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In vitro and vivo studies indicate that oxidative stress contributes to bone loss. Fluorescent oxidation products (FlOPs) are novel biomarkers of oxidative stress; they reflect global oxidative damage of lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and DNA. However, whether FlOPs are associated with bone mineral density (BMD) is still unclear. In the present study, we examined the association between FlOPs and BMD among male veterans. This cross-sectional study was conducted among participants recruited from the Department of Medical Examination, The Second Hospital of Jilin University in Jilin, China. We identified male veterans who were at least 50 y old between June and October of 2019. Plasma FlOPs were measured with a fluorescent microplate reader (excitation/emission wavelength: 320/420 nm). BMD were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The association between FlOPs and BMD was tested by multivariable linear regression models. A total of 164 male veterans were enrolled in the study, the average age was 56.6 y. After adjusting for covariates, veterans who had FlOP levels in the highest tertile had a statistically significant lower femoral neck (β = -0.044; p = 0.007) and total hip BMD (β = -0.045; p = 0.020) as compared to those with FlOP levels in the lowest tertile. Similar results were found when FlOPs were treated as a continuous variable (per 1-SD increase, β = -0.014 and p = 0.033 for femoral neck BMD; β = -0.016 and p = 0.047 for total hip BMD). Higher FlOP levels were associated with lower BMD among male veterans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Animal studies suggest polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) may be obesogens. However, epidemiologic studies investigating childhood exposure to PBDEs and adiposity are limited, with several reporting an inverse association. Objectives To investigate associations between repeated childhood PBDE concentrations and adiposity measures at age 8 years. Methods We examined 206 children from the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment Study, a birth cohort in Cincinnati, OH (2003–2006). Serum PBDEs were measured at ages 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 years. We used multiple imputation to estimate missing PBDE concentrations. At 8 years, we measured weight, height, waist circumference, and body fat percentage. We used multiple informant models to estimate age-specific associations between PBDEs and adiposity measures. Results We observed significant inverse associations between BDE-153 with all adiposity measures that became increasingly stronger with later childhood measurements. A 10-fold increase in BDE-153 at ages 1 and 8 years was associated with 2% (95% CI −3.9, −0.1) and 7% (95% CI −9.1, −4.7) lower body fat, respectively. No statistically significant associations were found with BDE-28, -47, -99, or -100. Child sex modified some associations; inverse associations between BDE-153 and body fat were stronger among boys, while positive and null associations were noted among girls. Conclusions Childhood BDE-153 concentrations were inversely associated with adiposity measures and these associations became stronger as BDE-153 measurements were more proximal to adiposity measures. Inverse associations could be attributed to reverse causality arising from greater storage of PBDEs in adipose tissue of children with higher adiposity. Highlights • Findings do not support postnatal PBDEs are associated with increased adiposity. • BDE-28, -47, -99, -100, and ∑PBDEs were not associated with adiposity at 8 years. • There was a pattern of inverse associations between BDE-153 and adiposity measures. • Child sex modified BDE-153 associations, with decreases in body fat % in males, but not in females. • Reverse causality may have resulted in inverse associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Despite evidence from toxicological studies describing the potential neurotoxicity of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), their role in neurodevelopment remains uncertain amid inconsistent findings from epidemiological studies. Methods Using data from 218 mother-child dyads from the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment Study, we examined prenatal and childhood (3 and 8 years) serum concentrations of four PFAS and inattention, impulsivity, and visual spatial abilities. At 8 years, we used the Conners' Continuous Performance Test-II to assess attention and impulse control and the Virtual Morris Water Maze (VMWM) to measure visual spatial abilities. Results In multiple informant models, there was no evidence to indicate that prenatal or childhood PFAS are associated with attention. However, there was an inverse association between prenatal ln-perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and errors of commission (β = −2.0, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] −3.8, −0.3). Ln-perfluorononanoate (PFNA) at 3 years was associated with longer (poorer) VMWM completion times of 3.6 seconds (CI 1.6, 5.6). However, higher concurrent concentrations of ln-perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) (β = −2.4 s, 95% CI −4.4, −0.3) were associated with shorter (better) times. Higher prenatal PFHxS was positively associated with percentage of traveling distance in the correct quadrant (β = 4.2%, 95% CI 0.8, 7.7), indicating better performance. Conclusion Findings were mixed for prenatal and childhood PFAS concentrations and visual spatial abilities. There is not enough evidence to support that PFAS are associated with visual spatial abilities as assessed by the VMWM or CPT-II measures of inattention or impulsivity in children at age 8 years. Highlights • Prenatal and childhood PFAS are not associated with CPT-II measures of inattention at 8 years. • Inconsistent associations were noted between PFNA and PFHxS with VMWM performance at 8 years. • Findings do not support associations between PFAS and VMWM measures of visual spatial abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Toxicological studies highlight the potential neurotoxicity of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during fetal development. However, few epidemiological studies have examined the impact of childhood PFAS on neurodevelopment. Methods We employed data from 208 children in the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment Study, a birth cohort (Cincinnati, OH), to examine associations of six serum PFAS concentrations measured at 3 and 8 years with executive function assessed at 8 years using the validated parent-completed Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function survey. We used multiple informant models to identify susceptible windows of neurotoxicity to PFAS and executive function. We investigated trajectories of PFAS concentrations and whether sex modified these associations. Results Each ln-increase in perfluorononanoate (PFNA) at 8 years was associated with a 3.4-point increase (95% CI 0.4, 6.3) in metacognition score, indicating poorer function. Children with PFNA above the median at 8 years had poorer global executive functioning compared to children with concentrations consistently below median levels (β = 6.5, 95% CI 0.2, 12.9). Higher concurrent PFNA was associated with poorer behavior regulation among males, while associations among females were null (p PFNA × sex = 0.018). Children with higher concurrent perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) had increased odds of being at risk of having clinical impairments in metacognition (OR = 3.18, 95% CI 1.17, 8.60). There were no associations between perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorohexane sulfonate and executive function. Conclusions PFNA and PFOA at 8 years, but not 3 years, may be related to poorer executive function at 8 years. Results need to be confirmed in cohort studies with larger sample sizes. Highlights • PFAS concentrations at age 3 years were not associated with executive function at age 8 years. • Concurrent PFNA was associated with impairments in metacognition and global executive function at 8 years. • A sexually dimorphic relationship may be present, with males more sensitive to PFNA neurotoxicity. • Childhood PFNA and PFOA, to a lesser extent, may be neurotoxic with regard to executive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) reduce serum thyroid hormone concentrations in animal studies, but few studies have examined the impact of early-life PBDE exposures on thyroid hormone disruption in childhood. Methods We used data from 162 mother-child pairs from the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment Study (2003–2006, Cincinnati, OH). We measured PBDEs in maternal serum at 16 ± 3 weeks gestation and in child serum at 1–3 years. Thyroid hormones were measured in serum at 3 years. We used multiple informant models to investigate associations between prenatal and early-life PBDE exposures and thyroid hormone levels at age 3 years. Results Prenatal PBDEs were associated with decreased thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels at age 3 years. A 10-fold increase in prenatal ∑PBDEs (BDE-28, -47, -99, -100, and -153) was associated with a 27.6% decrease (95% CI −40.8%, −11.3%) in TSH. A ten-fold increase in prenatal ∑PBDEs was associated with a 0.25 pg/mL (0.07, 0.43) increase in free triiodothyronine (FT 3 ). Child sex modified associations between prenatal PBDEs and thyroid hormones, with significant decrements in TSH among females and decreased free T 4 (FT 4 ) in males. Prenatal ∑PBDEs were not associated with TT 4 , FT 4 , or total T 3 . Conclusions These findings suggest an inverse relationship between prenatal ∑PBDEs and TSH at 3 years. Associations may be sexually dimorphic, with an inverse relationship between prenatal BDE-47 and -99 and TSH in females and null associations among males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been reported to impair executive function in children, but little is known whether childhood PBDE exposures play a role. Using the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study, a prospective birth cohort in the greater Cincinnati area, we investigated the association between repeated measures of PBDEs during childhood and executive function at 8 years in 208 children and whether effect modification by child sex was present. We used child serum collected at 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 years to measure PBDEs. The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function was completed by parents to assess executive function at 8 years. We used multiple informant models to examine childhood PBDEs during several exposure windows. Null associations were observed between early childhood PBDEs and executive function. However, we observed significant adverse associations between a 10-fold increase in concurrent concentrations of BDE-28 (β=4.6, 95% CI 0.5, 8.7) and BDE-153 (β=4.8, 95% CI 0.8, 8.8) with behavioral regulation. In addition, PBDEs at 8 years were significantly associated with poorer emotional and impulse control. No associations were noted between childhood PBDEs and metacognition or global executive function. However, child sex significantly modified the associations, with significantly poorer executive function among males with higher concurrent BDE-153, and null associations in females. Our study findings suggest that concurrent PBDE exposures during childhood may be associated with poorer executive function, specifically behavior regulation. Males may also be more sensitive to adverse associations of concurrent PBDEs on executive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) during fetal development may be associated with deficits in attention and impulse control. However, studies examining postnatal PBDE exposures and inattention and impulsivity have been inconsistent. Using data from 214 children in the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study, a prospective pregnancy and birth cohort with enrollment from 2003 to 2006 in the Greater Cincinnati Area, we investigated the relationship of both prenatal and postnatal PBDE exposures with attention and impulse control. Serum PBDEs were measured at 16 ± 3 weeks of gestation and during childhood at 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 years. We assessed children's attention and impulse control using the Conners' Continuous Performance Test-Second Edition (CPT-II) at 8 years. We used multiple informant models to estimate associations of repeated PBDE measures with inattention and impulsivity. There was a pattern of associations between PBDEs and poorer performance on CPT-II measures of attention. For BDE-153, adverse associations extended to exposures at preschool and kindergarten ages; ten-fold increases in exposure were associated with higher omission errors (BDE-153 at 3 years: β = 4.0 [95% CI: − 2.4, 10.5]; at 5 years: β = 4.6 [95% CI: − 2.8, 12.0]; at 8 years: β = 4.1 [95% CI: − 3.4, 11.5]). Longer hit reaction times, indicated by the exponential part of the hit reaction curve, were also observed with 10-fold increases in BDE-153 during the prenatal period and throughout childhood (Prenatal: β = 15.0 milliseconds (ms) [95% CI: − 15.8, 45.8]; 5 years: β = 20.6 ms [95% CI: − 20.8, 61.9]; 8 years: β = 28.6 ms [95% CI: − 12.1, 69.4]). Significant impairment in discriminability, as indicated by detectability (d′), between targets and non-targets was also noted with 5 and 8-year PBDE concentrations. Associations between PBDEs and inattention significantly differed by child sex, with males performing more poorly than females with regard to omission errors and measures of reaction times. Collectively, these results do not strongly support that PBDEs are associated with poorer impulse and attention control among 8 year old children. However, there may be a possible relationship between prenatal and concurrent PBDEs and inattention, which requires additional research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are developmental toxicants in experimental studies of animals, but limited evidence is available in humans. We included 340 mother-infant pairs in the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA) for the analysis. We evaluated gestational exposure to OPEs with gestation age at birth and newborn anthropometric measures. We quantified four OPE urinary metabolites at 16 weeks and 26 weeks of gestation. We extracted gestational age at birth, newborn weight, length, and head circumference from the chart review. We calculated z-scores for these anthropometric measures and the ponderal index. We used multiple informant models to examine the associations between repeated OPE measurements and the outcomes. We used modified Poisson regression to estimate the association of gestational exposure to OPEs with preterm birth. We also explored effect modification by infant sex and the potential mediation effect by the highest maternal blood pressure and glucose levels. We found that bis(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (BCEP) at 16 weeks and diphenyl phosphate at 26 weeks of pregnancy were positively associated with gestational age and inversely associated with preterm birth. In female newborns, BCEP at 16 weeks was inversely related to birth weight and length z-scores. In male newborns, we observed negative associations of 26-week di-n-butyl phosphate with the ponderal index at birth. No mediation by the highest maternal blood pressure or glucose levels during pregnancy was identified. In this cohort, gestational exposure to some OPEs was associated with gestational age, preterm birth, and neonatal anthropometric measures. Certain associations tended to be window- and infant sex-specific. [Display omitted] • BCEP was positively associated with gestation age and inversely with preterm birth. • DPHP was positively associated with gestation age and inversely with preterm birth. • BCEP was inversely associated with birth weight and length z-scores in females. • DNBP was inversely associated with the ponderal index at birth in males. • Associations of OPEs and pregnancy outcomes might be window- and infant sex-specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neonicotinoids are replacement insecticides increasingly used for organophosphates, methylcarbamates, and pyrethroids. Experimental evidence suggests neonicotinoids may affect glucose metabolism and insulin secretion through pancreatic β cell dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation. However, no epidemiologic study has investigated neonicotinoids as potential diabetogens. We examined associations between neonicotinoids with insulin and glucose homeostasis parameters among 1381 non-diabetic adults in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2015–2016). Urinary concentrations of acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid, N-desmethyl-acetamiprid, and 5-hydroxy-imidacloprid were quantified. Fasting plasma glucose, insulin, and hemoglobin A 1c (HbA 1c) were assessed. Insulin resistance was defined as a homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance ≥2.5. We used weighted linear and logistic regression to estimate associations between detectable neonicotinoids with insulin and glucose homeostasis parameters compared to non-detectable neonicotinoid concentrations. Weighted detection frequencies for imidacloprid, 5-hydroxy-imidacloprid, and N-desmethyl-acetamiprid were 4.4 %, 21.5 %, and 32.8 %, respectively. Detectable imidacloprid (β = −4.7 μIU/mL, 95 % confidence interval [CI] -8.5, −0.8) and 5-hydroxy-imidacloprid (β = −2.4 μIU/mL, 95 % CI -4.6, −0.2) were associated with lower fasting plasma insulin levels. Individuals with detectable 5-hydroxy-imidacloprid had lower odds of insulin resistance (odds ratio [OR] = 0.3, 95 % CI 0.2, 0.7). We observed evidence of sexually dimorphic associations between N-desmethyl-acetamiprid with glucose (p int = 0.079) and 5-hydroxy-imidacloprid with HbA 1c (p int = 0.038), with patterns suggesting positive associations in males and negative associations in females. Associations between 5-hydroxy-imidacloprid and insulin were modified by body mass index (BMI) (p int = 0.013). We additionally observed age modified associations between 5-hydyroxy-imidacloprid and glucose (p int = 0.048). Results suggest neonicotinoids may be associated with insulin and glucose homeostasis indices and call for prospective studies to examine the metabolic impact of these replacement insecticides in humans. • We examined detectable neonicotinoids with insulin and glucose homeostasis parameters. • Detectable imidacloprid and 5-hydroxy-imidacloprid were associated with lower insulin. • Sex modified the relationship between N-desmethyl-acetamiprid with glucose and 5-hydroxy-imidacloprid with HbA1c. • 5-hydroxy-imidacloprid was inversely associated with insulin among overweight/obese individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• BDE-28 was positively associated with glucose during pregnancy in single- and multi-pollutant models. • Increases in BDE-28, BDE-47, and BDE-99 were associated with higher cholesterol. • Inverse associations were noted between BDE-153, MBP, and MBzP with cholesterol. • We did not find a consistent relationship with any EDC and blood pressure between the models. • No relationship was noted between BPA or PFAS with cardiometabolic indices during pregnancy between the models. Background: Toxicology studies have identified pregnancy as a window of susceptibility for endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and cardiometabolic indices in women. No study in humans, however, has examined EDC mixtures and cardiometabolic indices during pregnancy. Methods : We used the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study to examine whether bisphenol A (BPA), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and phthalates are associated with blood pressure, glucose, and lipids in 388 pregnant women. We measured PBDEs and PFAS in serum at 16 weeks gestation, while BPA and phthalate metabolites were quantified in urine at 16 and 26 weeks gestation. We used linear regression and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) to estimate covariate-adjusted associations of individual EDCs and their mixtures with cardiometabolic indices during pregnancy. Results : A 10-fold increase in BDE-28 was associated with a 13.1 mg/dL increase in glucose (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 2.9, 23.2) in linear regression. The BKMR model also identified BDE-28 as having a positive association with glucose. BDE-28, BDE-47, and BDE-99 were positively associated with total cholesterol in both single- and multi-pollutant models, whereas a suggestive negative association was noted with BDE-153. Mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP) (β = -7.9 mg/dL, 95% CI −12.9, −3.0) and monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) (β = −6.3 mg/dL, 95% CI −10.6, −2.0) were both associated with significant decreases in cholesterol in linear regression, but only MBzP was identified as an important contributor in the BKMR model. Conclusion : Overall, we observed positive associations between PBDEs with glucose and cholesterol levels during pregnancy, while negative associations were found between some phthalate biomarkers and cholesterol. No relationship was noted for BPA or PFAS with cardiometabolic indices during pregnancy across both models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxicological studies have raised concerns regarding the neurotoxic effects of per - and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, observational evidence from human studies investigating the association between childhood PFAS and neurobehavior is limited and remains unclear. To examine whether childhood PFAS concentrations are associated with neurobehavior in children at age 8 years and whether child sex modifies this relationship. We used data from 208 mother-child dyads in the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study, a prospective pregnancy and birth cohort (Cincinnati, OH, USA). We quantified PFAS in child serum at 3 and 8 years. We assessed neurobehavioral domains using the Behavior Assessment System for Children-2 at 8 years. We used multiple informant models to estimate score changes per ln-increase in repeated PFAS concentrations. Childhood PFAS were not associated with Externalizing or Internalizing Problems at 8 years. However, we noted effect measure modification by sex, with higher scores in Externalizing Problems among males per ln-unit increase in perfluorononanoate (PFNA) at 3 years (β = 4.3 points, 95% CI: 1.0, 7.7) while females had lower scores (β = −2.8 points, 95% CI: −4.7, −1.0). More Internalizing Problems were observed among males per ln-unit increase in concurrent PFNA concentrations (β = 3.7 points, 95% CI: 0.7, 6.8), but not in females (β = −1.7 points, 95% CI: −4.6, 1.2). Childhood PFNA concentrations were associated with lower scores for attention problems and activity of daily living. While findings do not consistently support an association between childhood PFAS serum concentrations and neurobehavior, child sex may play a role in this relationship. • Childhood PFAS were not associated with externalizing or internalizing behaviors at 8 years. • Sex modified the relationship between childhood PFAS and neurobehavior, with males having worse scores. • Childhood PFNA was associated with poorer scores for activity of daily living and lower attention problems. • Prenatal PFAS were associated with more externalizing and internalizing problems even after adjustment for childhood PFAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traffic related air pollution (TRAP) and its component polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may be neurotoxic in children. There is limited research on postnatal exposure to TRAP and PAHs and child neurodevelopment.Methods: We linked data from the U.S. NHANES 2001-2004 with the National Highway Planning Network 2005 to examine the proximity to major roads (highway or urban/rural principal arterials), urinary PAH metabolites, and diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Conduct Disorder (CD) based on Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (C-DISC) in 1253 children aged 8-15 years. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) for ADHD and CD by traffic proximity and PAH exposures using logistic regression adjusted for confounders.Results: Higher ADHD prevalence was observed among children living <500 m (9.86%) compared to those ≥500 m (3.84%) from a major road. Prevalence of children with CD was comparable (<500 m: 2.51% and ≥500 m: 2.43%). We found little difference in urinary PAH metabolite levels between children living near major roads and those who did not. Children living <500 m from a major road had a non-significant OR of 2.06 (95% CI 0.85-5.03) for ADHD diagnosis. Children living on ≥2 major roads within 500 m of a highway had a non-significant OR of 2.27 (95% CI 0.71-7.26) for ADHD diagnosis. There was no association between proximity to major roads and CD diagnosis.Conclusion: We found living close to a major road was not associated with increased PAH levels. We did not find statistically significant relation between proximity to a major road or urinary PAH metabolite levels and ADHD or CD diagnosis in this cross-sectional analysis. Prospective studies are needed for the investigation of postnatal TRAP exposure and ADHD and CD diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may affect child neurobehavior; however, exposures to mixtures of POPs have rarely been examined.Methods: We estimated associations of prenatal serum concentrations of 17 POPs, namely 5 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), 6 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and 4 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), with Wide Range Achievement Test-4 reading composite scores at age 8 years in 161 children from a pregnancy and birth cohort (Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment [HOME] Study, 2003-present) in Cincinnati, OH. We applied 6 statistical methods: least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), elastic net (ENET), Sparse Principal Component Analysis (SPCA), Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regression, Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR), and Bayesian Additive Regression Trees (BART), to estimate covariate-adjusted associations with individual and their mixtures in multi-pollutant models.Results: Both LASSO and ENET models indicated inverse associations with reading scores for BDE-153 and BDE-28, and positive associations for CB-118, CB-180, perfluoroctanoate (PFOA), and perfluorononanoate (PFNA). The SPCA identified inverse associations for BDE-153 and BDE-100 and positive associations for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), PFOA, and PFNA, as parts of different principal component scores. The WQS regression showed the highest weights for BDE-100 (0.35) and BDE-28 (0.16) in the inverse association model and for PFNA (0.29) and CB-180 (0.21) in the positive association model. The BKMR model identified BDE-100 and BDE-153 for inverse associations and CB-118, CB-153, CB-180, PFOA, and PFNA for positive associations. The BART method found dose-response functions similar to the BKMR model. No interactions between POPs were identified.Conclusions: Despite some inconsistency among biomarkers, these analyses revealed inverse associations between prenatal PBDE concentrations and children's reading scores. Positive associations of PCB congeners and PFAS with reading skills were also found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PBDEs and PFAS during pregnancy may play a role in the pathogenesis of depression. • BDI-II was used to assess pregnancy and postpartum depressive symptoms. • PBDEs during pregnancy were associated with higher depressive symptoms in mothers. • ∑PBDEs were associated with higher risk of mothers having a high BDI-II trajectory. • Findings between PFAS during pregnancy and BDI-II scores were not significant. Experimental studies in rodents suggest that polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may contribute to depressive symptoms. Few studies have examined the impact of these chemicals on depression in adults. Objective : To examine the associations between serum PBDE and PFAS concentrations during pregnancy and repeated measures of depressive symptoms in women assessed from pregnancy to 8 years postpartum. Methods : This study was based on 377 women from the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment Study, a birth cohort in Cincinnati, OH (USA). PBDEs (BDE-28, -47, -99, -100, -153, and ∑PBDEs) and PFAS (perfluorooctanoate [PFOA], perfluorooctane sulfonate [PFOS], perfluorohexane sulfonate [PFHxS], perfluorononanoate [PFNA]) were quantified in maternal serum at 16 ± 3 weeks gestation. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) at ~20 weeks gestation and up to seven times during postpartum visits (4 weeks, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 years). We used linear mixed models to estimate covariate-adjusted associations between chemical concentrations and repeated measures of BDI-II. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to estimate the relative risk ratios of having a medium or high depression trajectory. Results : We found that a 10-fold increase in BDE-28 at 16 ± 3 weeks gestation was associated with significantly increased BDI-II scores (β = 2.5 points, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.8, 4.2) from pregnancy to 8 years postpartum. Significant positive associations were also observed with BDE-47, -100, -153, and ∑PBDEs. A 10-fold increase in ∑PBDEs was associated with a 4.6-fold increased risk (95% CI 1.8, 11.8) of a high trajectory for BDI-II compared to a low trajectory. We observed no significant associations between PFAS and BDI-II scores. Conclusion : PBDEs during pregnancy were associated with more depressive symptoms among women in this cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals may alter glucose homeostasis, especially during pregnancy. Biomonitoring studies suggest ubiquitous human exposure to organophosphate esters (OPEs), chemicals with endocrine-disrupting capabilities. Few studies have examined the association between maternal exposure to OPEs and blood glucose during pregnancy.Methods: With data from 301 pregnant women in the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study, a prospective pregnancy and birth cohort in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, we examined whether OPE concentrations were associated with changes in blood glucose. We quantified four OPE metabolites in maternal spot urine samples collected at 16- and 26-weeks pregnancy. We extracted results from the glucose challenge test (GCT) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) via medical chart review. Women with GCT ≥ 140 mg/dL or any abnormal values in OGTT (≥ 95 mg/dL fasting glucose, ≥ 180 mg/dL 1-h glucose, ≥ 155 mg/dL 2-h glucose, ≥ 140 mg/dL 3-h glucose) were defined as having elevated glucose levels. We used linear regression and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) to estimate the associations of individual OPE metabolites and OPE mixtures with blood glucose levels during pregnancy. We used modified Poisson regression to estimate the associations of OPE metabolite concentrations with elevated glucose levels. We further examined effect measure modification by maternal characteristics (age, pre-pregnancy body mass index [BMI], and race/ethnicity).Results: Diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) had the highest geometric mean concentration of the urinary OPE metabolites (1.83 μg/L at 16 weeks, 1.24 μg/L at 26 weeks). Thirty women (10.0%) had elevated glucose levels. Individual OPE metabolites or their mixtures were not significantly associated with continuous GCT results. We did not observe effect measure modification by maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI categories, or race/ethnicity. Compared with women in the 1st tertile of average DPHP of 16- and 26 weeks of pregnancy, women in the 3rd tertile tended to have a reduced risk of elevated glucose levels (RR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.16-1.06, p for trend = 0.06).Conclusion: In this cohort, maternal urinary OPE metabolite concentrations were weakly associated with blood glucose levels during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organophosphate esters (OPEs), widely used as flame retardants and plasticizers for commercial and residential purposes, are suspected of being neurotoxic. We aimed to assess exposure to an OPE mixture in early life and its relationship to parent-reported child behavior. We measured urinary concentrations of three OPE metabolites, bis-2-chloroethyl phosphate (BCEP), bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCIPP), and diphenyl phosphate (DPHP), at pregnancy (16 and 26 weeks of gestation and delivery) and postnatal time points (ages 1, 2, 3, and 5 years) in the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment Study, a longitudinal pregnancy and birth cohort in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA (enrolled 2003–2006, n = 219). We used latent variable analysis in structural equations models and quantile g-computation to investigate associations of a mixture of the three OPE metabolites with parent-reported child behaviors at 3 and 8 years, measured using the Behavioral Assessment System for Children, Second Edition. Higher log-transformed urinary OPE latent variable values at 16 weeks were associated with fewer externalizing problem behaviors (ß = −5.74; 95% CI = −11.24, −0.24) and fewer overall behavioral problems at age 3 years (ß = −5.26; 95% CI = −10.33, −0.19), whereas having higher OPEs at delivery was associated with poorer overall behavioral problems at age 3 years (ß = 2.87; 95% CI = 0.13, 5.61). OPE latent variable values at 16 weeks, 26 weeks, and delivery were not associated with child behavior at 8 years. However, higher OPE latent variable values at 3 years were associated with fewer externalizing behaviors at 8 years (ß = −2.62; 95% CI = −5.13, −0.12). The quantile g-computation estimates had directions largely consistent with the latent variable analysis results. Pregnancy and postnatal urinary OPE metabolite mixtures were associated with child internalizing, externalizing, and overall negative behaviors at 3 and 8 years, but we did not identify a consistent pattern in terms of the direction of the effects or a particularly sensitive time point. • We studied pregnancy and postnatal OPEs and child behavior in a longitudinal cohort. • We used latent variable analysis and quantile g-computation to assess OPE mixtures. • Pregnancy OPEs were associated with child behavior at 3 years. • The direction of associations and vulnerable time points were inconsistent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxicology studies suggest that neonicotinoids may be associated with adiposity development via thyroid hormone disruption and increased oxidative stress. Prior epidemiological studies report mixed results for the association between neonicotinoids and adiposity measures. To examine the association between detectable concentrations of parent neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, acetamiprid, clothianidin) and neonicotinoid metabolites (5-hydroxy-imidacloprid, N -desmethyl-acetamiprid) with adiposity measures among US adults, and whether sex modifies the associations for neonicotinoid metabolites with adiposity. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015–2016 data was utilized to estimate covariate-adjusted associations between detectable neonicotinoids and fat mass index (FMI), lean mass index (LMI), waist circumference, body fat percentage, and body mass index (BMI) using multiple linear regression. We estimated incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for overweight or obese status with detectable neonicotinoid concentrations using Poisson's modified regression. Sampling strategies were accounted for in the regression models. Detectable levels of acetamiprid were associated with a decrease in FMI (β = −3.17 kg/m2, 95% CI [-4.79, −1.54]), LMI (β = −3.17 kg/m2, 95% CI [-5.17, −1.17]), body fat percentage (β = −4.41, 95% CI [-8.20, −0.62]), waist circumference (β = −9.80 cm, 95% CI [-19.08, −0.51]), and BMI (β = −3.88kg/m2, 95% CI [-7.25, −0.51]) among adults. In contrast, detectable levels of 5-hydroxy-imidacloprid were associated with greater rates of being overweight/obese (IRR = 1.11, 95% CI [1.04, 1.18)) and increased LMI (β = 0.67 kg/m2, 95% CI [0.04, 1.29]). Sex modified the association between N -desmethyl-acetamiprid and LMI (p int = 0.075) with a positive association among males (β = 1.14 kg/m2, 95% CI [0.38, 1.90]), and an insignificant inverse association in females. Sex also modified the association for N -desmethyl-acetamiprid with FMI (p int = 0.095) and body fat percentage (p int = 0.072), with suggestive evidence showing positive associations for males and inverse associations for females. Detectable concentrations of acetamiprid were inversely associated with adiposity, while there were mixed findings for 5-hydroxy-imidacloprid. Findings suggest sex differences, though results are not clear with regard to the directionality of the association by sex. • Neonicotinoid compounds may be associated with the pathogenesis of adiposity. • Acetamiprid was inversely associated with all the adiposity measures examined. • 5-hydroxy-imidacloprid was positively associated with being overweight/obese. • Sex differences were seen with N -desmethyl-acetamiprid and some adiposity measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • We examined associations between gestational PBDE exposure and outcomes at age 12. • Outcomes included self- and caregiver-reported social skills and problem behaviors. • Gestational PBDE exposure was associated with poorer outcomes in adolescent males. • No associations were noted among female participants. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent environmental pollutants used as flame retardants. Gestational PBDE exposure has been associated with a variety of behavior problems in children, but little is known about its impact into adolescence, particularly on social skills, which are important for achieving social competence, establishing identity, and forming lasting relationships. We investigated associations between gestational exposure to PBDEs and social skills and problem behaviors in early adolescence in a longitudinal pregnancy and birth cohort in Cincinnati, Ohio (recruited 2003–2006). We measured maternal serum concentrations of five PBDE congeners during gestation. At age 12, we measured social skills and problem behaviors scores for 243 adolescents using self- and caregiver-report on the Social Skills Improvement System (SSiS). We used multivariable linear regression models to estimate associations between maternal PBDE concentrations and SSiS scores, controlling for potential covariates. We report associations for the five congeners and a summary exposure variable (∑ 5 BDE: the sum of BDE- 28, 47, 99, 100, and 153, n = 197). We found sex-specific associations of ∑ 5 BDE concentrations with adolescent-reported Problem Behaviors (∑ 5 BDE × sex p int = 0.02) and caregiver-reported Social Skills (∑ 5 BDE × sex p int = 0.02). In sex-stratified models, log 10 transformed data revealed increased maternal ∑ 5 BDE concentration among males was associated with decreased caregiver-reported Social Skills composite score (β = -10.2, 95% CI: −19.5, −1.0), increased adolescent-reported Problem Behaviors composite score (β = 12.1, 95% CI: 5.4, 18.8), and increased caregiver-reported Problem Behaviors composite score (β = 6.2, 95% CI: 0.7, 11.7). Further analysis on SSiS subscales revealed similar patterns in significant associations among males. There were no statistically significant associations in stratified models among females despite higher ∑ 5 BDE exposure (Female GM=40.15 ng/g lipid, GSE=1.10; Male GM=35.30 ng/g lipid, GSE=1.09). We found gestational PBDE exposure in males was associated with poorer behavioral outcomes, extending previous findings among this cohort into early adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, a class of flame retardants and endocrine disruptors, have been substituted in new products by organophosphate (OPFR) and replacement brominated flame retardants (RBFR). OPFRs and RBFRs readily migrate from consumer products into dust where humans are exposed via incidental ingestion and inhalation. We quantified concentrations and loadings of OPFRs and RBFRs in house dust samples (n = 317) collected from the homes of Cincinnati women between 2003 and 2006 and examined their associations with demographic and house characteristics. Tris-(1-chloro-2-propyl)-phosphate (TCIPP, geometric mean [GM]: 2140 ng g−1, range: 70.1–166,000 ng g−1), tris-(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)-phosphate (TDCIPP, GM: 1840 ng g−1, range: 55.2–228,000 ng g−1), triphenyl phosphate (TPHP, GM: 1070 ng g−1, range: 34.1–62,100 ng g−1), 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (EH-TBB, GM: 59.5 ng g−1, range: 2.82–7800 ng g−1), and bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-tetrabromophthalate (BEH-TEBP, GM: 121 ng g−1, range 2.17–13,600 ng g−1) were all detected in >90% of dust samples; tris-(2-chloroethyl)-phosphate (TCEP, GM: 669 ng g−1, range: 56.8–160,000 ng g−1) was detected in 80.1% of samples. Concentrations of EH-TBB and BEH-TEBP increased in house dust from 2003 to 2006. The number of people living in the home, race, education, floor type, and year of sample collection were associated with some OPFR and RBFR concentrations and loadings. This study suggests that OPFRs and RBFRs were ubiquitous in house dust during the PBDE phase-out and justifies more research on the consequences of exposure to these environmental chemicals. Image 1 • We measured OPFRs and RBFRs in 317 women's house dust during the PBDE phase-out. • OPFR concentrations were about 10× higher than RBFR concentrations. • RBFR concentrations increased from 2003 to 2006. • Both sociodemographic and housing characteristics were related to dust levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]