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BACKGROUND: Phthalate exposures are ubiquitous during pregnancy and may contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in preterm birth. OBJECTIVES: We investigated race and ethnicity in the relationship between biomarkers of phthalate exposure and preterm birth by examining: a) how hypothetical reductions in racial and ethnic disparities in phthalate metabolites might reduce the probability of preterm birth; and b) exposure-response models stratified by race and ethnicity. METHODS: We pooled individual-level data on 6,045 pregnancies from 16 U.S. cohorts. We investigated covariate- adjusted differences in nine urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations by race and ethnicity [non-Hispanic White (White, 43%), non-Hispanic Black (Black, 13%), Hispanic/Latina (38%), and Asian/Pacific Islander (3%)]. Using g-computation, we estimated changes in the probability of preterm birth under hypothetical interventions to eliminate disparities in levels of urinary phthalate metabolites by proportionally lowering average concentrations in Black and Hispanic/ Latina participants to be approximately equal to the averages in White participants. We also used race and ethnicity- stratified logistic regression to characterize associations between phthalate metabolites and preterm birth. RESULTS: In comparison with concentrations among White participants, adjusted mean phthalate metabolite concentrations were consistently higher among Black and Hispanic/Latina participants by 23%-148% and 4%-94%, respectively. Asian/Pacific Islander participants had metabolite levels that were similar to those of White participants. Hypothetical interventions to reduce disparities in metabolite mixtures were associated with lower probabilities of preterm birth for Black [13% relative reduction; 95% confidence interval (CI): -34%, 8.6%] and Hispanic/Latina (9% relative reduction; 95% CI: -19%, 0.8%) participants. Odds ratios for preterm birth in association with phthalate metabolites demonstrated heterogeneity by race and ethnicity for two individual metabolites (mono-n-butyl and monoisobutyl phthalate), with positive associations that were larger in magnitude observed among Black or Hispanic/Latina participants. CONCLUSIONS: Phthalate metabolite concentrations differed substantially by race and ethnicity. Our results show hypothetical interventions to reduce population-level racial and ethnic disparities in biomarkers of phthalate exposure could potentially reduce the probability of preterm birth. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12831, Introduction Preterm birth is a major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity that may perpetuate impacts on intergenerational health. (1) In the United States, preterm birth rates increased over the [...]

Background: DNA methylation alterations may underlie associations between gestational perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and later-life health outcomes. To the best of our knowledge, no longitudinal studies have examined the associations between gestational PFAS and DNA methylation. Objectives: We examined associations of gestational PFAS exposure with longitudinal DNA methylation measures at birth and in adolescence using the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study (2003-2006; Cincinnati, Ohio). Methods: We quantified serum concentrations of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) in mothers during pregnancy. We measured DNA methylation in cord blood (n = 266) and peripheral leukocytes at 12 years of age (n = 160) using the Illumina Human Methylation EPIC BeadChip. We analyzed associations between [log.sub.2]-transformed PFAS concentrations and repeated DNA methylation measures using linear regression with generalized estimating equations. We included interaction terms between children's age and gestational PFAS. We performed Gene Ontology enrichment analysis to identify molecular pathways. We used Project Viva (1999-2002; Boston, Massachusetts) to replicate significant associations. Results: After adjusting for covariates, 435 cytosine-guanine dinucleotide (CpG) sites were associated with PFAS (false discovery rate, q < 0.05). Specifically, we identified 2 CpGs for PFOS, 12 for PFOA, 8 for PFHxS, and 413 for PFNA; none overlapped. Among these, 2 CpGs for PFOA and 4 for PFNA were replicated in Project Viva. Some of the PFAS-associated CpG sites annotated to gene regions related to cancers, cognitive health, cardiovascular disease, and kidney function. We found little evidence that the associations between PFAS and DNA methylation differed by children's age. Discussion: In these longitudinal data, PFAS biomarkers were associated with differences in several CpGs at birth and at 12 years of age in or near genes linked to some PFAS-associated health outcomes. Future studies should examine whether DNA methylation mediates associations between gestational PFAS exposure and health. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10118, Introduction Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of persistent synthetic chemicals with unique properties that allow them to resist water, oil, heat, and chemical reactions. PFAS have been used in [...]

BACKGROUND: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may impair bone accrual and strength via endocrine disruption and nuclear receptor agonism, but human studies are primarily of adults or cross-sectional. OBJECTIVES: We assessed associations of individual PFAS and their mixture during pregnancy with child bone mineral content (BMC) and areal bone mineral density (aBMD) at age 12 y. METHODS: Among 206 mother-child pairs enrolled in a prospective cohort (2003-2006), we quantified perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in maternal serum collected during gestation or delivery. When children were age 12 y, we performed dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and calculated BMC, aBMD, and bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) z-scores for six skeletal sites. We estimated covariate-adjusted z-score differences per doubling of individual PFAS using linear regression and assessed the PFAS mixture using quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression. We explored whether associations were modified by child's sex or mediated by whole-body lean mass. RESULTS: In covariate-adjusted models, we found that higher maternal serum concentrations of PFOA, PFNA, and the PFAS mixture were associated with lower total hip and forearm (one-third distal radius) BMC z-scores in children. Differences in forearm BMC z- scores were -0.17 [95% confidence interval (CI): -0.35, 0.01] and -0.24 (95% CI: -0.44, -0.05) per doubling of PFOA and PFNA, respectively, and -0.18 (95% CI: -0.34, -0.02) per quartile increase in the PFAS mixture. Child's sex modified PFOA associations for some skeletal sites; for example, differences in spine BMAD z-score per doubling were -0.31 (95% CI: -0.58, -0.03) among males and 0.07 (95% CI: -0.16, 0.30) among females (modification p = 0.04). Except for PFNA among females, these associations were not mediated by whole-body lean mass. DISCUSSION: Maternal PFAS concentrations during pregnancy may be associated with lower bone mineral accrual and strength in early adolescence. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9424, Introduction Bone mass in adolescence is a determinant of fractures in adolescence (Clark et al. 2006; Kalkwarf et al. 2011), peak bone mass in early adulthood (Weaver et al. 2016), [...]

EnvironHealthPerspect113(7):894-899 (2005); https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.7688 The source of the errors in this article, which were limited to the Boston cohort, was twofold. Specifically, performance IQ data were used instead of full-scale IQ [...]

BACKGROUND: Prenatal exposure to organophosphate (OP) insecticides, a widely used class of pesticides, may be associated with decreased gestational age and lower birth weight. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in paroxanase (PONI) [...]

CONTEXT: Most of the U.S. population is exposed to the high-production-volume chemical bisphenol A (BPA), but targetable sources of exposure remain to be determined. Animal studies and one human study [...]

BACKGROUND: Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) increases offspring aggression and diminishes differences in sexually dimorphic behaviors in rodents. OBJECTIVE: We examined the association between prenatal BPA exposure and behavior [...]

BACKGROUND: Prenatal polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) exposures may influence children's neurodevelopment. OBJECTIVE: We examined the association of prenatal PBDE and PCB exposures with children's reading skills at ages 5 and 8 years, Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ), and externalizing behavior problems at age 8 years. METHODS: From 239 mother-child pairs recruited (2003-2006) in Cincinnati, Ohio, we measured maternal serum PBDE and PCB concentrations, assessed child's reading skills using the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement III (WJ-III) at age 5 years and the Wide Range Achievement Test-4 (WRAT-4) at age 8 years, tested FSIQ using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV (WISC-IV), and externalizing behavior problems using the Behavioral Assessment System for Children-2 (BASC-2) at age 8 years. We used multiple linear regression to examine the association of prenatal PBDE and PCB concentrations and reading, FSIQ, and externalizing behavior problems after adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: An increase of [Sum.sub.4]PBDEs (BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, and BDE-153) by 10 times was not significantly associated with reading scores at age 5 years at the p = 0.05 level but was inversely associated with Reading Composite scores ([beta]: -6.2, 95% CI: -11.7, -0.6) and FSIQ ([beta]: -5.3, 95% CI: -10.6, -0.02) at age 8 years; it was positively associated with the score for externalizing behavior problems ([beta]: 3.5, 95% CI: -0.1, 7.2) at age 8 years. Prenatal [Sum.sub.4]PCBs (PCB-118, -153, -138-158, and -180) was not significantly associated with a child's reading skills, FSIQ, and externalizing behavior problems. CONCLUSION: Prenatal PBDE concentration was inversely associated with reading skills and FSIQ and positively associated with externalizing behavior problems at age 8 years. No significant associations were found in prenatal PCB concentration., Introduction PBDEs were widely used as flame retardants in the manufacture of electronics, fUrniture, carpets, and textiles and are detectable in indoor dust, fish, birds, human serum, and adipose tissue. [...]

In anticipation of the National Children's Study, lessons can be learned from the smaller birth cohort studies conducted by five Centers for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research funded [...]

Principles and practices of pediatric neurotoxicology are reviewed here with the purpose of guiding the design and execution of the planned National Children's Study. The developing human central nervous system [...]

Lead is a confirmed neurotoxin, but questions remain about lead-associated intellectual deficits at blood lead levels < 10 [micro]g/dL and whether lower exposures are, for a given change in exposure, [...]

We used the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), conducted from 1988 to 1994, to investigate the relationship between environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and cognitive abilities [...]

BACKGROUND: DNA methylation alterations may underlie associations between gestational perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and later-life health outcomes. To the best of our knowledge, no longitudinal studies have examined the associations between gestational PFAS and DNA methylation. OBJECTIVES: We examined associations of gestational PFAS exposure with longitudinal DNA methylation measures at birth and in adolescence using the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study (2003–2006; Cincinnati, Ohio). METHODS: We quantified serum concentrations of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) in mothers during pregnancy. We measured DNA methylation in cord blood (푛= 266) and peripheral leukocytes at 12 years of age (푛= 160) using the Illumina HumanMethylation EPIC BeadChip. We analyzed associations between log2-transformed PFAS concentrations and repeated DNA methylation measures using linear regression with generalized estimating equations. We included interaction terms between children’s age and gestational PFAS. We performed Gene Ontology enrichment analysis to identify molecular pathways. We used Project Viva (1999–2002; Boston, Massachusetts) to replicate significant associations. RESULTS: After adjusting for covariates, 435 cytosine–guanine dinucleotide (CpG) sites were associated with PFAS (false discovery rate, 푞< 0.05). Specifically, we identified 2 CpGs for PFOS, 12 for PFOA, 8 for PFHxS, and 413 for PFNA; none overlapped. Among these, 2 CpGs for PFOA and 4 for PFNA were replicated in Project Viva. Some of the PFAS-associated CpG sites annotated to gene regions related to cancers, cognitive health, cardiovascular disease, and kidney function. We found little evidence that the associations between PFAS and DNA methylation differed by children’s age. DISCUSSION: In these longitudinal data, PFAS biomarkers were associated with differences in several CpGs at birth and at 12 years of age in or near genes linked to some PFAS-associated health outcomes. Future studies should examine whether DNA methylation mediates associations between gestational PFAS exposure and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Prenatal exposure to endocrine disruptors has been associated with increased risk of childhood obesity. However, epidemiologic studies on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are limited despite animal studies indicating PBDEs' potential role as an obesogen. OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether maternal concentrations of BDEs 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, and ΣPBDEs during pregnancy were associated with anthropometric measures in children aged 1-8 years. METHODS: We examined 318 mother--child pairs in the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study, a birth cohort enrolled from 2003 through 2006 (Cincinnati, OH). Serum PBDEs were measured at 16 ± 3 weeks gestation. We measured child height (1-8 years), weight (1-8 years), body mass index (BMI) (2-8 years), waist circumference (4-8 years), and body fat (8 years). To account for repeated measures, we used linear mixed models and generalized estimating equations to estimate associations between maternal PBDEs and child anthropometric measures. RESULTS: We found no statistically significant associations between prenatal PBDEs and height or weight z-score. A 10-fold increase in maternal serum BDE-153 was associated with lower BMI 2-score (β = -0.36; 95% CI: -0.60, -0.13) at 2-8 years, smaller waist circumference (β = -1.81 cm; 95% CI: -3.13, -0.50) at 4-8 years, and lower percent body fat (β = -2.37%; 95% CI: -4.21, -0.53) at 8 years. A decrease in waist circumference at 4-8 years was observed with a 10-fold increase in BDE-100 (β = -1.50 cm; 95% CI: -2.93, -0.08) and ΣPBDEs (β = -1.57 cm; 95% CI: -3.11, -0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Reverse causality may have resulted in prenatal PBDEs, particularly BDE-153, and decreased BMI, waist circumference, and body fat. Environ Health Perspect 124:1891-1897; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP139, Introduction Childhood obesity is associated with adverse health effects, including diabetes, dyslipidemia, fatty liver disease, and hypertension (Daniels 2009). Between 1980 and 2013, the global prevalence of childhood obesity increased [...]

BACKGROUND: Organophosphorous (OP) pesticides are associated with reduced fetal growth in animals, but human studies are inconsistent. OBJECTIVES: We pooled data from four cohorts to examine associations of prenatal OP exposure with birth weight (n = 1,169), length (n = 1,152), and head circumference (n = 1,143). METHODS: Data were from the CHAMACOS, HOME, Columbia, and Mount Sinai birth cohorts. Concentrations of three diethyl phosphate (∑DEP) and three dimethyl phosphate (∑DMP) metabolites of OP pesticides [summed to six dialkyl phosphates (∑DAPs)] were measured in maternal urine. Linear regression and mixed-effects models were used to examine associations with birth outcomes. RESULTS: We found no significant associations of ZDEP, ∑DMP, or ∑DAPs with birth weight, length, or head circumference overall. However, among non-Hispanic black women, increasing urinary ∑DAP and ∑DMP concentrations were associated with decreased birth length (β = -0.4 cm; 95% CI: -0.9, 0.0 and β = -0.4 cm; 95% CI: -0.8, 0.0, respectively, for each 10-fold increase in metabolite concentration). Among infants with the PONI192RR genotype, ∑DAP and ∑DMP were negatively associated with length (β = -0.4 cm; 95% CI: -0.9, 0.0 and β = -0.5 cm; 95% CI: -0.9, -0.1). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms previously reported associations of prenatal OP exposure among black women with decreased infant size at birth, but finds no evidence of smaller birth weight, length, or head circumference among whites or Hispanics. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found stronger inverse associations of DAPs and birth outcome in infants with the less susceptible PONI192RR genotype. The large pooled data set facilitated exploration of interactions by race/ ethnicity and PON1 genotype, but was limited by differences in study populations. http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409362, Introduction Organophosphorous (OP) pesticides, a widely used class of insecticides, have been the subject of concern in recent years because of their potential for developmental and neurobehavioral toxicity (Bouchard et [...]

BACKGROUND: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) reduce blood concentrations of thyroid hormones in laboratory animals, but it is unclear whether PBDEs disrupt thyroid hormones in pregnant women or newborn infants. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the relationship between maternal PBDE levels and thyroid hormone concentrations in maternal and cord sera. Methods: we used data from the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study, a prospective birth cohort of 389 pregnant women in Cincinnati, Ohio, who were enrolled from 2003 through 2006 and delivered singleton infants. Maternal serum PBDE concentrations were measured at enrollment (16 ± 3 weeks of gestation). Thyroid hormone concentrations were measured in maternal serum at enrollment (n = 187) and in cord serum samples (n = 256). RESULTS: Median maternal serum concentrations of BDEs 28 and 47 were 1.0 and 19.1 ng/g lipid, respectively. A 10-fold increase in BDEs 28 and 47 concentrations was associated with a 0.85-µg/dL [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.05, 1.64] and 0.82-µg/dL (95% CI: 0.12, 1.51) increase in maternal total thyroxine concentrations ([TT.sub.4]), respectively. Both congeners were also positively associated with maternal free thyroxine ([FT.sub.4]). We also observed positive associations between BDE-47 and maternal total and free triiodothyronine ([TT.sub.4] and [FT.sub.3]). A 10-fold increase in BDE-28 was associated with elevated [FT.sub.3] concentrations (β = 0.14 µg/mL; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.26). In contrast, maternal PBDE levels were not associated with thyroid hormone concentrations in cord serum. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that maternal PBDE exposure, particularly BDEs 28 and 47, are associated with maternal concentrations of [T.sub.4] and [T.sub.3] during pregnancy. http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408996, Introduction Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), synthetic flame retardants, have been used in the manufacture of consumer products, including furniture foam, carpet padding, and electronics. Because they are semivolatile and are [...]

BACKGROUND: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may be involved in the etiology of autism spectrum disorders, but identifying relevant chemicals within mixtures of EDCs is difficult. OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to identify gestational EDC exposures associated with autistic behaviors. METHODS: We measured the concentrations of 8 phthalate metabolites, bisphenol A, 25 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 6 organochlorine pesticides, 8 brominated flame retardants, and 4 perfluoroalkyl substances in blood or urine samples from 175 pregnant women in the HOME (Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment) Study (Cincinnati, OH). When children were 4 and 5 years old, mothers completed the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), a measure of autistic behaviors. We examined confounder-adjusted associations between 52 EDCs and SRS scores using a twostage hierarchical analysis to account for repeated measures and confounding by correlated EDCs. RESULTS: Most of the EDCs were associated with negligible absolute differences in SRS scores (≤ 1.5). Each 2-SD increase in serum concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ether-28 (PBDE-28) (β = 2.5; 95% CI: -0.6, 5.6) or trans-nonachlor (β = 4.1; 95% CI: 0.8-7.3) was associated with more autistic behaviors. In contrast, fewer autistic behaviors were observed among children born to women with detectable versus nondetectable concentrations of PCB-178 (β = -3.0; 95% CI: -6.3, 0.2), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β = -3.3; 95% CI: -6.1, -0.5), or PBDE-85 (β = -3.2; 95% CI: -5.9, -0.5). Increasing perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) concentrations were also associated with fewer autistic behaviors (β = -2.0; 95% CI: -4.4, 0.4). CONCLUSIONS: Some EDCs were associated with autistic behaviors in this cohort, but our modest sample size precludes us from dismissing chemicals with null associations. PFOA, β-hexachlorocyclohexane, PCB-178, PBDE-28, PBDE-85, and trans-nonachlor deserve additional scrutiny as factors that may be associated with childhood autistic behaviors. Environ Health Perspect 122: 513-520; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1307261, Introduction Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) affect approximately 1% of U.S. children and are characterized by impaired interpersonal behavior or communication and repetitive or stereotypic behaviors that begin before 3 years [...]

Background: Early-life phthalate exposure may influence child adiposity, but prior studies have not determined if there are periods of enhanced vulnerability to phthalates. Objective: To examine the relationship between child adiposity at 8 y of age and repeated urinary biomarkers of phthalate exposure from gestation through childhood to determine if there are distinct periods of vulnerability. Methods: In 219 mother-child pairs from Cincinnati, Ohio, we quantified nine urinary phthalate metabolites up to two times prenatally and six times from 1-8 y of age. We measured child body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and percent body fat at 8 y of age. To identify periods of vulnerability, we used two statistical methods to estimate phthalate-adiposity associations at each visit, test differences in phthalate-adiposity associations across visits, and model trajectories of phthalate concentrations for children at different levels of adiposity. Results: Prenatal phthalate concentrations were not associated with excess child adiposity. Monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) concentrations during pregnancy and childhood were inversely associated with adiposity. The associations of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites and monoethyl phthalate (MEP) with child adiposity depended on the timing of exposure. A 10- fold increase in J]DEHP at 1 and 5 y was associated with a 2.7% decrease [95% confidence interval (CI): -4.8, -0.5] and 2.9% increase (95% CI: 0.3, 5.5) in body fat, respectively. MEP concentrations at 5 and 8 y of age were associated with higher child adiposity, but earlier childhood concentrations were not. Conclusion: In this cohort, we did not find evidence of an obesogenic effect of prenatal phthalate exposure. Positive associations between postnatal MEP and DEHP concentrations depended on the timing of exposure. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1022, Introduction There is increasing recognition that the origins of obesity can be traced to gestation, infancy, or childhood, all critical periods of growth and development (Oken and Gillman 2003). Many [...]

Environ Health Perspect 125(4):746-752 (2017), https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP478 In the original article, Figure 2a incorrectly showed a mean of -0.34 for Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) score in the fourth quartile of Sum [...]

http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1104429R In their letter, Haighton et al. recommend that we review Bradford Hill guidelines for establishing causality. As noted in our article (Sathyanarayana et al. 2011), we did not try [...]

BACKGROUND: Exposure to triclosan, an endocrine disrupting chemical, may affect thyroid hormone homeostasis and adversely affect neurodevelopment. OBJECTIVE: Using a longitudinal pregnancy and birth cohort, we investigated associations between triclosan exposures during different time windows, and cognitive test scores at 8 y of age in 198 children from the HOME Study. METHODS: We quantified triclosan in urine samples from mother-child pairs up to nine times between the second trimester of gestation and 8 y of age. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV [i.e., Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (IQ)] assessment was administered to HOME Study children at 8 y of age. We estimated covariate-adjusted triclosan-IQ associations at each visit. We also tested whether associations between triclosan concentrations and cognitive test scores varied among exposure at different time periods. RESULTS: Full-Scale IQ was not significantly associated with urinary triclosan concentrations during gestation or childhood but was significantly associated with a 10-fold increase in maternal urinary triclosan concentration at delivery [-4:5 points (95% CI: -7:0, -2:0)]. Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI) scores were significantly decreased in association with urinary triclosan concentrations at delivery and at 2 y of age. Associations between repeated triclosan concentrations and cognitive test scores significantly varied among exposure at different time periods for Full-Scale IQ, PRI, Verbal Comprehension Index, and Working Memory (triclosan-visit interaction p=0:04). CONCLUSION: Urinary triclosan concentrations at delivery, but not during mid to late pregnancy and childhood, were associated with significantly lower children's cognitive test scores at 8 y of age in this cohort of U.S. children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As described in our original article (Lanphear et al. 2005), we decided apriori to focus our analyses on the blood lead (BPh) variable that had the strongest association with IQ [...]

BACKGROUND: Prenatal polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) exposures may influence children's neurodevelopment. OBJECTIVE: We examined the association of prenatal PBDE and PCB exposures with children's reading skills at ages 5 and 8 years, Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ), and externalizing behavior problems at age 8 years. METHODS: From 239 mother-child pairs recruited (2003-2006) in Cincinnati, Ohio, we measured maternal serum PBDE and PCB concentrations, assessed child's reading skills using the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement III (WJ-III) at age 5 years and the Wide Range Achievement Test-4 (WRAT-4) at age 8 years, tested FSIQ using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV (WISC-IV), and externalizing behavior problems using the Behavioral Assessment System for Children-2 (BASC-2) at age 8 years. We used multiple linear regression to examine the association of prenatal PBDE and PCB concentrations and reading, FSIQ, and externalizing behavior problems after adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: An increase of Sum4PBDEs (BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, and BDE-153) by 10 times was not significantly associated with reading scores at age 5 years at the p = 0.05 level but was inversely associated with Reading Composite scores (β: -6.2, 95% CI: -11.7, -0.6) and FSIQ (β: -5.3, 95% CI: -10.6, -0.02) at age 8 years; it was positively associated with the score for externalizing behavior problems (β: 3.5, 95% CI: -0.1, 7.2) at age 8 years. Prenatal Sum4PCBs (PCB-118, -153, -138-158, and -180) was not significantly associated with a child's reading skills, FSIQ, and externalizing behavior problems. Conclusion: Prenatal PBDE concentration was inversely associated with reading skills and FSIQ and positively associated with externalizing behavior problems at age 8 years. No significant associations were found in prenatal PCB concentration. CITATION: Zhang H, Yolton K, Webster GM, Sjödin A, Calafat AM, Dietrich KN, Xu Y, Xie C, Braun JM, Lanphear BP, Chen A. 2017. Prenatal PBDE and PCB exposures and reading, cognition, and externalizing behavior in children. Environ Health Perspect 125:746-752; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP478 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) are used in agriculture worldwide. Residential use was common in the United States before 2001. Objectives: We conducted a pooled analysis of four birth cohorts (children's centers; n = 936) to evaluate associations of prenatal exposure to OPs with child development at 24 months. METHODS: Using general linear models, we computed site-specific and pooled estimates of the association of total dialkyl (ΣDAP), diethyl (ΣDEP), and dimethylphosphate (Σ) metabolite concentrations in maternal prenatal urine with mental and psychomotor development indices (MDI/PDI) and evaluated heterogeneity by children's center, race/ethnicity, and PON1 genotype. RESULTS: There was significant heterogeneity in the center-specific estimates of association for ΣDAP and ΣDMP and the MDI (p = 0.09, and p = 0.05, respectively), as well as heterogeneity in the race/ethnicity-specific estimates for ΣDAP (p = 0.06) and ΣDMP (p = 0.02) and the MDI. Strong MDI associations in the CHAMACOS population per 10-fold increase in ΣDAP (β = -4.17; 95% CI: -7.00, -1.33) and ΣDMP (β = -3.64; 95% CI: -5.97, -1.32) were influential, as were associations among Hispanics (β per 10-fold increase in ΣDAP = -2.91; 95% CI: -4.71, -1.12). We generally found stronger negative associations of ΣDAP and ΣDEP with the 24-month MDI for carriers of the 192Q PON1 allele, particularly among blacks and Hispanics. CONCLUSIONS: Data pooling was complicated by center-related differences in subject characteristics, eligibility, and changes in regulations governing residential use of OPs during the study periods. Pooled summary estimates of prenatal exposure to OPs and neurodevelopment should be interpreted with caution because of significant heterogeneity in associations by center, race/ethnicity, and PON1 genotype. Subgroups with unique exposure profiles or susceptibilities may be at higher risk for adverse neurodevelopment following prenatal exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent chemicals that have been widely used as flame retardants in furniture, carpet padding, car seats, and other consumer products during the past three decades. Objective: We examined whether in utero exposure to PBDEs is associated with child cognitive function and behavior in a U.S. study sample. Methods: In a prospective birth cohort, we measured maternal serum concentrations of BDE‑47 and other PBDE congeners in 309 women at 16 weeks of gestation during 2003–2006 and followed their children in Cincinnati, Ohio. We measured cognitive and motor abilities using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II at ages 1, 2, and 3 years; intelligence using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-III at age 5 years; and children’s behaviors using the Behavioral Assessment System for Children-2 annually at ages 2–5 years. We used linear mixed models or generalized estimating equations with adjustment for potential confounders to estimate associations between these outcomes and log10-transformed PBDE concentrations. Results: The geometric mean of BDE‑47 in maternal serum (20.1 ng/g lipid) was comparable with U.S. adult national reference values. Prenatal BDE‑47 was not significantly associated with Bayley Mental or Psychomotor Development Indices at 1–3 years, but a 10-fold increase in prenatal BDE‑47 was associated with a 4.5-point decrease (95% CI: –8.8, –0.1) in Full-Scale IQ and a 3.3‑point increase (95% CI: 0.3, 6.3) in the hyperactivity score at age 5 years. Conclusions: Prenatal exposure to PBDEs was associated with lower IQ and higher hyperactivity scores in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the author's views regarding the comments made by other researchers on the evaluation of the case study regarding the reregistration of phosphine by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. According to the author, the case study passed through a thorough peer review and was handled properly in all aspects, which is contrary to the accusations of the researchers that the author improperly used his status in the publication where the study was published. The author reveals that there are legitimate scientific concerns that require resolution but was neglected in the study.

A correction is offered to the article "Prenatal PBDE and PCB Exposures and Reading, Cognition, and Externalizing Behavior in Children," by Hongmei Zhang, Kimberly Yolton, Glenys M. Webster, Andreas Sjödin, Antonia M. Calafat, Kim N. Dietrich, Yingying Xu, Changchun Xie, Joseph M. Braun, Bruce P. Lanphear, and Aimin Chen, in Volume 125, issue 4 in 2017.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article related to the neonatal neurobehavior of infant and exposure to the high prenatal bisphenol A exposure and the response by Sheela Satyanarayana to a letter to the editor about her artcle on bisphenol A exposure.