionnaire data collected within the period of sample collection. Suspect screening of more than 500 pesticide residues including metabolites was performed, with a total of 35 markers being reported for 22 different pesticides. The detection of pesticide residues was compared across the different clusters of dietary habits. Indications were found that pyrimethanil metabolites might be associated with the consumption of citrus fruits or derivate products. We demonstrate that the method used has the potential to reveal patterns of pesticide intake from specific food commodities.

BackgroundThe interplay of genetic factors and environmental adversities in ADHD can be reflected by cell type-specific DNA methylation (DNAm). Previous methylome-wide association studies (MWAS) for ADHD have been performed in bulk tissue only, where meaningful DNAm signal could be left undetected. We aim to identify cell type-specific DNAm profiles associated with childhood ADHD symptoms.MethodsFirst, we performed array-based (<850.000 sites) cell type-specific MWAS meta-analyses of childhood ADHD symptoms (age-range 4-13 years) in cord- (N=1543) and peripheral blood (N=2009) from the PACE consortium. Then we expanded the coverage of the epigenome to 28 million sites based on methyl-binding-domain sequencing in peripheral blood (N=583; Great Smoky Mountain Study; mean-age 13.5 years). Using epigenomic deconvolution, DNAm associations in the five major blood cells were calculated.ResultsAssociations between DNAm and ADHD symptoms were identified in cord blood monocytes (PDE6B, FDR=0.012), CD8T cells (KCNA3, HAND2, both FDR=0.016), and NK cells (KIFC1, FDR=0.043). In peripheral blood, only CD8T cells (RPL31P11, FDR=4.48*10-6 and KCNJ5, FDR=0.0021) showed associations. In the broader coverage analysis, we detected 24 and 16 significant CpG sites (FDR<0.05) in monocytes and granulocytes, respectively. None of these hits were covered by the arrays, and some overlapping genes showed opposite effect sizes in the different cell types, which signal was masked in bulk tissue. Downstream analyses of gene ontology term enrichment showed consistent results between cord and peripheral blood.ConclusionsWe identified the first ADHD-DNAm associations at a cell type-specific level, bringing us closer to understanding the role of specific cell types in the etiology of ADHD.

BackgroundIncreased use of renewable resources like sustainably produced wood in construction or for all sorts of long-lived products is considered to contribute to reducing society's carbon footprint. However, as a natural, biological material, wood and wood products emit specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Therefore, the evaluation of possible health effects due to wood emissions is of major interest.ObjectivesWe investigated the effects of an exposure to multiple wood-related VOCs on asthma development.MethodsA murine asthma model was used to evaluate possible allergic and inflammatory effects on the lung after short- or long-term and perinatal exposure to pinewood or oriented strand board (OSB). In addition, wood-related VOCs were measured within the German prospective mother–child cohort LINA and their joint effect on early wheezing or asthma development in children until the age of 10 was estimated by Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) stratifying also for family history of atopy (FHA).ResultsOur experimental data show that neither pinewood nor OSB emissions even at high total VOC levels and a long-lasting exposure period induce significant inflammatory or asthma-promoting effects in sensitized or non-sensitized mice. Moreover, an exposure during the vulnerable time window around birth was also without effect. Consistently, in our mother–child cohort LINA, an exposure to multiple wood-related VOCs during pregnancy or the first year of life was not associated with early wheezing or asthma development in children independent from their FHA.ConclusionOur findings indicate that emissions from wood and wood products at levels commonly occurring in the living environment do not exert adverse effects concerning wheezing or asthma development.

xParabens are widely used preservatives present in consumer products like cosmetics and food. Although several epidemiological studies suggest that early-life exposure to parabens might alter the immune response and allergy risk in childhood, the evidence with respect to asthma is not clear. Therefore, we investigated the effect of paraben exposure on asthma development in mice and humans. Using a murine asthma model the experimental data show both, an asthma-reducing effect after direct exposure of adult mice to n-butyl paraben (nBuP) as well as an asthma-promoting effect after maternal exposure to ethyl paraben (EtP) in the female offspring. Interestingly, exposure of mice to a mixture of EtP and nBuP starting prenatally until the end of asthma induction in the adult offspring was without effect on allergic airway inflammation. In addition, parabens were determined within the German prospective mother-child cohort LINA and their single and mixture effect on asthma development in children within the first 10 years of life was estimated by logistic and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). Both approaches revealed no adverse effects of parabens on children's asthma development, neither when stratified for being at risk due to a positive family history of atopy nor when analysed separately for sex specificity. Therefore, we conclude that although single parabens might differentially impact asthma development, an adverse effect could not be seen in a multiple paraben exposure setting. Consequently, not only the time point of exposure but also multiple exposure scenarios to parabens should be considered in the evaluation of individuals' specific disease risk.

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BackgroundPrenatal and early postnatal exposures to environmental factors are considered responsible for the increasing prevalence of allergic diseases. Although there is some evidence for allergy-promoting effects in children due to exposure to plasticizers like phthalates, findings of previous studies are inconsistent and lack mechanistic information.ObjectiveWe investigated the effect of maternal phthalate exposure on asthma development in the subsequent generations and their underlying mechanisms including epigenetic alterations.MethodsPhthalate metabolites were measured within the prospective mother-child cohort LINA and correlated with asthma development in the children. A murine trans-generational asthma model was used to identify involved pathways.ResultsIn LINA maternal urinary concentrations of mono-n-butyl phthalate, a metabolite of butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), were associated with an increased asthma risk in the children. Using a murine trans-generational asthma model, we demonstrate a direct effect of BBP on asthma severity in the offspring with a persistently increased airway inflammation up to the F2 generation. This disease-promoting effect was mediated by a BBP-induced global DNA hypermethylation in CD4+ T cells of the offspring as treatment with a DNA demethylating agent alleviated exacerbation of allergic airway inflammation. 13 transcriptionally down-regulated genes linked to promoter or enhancer hypermethylation were identified. Among these, the GATA-3 repressor Zfpm1 emerged as a potential mediator of the enhanced susceptibility for Th2-driven allergic asthma.ConclusionThese data provide strong evidence that maternal BBP exposure increases the risk for allergic airway inflammation in the offspring by modulating the expression of genes involved in Th2 differentiation via epigenetic alterations.

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Redecoration of dwellings is a common behavior of expecting parents. Former studies gave evidence that early childhood exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOC) resulting from renovation activities may increase the risk for wheeze in infants. Objectives The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of prenatal exposure on early wheeze and to identify sensitive time windows. Within the LINA birth cohort study data on renovation activities and respiratory outcomes were assessed via questionnaires during pregnancy and at children's age of one. At both timepoints, also indoor VOC concentrations were measured. The associations were studied by logistic regression analysis. Floor covering during pregnancy contributed to an increased risk for physician treated wheeze (adjusted odds ratio OR = 5.20, 95% confidence interval 1.8–15.2) during the first 12 months after birth in particular in children with an atopic predisposition. Thereby, wall-to-wall-carpets, PVC material, and laminate were the flooring materials which showed the strongest adverse associations. Floor covering was associated with enhanced concentrations of VOCs in the apartments. For the VOCs styrene, ethylbenzene, octane, 1-butanol, tridecane, and o-xylene, a significant association was found to the occurrence of wheezing symptoms. In contrast to pregnancy, exposure during the first 12 months after birth showed less detrimental associations. Only the association between wheezing and styrene as well as between wheezing and PVC flooring remained significant for exposure after birth. Redecoration during pregnancy, especially changing floor materials, increases the risk for respiratory diseases in early childhood and should therefore be avoided at least in families with a history of atopic diseases.

BackgroundThere is evidence that microRNAs (miRNAs) are sensitive to environmental stressors, including tobacco smoke. On the other hand, miRNAs are involved in immune regulation, such as regulatory T (Treg) cell differentiation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between prenatal tobacco smoke exposure, miRNAs, and Treg cell numbers.MethodsWithin a prospective mother-child study (Lifestyle and Environmental Factors and Their Influence on Newborns Allergy Risk), we analyzed the expression of miR-155 and miR-223 together with Treg cell numbers in maternal blood during pregnancy, as well as in cord blood (n = 441). Tobacco smoke exposure was assessed based on questionnaire answers and maternal urine cotinine levels. Additionally, the concentration of smoking-related volatile organic compounds was measured in dwellings of study participants.ResultsBoth maternal and cord blood miR-223 expressions were positively correlated with maternal urine cotinine levels. An association was also found between maternal miR-223 expression and indoor concentrations of benzene and toluene. High miR-223 expression was associated with lower Treg cell numbers in maternal and cord blood. Furthermore, children with lower Treg cell numbers at birth had a higher risk of atopic dermatitis during the first 3 years of life. The concentration of the toluene metabolite S-benzylmercapturic acid in maternal urine was associated with decreased cord blood, but not maternal blood, miR-155 expression. A relationship between miR-155 expression and Treg cell numbers was not found.ConclusionsFor the first time, we show that maternal tobacco smoke exposure during pregnancy correlates with the level of miRNA-223 expression in blood, with an effect on children's cord blood Treg cell numbers and subsequent allergy risk.

OBJECTIVE: Obstructive respiratory diseases, mainly the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, are associated with functional polymorphisms of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes (XMEs). To date, association for obstructive bronchitis has not been described. MATERIAL/METHODS: In this study, we investigated the genotypes from 26 functional polymorphisms of 20 XMEs in children (n, 1028) at the age of 6 years from the German prospective birth cohort study (LISAplus) and analyzed the associations between genotypes and obstructive bronchitis. RESULTS: For the first time, we found noteworthy gene-disease associations for the functional PON1 M55L and EPHX1 H139R polymorphisms and gene-environment associations for the functional COMT V158M and NQO1 P187S polymorphisms after stratification for maternal active smoking behaviour during pregnancy. The noteworthy associations were substantiated by the biological findings that all the risk genotypes belong to genes involved in oxidative stress and code for proteins with a fast enzymatic activity or concomitantly appear in common estrogene-metabolizing pathway (COMT, NQO1). CONCLUSION: The oxidative stress has to be taken into account in mechanism of the obstructive bronchitis in early childhood. The risk genotypes may serve as risk factors for respiratory obstruction rather than for signs of COPD or asthma.

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Background Extensive epidemiological studies have provided evidence of an association between elevated outdoor particulate air pollution and adverse health effects. However, while people typically spend majority of time indoors, there is limited knowledge on airborne indoor particles and on the correlation between the concentrations of indoor particles and health effects. Even insights into the influence of differently sized indoor particles on human health are still rare.Objective The association between differentially sized indoor air particles and the development of respiratory diseases was studied for three year aged children.Methods Short-term measurements of particle mass and number concentrations were carried out in children's rooms. Information on possible particle sources (smoking habits, type of heating, and traffic) and respiratory outcomes were obtained from questionnaires. Measured indoor particle concentrations were correlated with possible sources of indoor particles and with respiratory health impacts.Results Daily smoking, smoking more than 5 cigarettes per day at home and traffic density in front of the window of children's room were found to be related to indoor exposure by particles of different diameters. High indoor particle exposures were associated with an increased risk for the development of obstructive bronchitis and in some extent of non-obstructive bronchitis. The strongest impact was observed for the mass concentration of particles < 1 µm and the number concentration of particles > 0.5 µm. The risk increases still remain significant if tested for stability changing the number of adjustment variables or omitting randomly selected cases, respectively.Conclusion Our results show significant associations between indoor particle concentrations and the risks for respiratory diseases in young children. The applied short-term measurements can help to assess the health risks of indoor particles with different sizes within epidemiol

Obesity among children and adolescents is a growing public health burden. According to a national reference among German children and adolescents aged 3-17 years, 15% are overweight (including obese) and 6.3% are obese. This study aims to assess the economic burden associated with overweight and obesity in children based on a cross-sectional survey from two birth cohort studies: the GINI-plus - German Infant Nutritional Intervention plus Non-Intervention study (3287 respondents aged 9 to