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Purpose To examine associations between parental occupation and childhood germ cell tumors (GCTs) in offspring while distinguishing by common histologic subtype (i.e., yolk sac tumor and teratoma). Methods This population-based case–control study included childhood GCT cases in Denmark diagnosed 1968–2015 ( Results Overall, 178 childhood GCT cases (50 yolk sac tumors; 65 teratomas) and 4,355 controls were included for analysis. Maternal employment in education during pregnancy was associated with offspring GCTs (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.23–4.90), especially yolk sac tumors (OR 5.27, 95% CI 1.94–14.28). High levels of both maternal and paternal occupational social contact were also associated with offspring yolk sac tumors across all exposure periods (ORs 2.30–4.63). No signals were observed for paternal occupational solvent exposure, while imprecise associations were estimated for maternal exposure (e.g., dichloromethane exposure during pregnancy, OR 1.51, 95% CI 0.77–2.95). Conclusion Our findings suggest that parental occupation is associated with offspring GCTs, with most consistent evidence supporting an association between maternal employment in education or other high social contact jobs and offspring yolk sac tumors.

En Suisse, environ 13 % des femmes enceintes fument, donnant naissance à plus de 11 000 nourrissons par an exposés au tabac in utero. Si cette proportion est stable depuis les années 2000, celle des nouveaux modes de consommation du tabac et de la nicotine (cigarette électronique, inhalation de tabac chauffé, tabac à priser ou à sucer) est en augmentation. La littérature est unanime sur les effets délétères de l'exposition anténatale au tabac sur le fœtus, avec de multiples conséquences à court et à long terme. Les études disponibles à ce jour suggèrent que l'exposition in utero à l'e-cigarette expose à un profil similaire d'effets secondaires indésirables. Dans cet article, nous revoyons brièvement les données épidémiologiques et mécanistiques connues des effets à court et à long terme de la fumée de tabac et de la nicotine en anténatal.

Background Studies on medication safety in pregnancy are increasingly focusing on child neurodevelopmental outcomes. Establishing neurodevelopmental safety is complex due to the range of neurodevelopmental outcomes and the length of follow-up needed for accurate assessment. The aim of this study was to provide an inventory of European data sources for use in pharmacoepidemiologic studies investigating neurodevelopment following maternal medication exposure. Method The EUROmediSAFE inventory of data sources in Europe for evaluating perinatal and long-term childhood risks associated with in-utero exposure to medication was updated by contacting colleagues across 31 European countries, literature review and internet searches. Included data sources must record at least one neurodevelopmental outcome and maternal medication use in pregnancy must be available, either in the data source itself or through linkage with another data source. Information on the domain of neurodevelopment, measure/scale used and the approach to measurement were recorded for each data source. Results Ninety data sources were identified across 14 countries. The majority (63.3%) were created for health surveillance and research with the remaining serving administrative purposes (21.1% healthcare databases,15.6% other administrative databases). Five domains of neurodevelopment were identified—infant development (36 data sources,13 countries), child behaviour (27 data sources, 10 countries), cognition (29 data sources, 12 countries), educational achievement (20 data sources, 7 countries), and diagnostic codes for neurodevelopmental disorders (42 data sources, 11 countries). Thirty-nine data sources, in 12 countries, had information on more than one domain of neurodevelopment. Conclusion This inventory is invaluable to future studies planning to investigate the neurodevelopmental impact of medication exposures during pregnancy. Caution must be used when combining varied approaches to neurodevelopment outcome measurement, the age of children in the data source, and the sensitivity and specificity of the outcome measure selected should be borne in mind.

STUDY QUESTION Is there a relationship between maternal occupational exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during pregnancy and the semen quality of their sons? SUMMARY ANSWER Our results suggest an association between maternal occupational exposure to potential EDCs, especially to pesticides, phthalates and heavy metals, and a decrease in several semen parameters. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Sexual differentiation, development and proper functioning of the reproductive system are largely dependent on steroid hormones. Although there is some animal evidence, studies on maternal exposure to EDCs during pregnancy and its effect on the semen quality of sons are scarce and none have focused on maternal occupational exposure. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A cross-sectional study aiming to evaluate semen quality was carried out among Swiss conscripts aged 18 to 22 years between 2005 and 2017. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Conscript and parent questionnaires were completed prior to the collection of a semen sample. Semen parameters were categorised according to the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO). Data on maternal employment during pregnancy were provided by the parent questionnaire. Maternal occupational exposure to potential EDC categories was defined using a job-exposure matrix (JEM). Logistic regressions were used to analyse the relationship between maternal occupational exposure to EDCs and each semen parameter adjusted for potential confounding factors. Results are presented using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE In total, 1,737 conscripts provided a conscript and parent questionnaire, as well as a semen sample; among these 1,045 of their mothers worked during pregnancy. Our study suggests an association between occupational exposure of mothers during pregnancy to potential EDCs and low semen volume and total sperm count, particularly for exposure to pesticides (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.11–3.86 and OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.05–4.35), phthalates (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.10–3.37 and OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.01–3.55), and heavy metals (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.14–3.60 and OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.21–4.35). Maternal occupational exposure to heavy metals was additionally associated with a low sperm concentration (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.06–3.37). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Several limitations should be noted, such as the indirect method for maternal occupational exposure assessment during the pregnancy (JEM) and the cross-sectional design of the study. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our observations reinforce the need to inform pregnant women of potential hazards during pregnancy that could impair their child’s fertility. Additional studies are needed to confirm the involvement of EDCs. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by the Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology: SCAHT and the ‘Fondation privée des Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève’. The collection of human biological material used for this study was supported by the FABER Foundation, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF): NFP 50 ‘Endocrine Disruptors: Relevance to Humans, Animals and Ecosystems’, the Medical Services of the Swiss Army (DDPS) and Medisupport. The authors declare they have no competing financial interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A

Introduction: Women who smoke, deliver significantly smaller infants. These infants have reduced levels of the vasodilator endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) levels in the umbilical vessels, which may reduce fetal growth. Serum cotinine, the degradation product of nicotine, can be used to determine the level of tobacco exposure. Newborns of environmental smokers are suggested to be smaller and shorter in weight, length, and head circumference. eNOS levels have not yet been studied in these infants. We investigated the existence of a relation between maternal environmental tobacco smoke exposure, eNOS activity, concentration, and birthweight. Material and methods: We included 263 healthy singleton pregnancies categorized into three groups according to measured cotinine levels: 175 nonsmokers, 38 smokers, and 50 environmental smokers. Cotinine was quantified by mass spectrometry with a detection limit of.2 ng/mL; eNOS activity and concentration were measured in endothelial cells (ECs) of the umbilical vein. Results: Infants born to environmental smokers had similar weights to infants born to nonsmokers (47 g heavier, P =.48). Cotinine concentrations were.06/.09/.12 ng/mL (quartiles) in infants born to nonsmokers,.27/.37/.81 ng/mL in infants born to women exposed to environmental tobacco smoke, and 43.0/63.8/108.1 ng/mL in infants born to smokers. The eNOS concentration was 1.65 ±.92 ng/10 6 ECs (mean ± SD) in nonsmokers and 1.71 ± 1.00 ng/10 6 ECs in environmental smokers. The eNOS activity was 52.0 ± 20.6 pmol l-citrulline/min/10 6 ECs in nonsmokers and 48.7 ± 19.8 pmol l-citrulline/min/10 6 ECs in environmental smokers. Conclusions: Infants born to environmental smokers, as judged by umbilical serum cotinine levels close to.2 ng/mL, are not associated with lower birthweight or reduced eNOS activity, or concentration in the fetal vascular bed.

Although prenatal tobacco exposure (PTE) is associated with several adverse offspring mental health outcomes, mechanisms remain unclear. We test whether associations between PTE and offspring psychopathology are explained by birthweight, one of the earliest-occurring outcomes of PTE. The analysis focuses on 238 offspring from a family study of depression with (1) collected prenatal histories and (2) at least one clinical interview in adulthood to assess psychiatric problems. Exposure was categorized by maternal smoking of ≥10 cigarettes daily/nearly daily; diagnostic outcomes were confirmed by clinicians using the best-estimate procedure, blind to exposure. After adjusting for potential confounders, PTE was associated with 0.7 lb(9%) lower birthweight (p=0.0002), increased rates of disruptive behavior disorders [males: OR=2.66(1.15,6.16), and (trend) substance use disorders [females: OR=2.23(0.98,5.09)], and decreased rates of mood disorders (males: OR=0.42(0.17,0.98)]. Birthweight was not independently associated with diagnoses and did not mediate the association between exposure and psychopathology. Maternal smoking has long-term adverse consequences for offspring. Although birthweight cannot be manipulated, smoking is a modifiable risk factor. Thus, cessation efforts focused on pregnant women may not only improve maternal wellbeing, but also mitigate adverse proximal (e.g., birthweight) and long-term (psychopathology) outcomes in offspring.

Brazil is among the biggest pesticide consumers in the world, with its population severely exposed to tons of such substances, both because of environmental contamination and occupational use. The health consequences of pesticide exposure are well-documented, but still sparse regarding Brazilian population. This study systematically reviewed the Brazilian studies published that address the relationship between exposure to pesticides and health problems in the Brazilian population. Also, information about pesticide use in Brazil is provided. The included studies showed that exposure to pesticides has a relevant impact on the health of the Brazilian population, regardless of age and gender, and on workers in rural areas or not. Most poisoning events seem to result from the continuous use of pesticides, whether occupationally or environmentally, characterizing a public health problem. The major consequences reported in literature were damage to the central nervous system, cancer, deleterious effects on rural workers' health, intoxications, malformations, and endocrine changes. These findings point out the need to understand the impact of chronic exposure to pesticides on severely exposed people and highlight the importance of creating public policies to protect them and avoid disease occurrence., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Panis, Kawassaki, Crestani, Pascotto, Bortoloti, Vicentini, Lucio, Ferreira, Prates, Vieira, Gaboardi and Candiotto.)

BACKGROUND: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widespread persistent organic compounds that have been suggested to affect neurodevelopment.OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate whether prenatal exposure to PFASs is associated with IQ in children.METHODS: We studied 1,592 pregnancies enrolled in the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC) during 1996-2002. Sixteen PFASs were measured in maternal plasma collected in early gestation. Child IQ was assessed at 5 y of age using the Wechsler Primary and Preschool Scales of Intelligence-Revised (WPPSI-R) administered by trained psychologists. Using multivariable linear regression models, we estimated the differences in child IQ scores according to PFAS concentration [per natural-log (ng/mL) unit increase or values categorized in quartiles].RESULTS: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were detected in all samples, and five additional PFASs were quantified in >80% of the samples. Overall, we found no strong associations between a natural-log unit increase in each of the seven PFASs we evaluated and child IQ scores. A few positive and negative associations were found in the sex-stratified PFAS quartile analyses, but the patterns were inconsistent.CONCLUSION: Overall, we did not find consistent evidence to suggest prenatal exposure to PFASs to be associated with child IQ scores at 5 y of age in the DNBC. Some of the sex-specific observations warrant further investigation. Additional studies should examine offspring IQ at older ages and assess other functional cognitive and neuropsychiatric measures in addition to intelligence. Postnatal exposures to PFASs and mixture effects for PFASs and PFASs with other environmental pollutants should also be considered in future research. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2754.

Background: The early life microbiome contributes to immune development. Antibiotics during pregnancy alter the microbiome and may influence disease risks in the offspring. We investigated the relationship between maternal antibiotic exposure before and during pregnancy, and risk of childhood hospitalization with infection.Methods: We used population-based Danish national databases for pregnancies between 1995 and 2009. Infants were followed from birth until their first infection-related hospitalization, death, 14th birthday, emigration or end-2009. Exposure was maternal antibiotics prescribed before and during pregnancy. Outcome was infection-related hospitalization.Results: 141 359 (18%) mothers had at least one antibiotic prescription during pregnancy, 230 886 (29.4% of those with complete data) in the 18 months before pregnancy. Of 776 657 live-born singletons, 443 546 infection-related hospitalizations occurred in 222 524 (28.6%) children. Pregnancy antibiotic exposure was associated with increased risk of childhood infection-related hospitalization [hazard ratio (HR) 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17-1.19]. In mothers prescribed antibiotics only during pregnancy whose child did not receive pre-hospitalization antibiotics, this association was present only in those born vaginally. Higher risks of infection-related hospitalization occurred when pregnancy antibiotic prescriptions were closer to birth and in mothers receiving more pregnancy antibiotics. Children born to mothers exposed to antibiotics before (but not during) pregnancy also had increased risk of infection-related hospitalization (HR 1.10, 95% CI 1.07-1.12).Conclusions: Antibiotic exposure before or during pregnancy was associated with increased risk of childhood hospitalized infections. Alteration of the maternally derived microbiome and shared heritable and environmental determinants are possible contributory mechanisms.

UK Medical Research Council; Wellcome Trust [102215/2/13/2, WT088806, 084762MA]; UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council [BB/I025751/1, BB/I025263/1]; UK Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit; University of Bristol [MC_UU_12013_1, MC_UU_12013_2, MC_UU_12013_5, MC_UU_12013_8]; United States National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [R01 DK10324]; Swedish Research Council; Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation; Freemason Child House Foundation in Stockholm; MeDALL (Mechanisms of the Development of ALLergy), within the European Union [261357]; Stockholm County Council (ALF); Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) [RBc08-0027]; Strategic Research Programme (SFO) in Epidemiology at Karolinska Institutet; Swedish Research Council Formas; Swedish Environment Protection Agency; Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Leukemia and the Environment [P01ES018172]; NIH [P50ES018172, R01ES09137, 5P30CA082103, P01 ES009605, R01 ES021369, R01ES023067, K01ES017801, R01ES022216, P30ES007048, R01ES014447, P01ES009581, R826708-01, RD831861-01, P50ES026086, R01DK068001, R01 DK100340, R01 DK076648, R01ES022934, R01HL111108, R01NR013945, R37 HD034568, UL1 TR001082, P30 DK56350]; EPA [RD83451101, RD83615901, RD 82670901, RD 83451301, 83615801-0]; UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center Support grant [P30 CA82103]; Swiss Science National Foundation [P2LAP3_158674]; Sutter-Stottner Foundation; Commission of the European Community, specific RTD Programme 'Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources' within the 5th Framework Programme [QLRT-2001-00389, QLK1-CT-2002-30582]; 6th Framework Programme [007036]; European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), project EarlyNutrition [289346]; European Research Council Advanced grant ERC-AdG [322605 META-GROWTH]; Autism Speaks grant [260377]; Funds for Research in Respiratory Health; French Ministry of Research: IFR program; INSERM Nutrition Research Program; French Ministry of Health: Perinatality Program; French National Institute for Population Health Surveillance (INVS); Paris-Sud University; French National Institute for Health Education (INPES); Nestle; Mutuelle Generale de l'Education Nationale (MGEN); French-speaking association for the study of diabetes and metabolism (Alfediam) [2012/51290-6]; EU; European Research Council [ERC-2012-StG.310898, 268479-BREATHE]; Flemish Scientific Research Council (FWO) [N1516112 / G.0.873.11N.10]; European Community's Seventh Framework Programme FP7 project EXPOsOMICS [308610]; People Program (Marie Curie Actions) of the European Union's Seventh Framework Program FP7 under REA grant [628858]; Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds (BOF) Hasselt University; Ministry of the Flemish Community (Department of Economics, Science and Innovation); Ministry of the Flemish Community (Department of Environment, Nature and Energy); CEFIC LRI award by the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO); CEFIC LRI award by the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO) [12L5216N]; Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) [12L5216N]; Bill AMP; Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Exploration grant [OPP119403]; Sandler Family Foundation; American Asthma Foundation; National Institutes of Health; National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute [HL117004]; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences [ES24844]; National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities [MD006902, MD009523]; National Institute of General Medical Sciences [GM007546]; Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program [24RT-0025]; Hutchison Whampoa Ltd, Hong Kong; University of Groningen; Well Baby Clinic Foundation Icare; Noordlease; Youth Health Care Drenthe; Biobanking and Biomolecular Research Infrastructure Netherlands [CP2011-19]; Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam; Erasmus University Rotterdam; Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development; Netherlands Genomics Initiative (NGI)/Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO); Netherlands Consortium for Healthy Aging (NCHA) [050-060-810]; Genetic Laboratory of the Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC; European Union's Horizon research and innovation programme [733206, 633595]; National Institute of Child and Human Development [R01HD068437]; Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development [VIDI 016.136.361]; Consolidator grant from the European Research Council [ERC-2014-CoG-648916]; Netherlands' Organization for Scientific Research (NWO VICI); European Research Council ERC; Netherlands' Organization for Scientific Research (NWO Spinoza Award); Gravitation program of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science; Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) [024.001.003]; Lung Foundation Netherlands [3.2.12.089]; Fonds de Recherche du Quebec en Sante (FRQ-S) [20697]; Canadian Institute of Health Reseach (CIHR) [MOP 115071]; Diabete Quebec grant; Canadian Diabetes Association operating grant [OG-3-08-2622]; American Diabetes Association Pathways Accelerator Early Investigator Award [1-15-ACE-26]; MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit - Medical Research Council [MC_UU_12013/1-9]; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health [K99ES025817]; Instituto de Salud Carlos III [Red INMA G03/176, CB06/02/0041]; Spanish Ministry of Health [FIS-PI04/1436, FIS-PI08/1151]; Spanish Ministry of Health (FEDER funds) [FIS-PI11/00610, FIS-FEDER-PI06/0867, FIS-FEDER-PI03-1615]; Generalitat de Catalunya [CIRIT 1999SGR 00241]; Fundacio La Marato de TV3 [090430]; EU Commission [261357-MeDALL]; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases [N01-AI90052]; National Institutes of Health USA [R01 HL082925, R01 HL132321]; Asthma UK [364]; NIAID/NIH [R01AI091905, R01AI121226]; National Institute of Health [R01AI121226, R01 AI091905, R01HL132321]; NIH/NIEHS [N01-ES75558]; NIH/NINDS [1 UO1 NS 047537-01, 2 UO1 NS 047537-06A1]; Intramural Research Program of the NIH, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences [Z01-ES-49019, Z01 ES044005, ES049033, ES049032]; Norwegian Research Council/BIOBANK [221097]; Oslo University Hospital; Unger-Vetlesens foundation; Norwegian American Womens Club; INCA/Plan Cancer-EVA-INSERM, France; International Childhood Cancer Cohort Consortium (I4C); INCA/Plan Cancer-EVA-INSERM (France); IARC Postdoctoral Fellowship; EC FP7 Marie Curie Actions-People-Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes (COFUND); NIEHS [R21ES014947, R01ES016772]; NIDDK [R01DK085173]; National Institute of Environmental Health Science [P30 ES025128]; University of Oulu grant [65354]; Oulu University Hospital [2/97, 8/97]; Ministry of Health and Social Affairs [23/251/97, 160/97, 190/97]; National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki [54121]; Regional Institute of Occupational Health, Oulu, Finland [50621, 54231]; EU [QLG1-CT-2000-01643, E51560]; NorFA grant [731, 20056, 30167]; Academy of Finland; NIH-NIEHS [P01 ES022832]; US EPA [RD83544201]; NIH-NIGMS [P20GM104416]; NCI [R25CA134286]; Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research and Development; Netherlands Asthma Fund; Netherlands Ministry of Spatial Planning, Housing, and the Environment; Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport; MeDALL; European Union under the Health Cooperation Work Program of the 7th Framework program [261357]; Italian National Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CCM grant); Italian Ministry of Health (art 12); Italian Ministry of Health (12bis Dl.gs.vo) [502/92]; EraNet; EVO; University of Helsinki Research Funds; Signe and Ane Gyllenberg foundation; Emil Aaltonen Foundation; Finnish Medical Foundation; Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation; Novo Nordisk Foundation; Paivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation; Sigrid Juselius Foundation; University of Helsinki; University of Western Australia (UWA); Curtin University; Raine Medical Research Foundation; UWA Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences; Telethon Kids Institute; Women's and Infant's Research Foundation (KEMH); Edith Cowan University; National Health and Medical Research Council [1059711]; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) fellowship [1053384]; Australian National Health and Medical Research Council; United States National Institute of Health; Greek Ministry of Health (programme of prevention of obesity and neurodevelopmental disorders in preschool children, in Heraklion district, Crete, Greece); Greek Ministry of Health ('Rhea Plus': Primary Prevention Program of Environmental Risk Factors for Reproductive Health, and Child Health); European Union (EU) [EU FP6-2003-Food-3-NewGeneris, EU FP7 ENV.2007.1.2.2.2, 211250 ESCAPE, EU FP7-2008-ENV-1.2.1.4 Envirogenomarkers, EU FP7 ENV.2008.1.2.1.6, 226285 ENRIECO]; National Institutes of Health [NIH-NIMH R01MH094609, NIH-NIEHS R01ES022223, NIH-NIEHS R01ES025145]; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [U10DD000180, U10DD000181, U10DD000182, U10DD000183, U10DD000184, U10DD000498]; Autism Speaks [7659]; Swedish Research Council through the Swedish Initiative for research on Microdata in the Social And Medical Sciences (SIMSAM) [340-2013-5867]; Stockholm County Council (ALF projects); Strategic Research Program in Epidemiology at Karolinska Institutet; Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association's Research Foundation; Stiftelsen Frimurare Barnahuset Stockholm; Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services; Ministry of the Flemish Community (Flemish Agency for Care and Health); University of Bristol; Ministry of Education and Research; European Union (EU) (EU FP7-HEALTH-single stage CHICOS); European Union (EU) (EU-FP7-HEALTH) [308333 HELIX]; European Union (EU) (EU FP6. STREP HiWATE); UK Medical Research Council; Wellcome Trust [102215/2/13/2, WT088806, 084762MA]; UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council [BB/I025751/1, BB/I025263/1]; UK Medical Research Council Integrative Epidemiology Unit; University of Bristol [MC_UU_12013_1, MC_UU_12013_2, MC_UU_12013_5, MC_UU_12013_8]; United States National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [R01 DK10324]; Swedish Research Council; Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation; Freemason Child House Foundation in Stockholm; MeDALL (Mechanisms of the Development of ALLergy), within the European Union [261357]; Stockholm County Council (ALF); Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) [RBc08-0027]; Strategic Research Programme (SFO) in Epidemiology at Karolinska Institutet; Swedish Research Council Formas; Swedish Environment Protection Agency; Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Leukemia and the Environment [P01ES018172]; NIH [P50ES018172, R01ES09137, 5P30CA082103, P01 ES009605, R01 ES021369, R01ES023067, K01ES017801, R01ES022216, P30ES007048, R01ES014447, P01ES009581, R826708-01, RD831861-01, P50ES026086, R01DK068001, R01 DK100340, R01 DK076648, R01ES022934, R01HL111108, R01NR013945, R37 HD034568, UL1 TR001082, P30 DK56350]; EPA [RD83451101, RD83615901, RD 82670901, RD 83451301, 83615801-0]; UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center Support grant [P30 CA82103]; Swiss Science National Foundation [P2LAP3_158674]; Sutter-Stottner Foundation; Commission of the European Community, specific RTD Programme 'Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources' within the 5th Framework Programme [QLRT-2001-00389, QLK1-CT-2002-30582]; 6th Framework Programme [007036]; European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), project EarlyNutrition [289346]; European Research Council Advanced grant ERC-AdG [322605 META-GROWTH]; Autism Speaks grant [260377]; Funds for Research in Respiratory Health; French Ministry of Research: IFR program; INSERM Nutrition Research Program; French Ministry of Health: Perinatality Program; French National Institute for Population Health Surveillance (INVS); Paris-Sud University; French National Institute for Health Education (INPES); Nestle; Mutuelle Generale de l'Education Nationale (MGEN); French-speaking association for the study of diabetes and metabolism (Alfediam) [2012/51290-6]; EU; European Research Council [ERC-2012-StG.310898, 268479-BREATHE]; Flemish Scientific Research Council (FWO) [N1516112 / G.0.873.11N.10]; European Community's Seventh Framework Programme FP7 project EXPOsOMICS [308610]; People Program (Marie Curie Actions) of the European Union's Seventh Framework Program FP7 under REA grant [628858]; Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds (BOF) Hasselt University; Ministry of the Flemish Community (Department of Economics, Science and Innovation); Ministry of the Flemish Community (Department of Environment, Nature and Energy); CEFIC LRI award by the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO); CEFIC LRI award by the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO) [12L5216N]; Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) [12L5216N]; Bill AMP; Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Exploration grant [OPP119403]; Sandler Family Foundation; American Asthma Foundation; National Institutes of Health; National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute [HL117004]; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences [ES24844]; National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities [MD006902, MD009523]; National Institute of General Medical Sciences [GM007546]; Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program [24RT-0025]; Hutchison Whampoa Ltd, Hong Kong; University of Groningen; Well Baby Clinic Foundation Icare; Noordlease; Youth Health Care Drenthe; Biobanking and Biomolecular Research Infrastructure Netherlands [CP2011-19]; Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam; Erasmus University Rotterdam; Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development; Netherlands Genomics Initiative (NGI)/Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO); Netherlands Consortium for Healthy Aging (NCHA) [050-060-810]; Genetic Laboratory of the Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC; European Union's Horizon research and innovation programme [733206, 633595]; National Institute of Child and Human Development [R01HD068437]; Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development [VIDI 016.136.361]; Consolidator grant from the European Research Council [ERC-2014-CoG-648916]; Netherlands' Organization for Scientific Research (NWO VICI); European Research Council ERC; Netherlands' Organization for Scientific Research (NWO Spinoza Award); Gravitation program of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science; Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) [024.001.003]; Lung Foundation Netherlands [3.2.12.089]; Fonds de Recherche du Quebec en Sante (FRQ-S) [20697]; Canadian Institute of Health Reseach (CIHR) [MOP 115071]; Diabete Quebec grant; Canadian Diabetes Association operating grant [OG-3-08-2622]; American Diabetes Association Pathways Accelerator Early Investigator Award [1-15-ACE-26]; MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit - Medical Research Council [MC_UU_12013/1-9]; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health [K99ES025817]; Instituto de Salud Carlos III [Red INMA G03/176, CB06/02/0041]; Spanish Ministry of Health [FIS-PI04/1436, FIS-PI08/1151]; Spanish Ministry of Health (FEDER funds) [FIS-PI11/00610, FIS-FEDER-PI06/0867, FIS-FEDER-PI03-1615]; Generalitat de Catalunya [CIRIT 1999SGR 00241]; Fundacio La Marato de TV3 [090430]; EU Commission [261357-MeDALL]; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases [N01-AI90052]; National Institutes of Health USA [R01 HL082925, R01 HL132321]; Asthma UK [364]; NIAID/NIH [R01AI091905, R01AI121226]; National Institute of Health [R01AI121226, R01 AI091905, R01HL132321]; NIH/NIEHS [N01-ES75558]; NIH/NINDS [1 UO1 NS 047537-01, 2 UO1 NS 047537-06A1]; Intramural Research Program of the NIH, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences [Z01-ES-49019, Z01 ES044005, ES049033, ES049032]; Norwegian Research Council/BIOBANK [221097]; Oslo University Hospital; Unger-Vetlesens foundation; Norwegian American Womens Club; INCA/Plan Cancer-EVA-INSERM, France; International Childhood Cancer Cohort Consortium (I4C); INCA/Plan Cancer-EVA-INSERM (France); IARC Postdoctoral Fellowship; EC FP7 Marie Curie Actions-People-Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes (COFUND); NIEHS [R21ES014947, R01ES016772]; NIDDK [R01DK085173]; National Institute of Environmental Health Science [P30 ES025128]; University of Oulu grant [65354]; Oulu University Hospital [2/97, 8/97]; Ministry of Health and Social Affairs [23/251/97, 160/97, 190/97]; National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki [54121]; Regional Institute of Occupational Health, Oulu, Finland [50621, 54231]; EU [QLG1-CT-2000-01643, E51560]; NorFA grant [731, 20056, 30167]; Academy of Finland; NIH-NIEHS [P01 ES022832]; US EPA [RD83544201]; NIH-NIGMS [P20GM104416]; NCI [R25CA134286]; Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research and Development; Netherlands Asthma Fund; Netherlands Ministry of Spatial Planning, Housing, and the Environment; Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport; MeDALL; European Union under the Health Cooperation Work Program of the 7th Framework program [261357]; Italian National Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CCM grant); Italian Ministry of Health (art 12); Italian Ministry of Health (12bis Dl.gs.vo) [502/92]; EraNet; EVO; University of Helsinki Research Funds; Signe and Ane Gyllenberg foundation; Emil Aaltonen Foundation; Finnish Medical Foundation; Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation; Novo Nordisk Foundation; Paivikki and Sakari Sohlberg Foundation; Sigrid Juselius Foundation; University of Helsinki; University of Western Australia (UWA); Curtin University; Raine Medical Research Foundation; UWA Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences; Telethon Kids Institute; Women's and Infant's Research Foundation (KEMH); Edith Cowan University; National Health and Medical Research Council [1059711]; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) fellowship [1053384]; Australian National Health and Medical Research Council; United States National Institute of Health; Greek Ministry of Health (programme of prevention of obesity and neurodevelopmental disorders in preschool children, in Heraklion district, Crete, Greece); Greek Ministry of Health ('Rhea Plus': Primary Prevention Program of Environmental Risk Factors for Reproductive Health, and Child Health); European Union (EU) [EU FP6-2003-Food-3-NewGeneris, EU FP7 ENV.2007.1.2.2.2, 211250 ESCAPE, EU FP7-2008-ENV-1.2.1.4 Envirogenomarkers, EU FP7 ENV.2008.1.2.1.6, 226285 ENRIECO]; National Institutes of Health [NIH-NIMH R01MH094609, NIH-NIEHS R01ES022223, NIH-NIEHS R01ES025145]; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [U10DD000180, U10DD000181, U10DD000182, U10DD000183, U10DD000184, U10DD000498]; Autism Speaks [7659]; Swedish Research Council through the Swedish Initiative for research on Microdata in the Social And Medical Sciences (SIMSAM) [340-2013-5867]; Stockholm County Council (ALF projects); Strategic Research Program in Epidemiology at Karolinska Institutet; Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association's Research Foundation; Stiftelsen Frimurare Barnahuset Stockholm; Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services; Ministry of the Flemish Community (Flemish Agency for Care and Health); University of Bristol; Ministry of Education and Research; European Union (EU) (EU FP7-HEALTH-single stage CHICOS); European Union (EU) (EU-FP7-HEALTH) [308333 HELIX]; European Union (EU) (EU FP6. STREP HiWATE); [R01ES017646]; [R01ES01900]; [R01ES16443]; [USA / NIHH 2000 G DF682]; [50945]; [R01 HL095606]; [R01 HL1143396]

Background: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent pollutants found to be endocrine disruptive and neurotoxic in animals. Positive correlations between PFASs and neurobehavioral problems in children were reported in cross-sectional data, but findings from prospective studies are limited. Objectives: We investigated whether prenatal exposure to PFASs is associated with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or childhood autism in children. Methods: Among 83,389 mother–child pairs enrolled in the Danish National Birth Cohort during 1996–2002, we identified 890 ADHD cases and 301 childhood autism cases from the Danish National Hospital Registry and the Danish Psychiatric Central Registry. From this cohort, we randomly selected 220 cases each of ADHD and autism, and we also randomly selected 550 controls frequency matched by child’s sex. Sixteen PFASs were measured in maternal plasma collected in early or mid-pregnancy. We calculated risk ratios (RRs) using generalized linear models, taking into account sampling weights. Results: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were detected in all samples; four other PFASs were quantified in ≥ 90% of the samples. We did not find consistent evidence of associations between mother’s PFAS plasma levels and ADHD [per natural log nanograms per milliliter increase: PFOS RR = 0.87 (95% CI: 0.74, 1.02); PFOA RR = 0.98 (95% CI: 0.82, 1.16)] or autism [per natural log nanograms per milliliter increase: PFOS RR = 0.92 (95% CI: 0.69, 1.22); PFOA RR = 0.98 (95% CI: 0.73, 1.31)]. We found positive as well as negative associations between higher PFAS quartiles and ADHD in models that simultaneously adjusted for all PFASs, but these estimates were imprecise. Conclusions: In this study we found no consistent evidence to suggest that prenatal PFAS exposure increases the risk of ADHD or childhood autism in children. Citation: Liew Z, Ritz B, von Ehrenstein OS, Bech BH, Nohr EA, Fei CY, Bossi R, Henriksen TB, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC, Olsen J. 2015. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and childhood autism in association with prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances: a nested case–control study in the Danish National Birth Cohort. Environ Health Perspect 123:367–373; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408412

Background Infant exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may contribute to obesity. However, many studies so far have been small, focused on transplacental exposure, used an inappropriate measure to assess postnatal exposure through breastfeeding if any, or did not discern between prenatal and postnatal effects. Objectives We investigated prenatal and postnatal exposure to POPs and infant growth (a predictor of obesity). Methods We pooled data from seven European birth cohorts with biomarker concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyl 153 (PCB-153) (n = 2,487), and p,p´-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p´-DDE) (n = 1,864), estimating prenatal and postnatal POPs exposure using a validated pharmacokinetic model. Growth was change in weight-for-age z-score between birth and 24 months. Per compound, multilevel models were fitted with either POPs total exposure from conception to 24 months or prenatal or postnatal exposure. Results We found a significant increase in growth associated with p,p´-DDE, seemingly due to prenatal exposure (per interquartile increase in exposure, adjusted β = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.22). Due to heterogeneity across cohorts, this estimate cannot be considered precise, but does indicate that an association with infant growth is present on average. In contrast, a significant decrease in growth was associated with postnatal PCB-153 exposure (β = –0.10; 95% CI: –0.19, –0.01). Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the largest study to date of POPs exposure and infant growth, and it contains state-of-the-art exposure modeling. Prenatal p,p´-DDE was associated with increased infant growth, and postnatal PCB-153 with decreased growth at European exposure levels. Citation Iszatt N, Stigum H, Verner MA, White RA, Govarts E, Palkovicova Murinova L, Schoeters G, Trnovec T, Legler J, Pelé F, Botton J, Chevrier C, Wittsiepe J, Ranft U, Vandentorren S, Kasper-Sonnenberg M, Klümper C, Weisglas-Kuperus N, Polder A, Eggesbø M, OBELIX. 2015. Prenatal and postnatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants and infant growth: a pooled analysis of seven European birth cohorts. Environ Health Perspect 123:730–736; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1308005

Prenatal environmental exposures may influence the risk of cardio-metabolic diseases later in life. This study used a multiplex approach to investigate non-fasting serum levels of metabolic markers in a cohort of school-aged children for whom associations between prenatal pesticide exposure and body fat content and blood pressure were previously found to be dependent on paraoxonase1 (PON1) Q192R genotype. In children with the PON1 192 R-allele, leptin, glucagon, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were positively associated with prenatal pesticide exposure. For PON1 192 QQ-homozygote children none of the biomarkers were significantly affected by prenatal pesticide exposure. In children with the R-allele, leptin was associated with both body fat measures and prenatal pesticide exposure and seems to mediate body fat accumulation in exposed children. These findings support our previous results of an adverse cardio-metabolic risk profile associated with prenatal pesticide exposure in children with the PON1 192 R-allele.

In Odense Child Cohort (OCC), concentrations of the pesticide metabolites 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPY), 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and dialkyl phosphates (DAPS) were measured in urine samples collected in gestational week 28 in up to 858 women. Gestational length, birth weight, head and abdominal circumference were obtained from birth records and anogenital distance (AGD) was measured at age three month. We did not find consistent dose-related associations between pesticide metabolite concentrations and birth outcomes or AGD. However, females tended to have shorter abdominal circumference with higher maternal 3-PBA concentrations beta: -0.3 (95% CI: -0.5, -0.003) cm). Further, a non-significant dose-related elongation of AGD in females was seen for 3-PBA (p-trend: 0.14) and diethyl phosphates (p-trend: 0.08). In males, exposure to 2,4-D in the second compared to the first tertile showed a statistically significant shorter AGD (beta: -1.55 (-2.81, -0.28) mm). These findings may suggest a weak disturbance of sex-hormone action. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal environmental conditions may influence disease risk in later life. We previously found a gene-environment interaction between the paraoxonase 1 (PON1) Q192R genotype and prenatal pesticide exposure leading to an adverse cardio-metabolic risk profile at school age. However, the molecular mechanisms involved have not yet been resolved. It was hypothesized that epigenetics might be involved. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate whether DNA methylation patterns in blood cells were related to prenatal pesticide exposure level, PON1 Q192R genotype, and associated metabolic effects observed in the children.METHODS: Whole blood DNA methylation patterns in 48 children (6-11 years of age), whose mothers were occupationally unexposed or exposed to pesticides early in pregnancy, were determined by Illumina 450 K methylation arrays.RESULTS: A specific methylation profile was observed in prenatally pesticide exposed children carrying the PON1 192R-allele. Differentially methylated genes were enriched in several neuroendocrine signaling pathways including dopamine-DARPP32 feedback (appetite, reward pathways), corticotrophin releasing hormone signaling, nNOS, neuregulin signaling, mTOR signaling, and type II diabetes mellitus signaling. Furthermore, we were able to identify possible candidate genes which mediated the associations between pesticide exposure and increased leptin level, body fat percentage, and difference in BMI Z score between birth and school age.CONCLUSIONS: DNA methylation may be an underlying mechanism explaining an adverse cardio-metabolic health profile in children carrying the PON1 192R-allele and prenatally exposed to pesticides.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to pollution from biomass fuel has been associated with low birthweight in some studies. Few studies have included exposure-response analyses. METHOD: We conducted a case-control study of biomass fuel use and reproductive outcome at high altitude in Peru. Cases (n=101) were full term births who were SGA (birth weight /=10th percentile, and were matched to cases on birth week and residence. Biomass fuel use during pregnancy was determined by questionnaire. Carbon monoxide (CO) in the kitchen was measured in a subgroup (n=72). Logistic regression was used to estimate the effects of biofuel and CO on the risk of SGA, controlling for maternal education and parity. RESULTS: Among cases, 30%, 27% and 44% used gas, gas+biomass, and biomass, respectively, while the figures for controls were 39%, 33%, and 29%. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for biomass fuel alone compared with gas alone was 4.5 (95% CI: 1.3, 15.5, p=0.02), while the OR for biomass+gas vs. gas alone was 2.1 (0.80-5.5) (p=0.13). Among the subgroup with measured CO, the mean 48-h kitchen CO levels were 4.8, 2.2 and 0.4ppm for biofuel only, biofuel+gas, and gas respectively. ORs by increasing tertile of CO level were 1.0, 1.16, and 3.53 (test for trend, p=0.02). The exposure-response trend corresponds well with one other study with analogous data. CONCLUSION: Despite limited sample size, our data suggest that maternal exposure to biomass smoke and CO, at high altitude, is associated with SGA among term births.

UNLABELLED: WHAT'S KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT? AND WHAT DOES THE STUDY ADD?: The various phenotypes of hypospadias may result from disturbances of dissimilar embryonic processes in different time windows, suggesting aetiological heterogeneity; however, only a few studies have investigated the risk factors for the different hypospadias phenotypes. The study confirmed that genetic predisposition possibly plays a role in anterior and middle hypospadias, as shown by the large effect estimates for familial occurrence of these forms of hypospadias. By contrast, the posterior phenotype was more often associated with pregnancy-related factors, such as primiparity, preterm delivery, and being small for gestational age. New findings were that hormone-containing contraceptive use after conception increased the risk of middle and posterior hypospadias, while multiple pregnancies were associated with the posterior form in particular. OBJECTIVE: To identify specific risk factors for different phenotypes of hypospadias that may arise as a result of dissimilar embryonic processes in different time windows. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 405 hypospadias cases and 627 male controls were included in a Dutch case-control study. Medical records of cases were reviewed to determine the anatomical location of the urethral opening, while demographic, lifestyle and pregnancy-related risk factor data were obtained from self-administered questionnaires. Multivariable and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to calculate effect estimates for the group containing all cases of hypospadias and for the different hypospadias phenotypes. RESULTS: Cases were subdivided into anterior (glandular and coronal; 59%), middle (penile; 29%) and posterior (penoscrotal, scrotal and perineal; 12%) hypospadias. Being a twin/triplet, primiparity, preterm delivery, and being small for gestational age were associated with hypospadias, particularly in posterior cases. Family history of hypospadias increased the risk of hypospadias, an effect that seemed to be more predominant in anterior and middle forms. Maternal obesity seemed to increase the risk of hypospadias in general, and hormone-containing contraceptive use during pregnancy especially increased the risk of middle and posterior hypospadias. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides some indications for aetiological heterogeneity of hypospadias, separating anterior and middle phenotypes from posterior hypospadias. Future research should continue to try to establish which specific risk factors and mechanisms may differ according to hypospadias phenotype.

Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases childhood asthma risk, but health effects in children of nonsmoking mothers passively exposed to tobacco smoke during pregnancy are unclear. We examined the association of maternal passive smoking during pregnancy and wheeze in children aged ≤2 years.Individual data of 27 993 mother–child pairs from 15 European birth cohorts were combined in pooled analyses taking into consideration potential confounders.Children with maternal exposure to passive smoking during pregnancy and no other smoking exposure were more likely to develop wheeze up to the age of 2 years (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.03–1.20) compared with unexposed children. Risk of wheeze was further increased by children's postnatal passive smoke exposure in addition to their mothers' passive exposure during pregnancy (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.19–1.40) and highest in children with both sources of passive exposure and mothers who smoked actively during pregnancy (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.59–1.88). Risk of wheeze associated with tobacco smoke exposure was higher in children with an allergic versus nonallergic family history.Maternal passive smoking exposure during pregnancy is an independent risk factor for wheeze in children up to the age of 2 years. Pregnant females should avoid active and passive exposure to tobacco smoke for the benefit of their children's health.

Conflict of interest: None. Correspondence to: Per Damkier, Department of Clinical Chemistry & Pharmacology, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard 29, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark E-mail: pdamkier@health.sdu.dk Article first published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com): 00 Month 2015 DOI 10.1002/ajmg.a.37153 How to Cite this Article: Damkier P, Kaplan YC. 2015. In utero exposure to methotrexate and risk of congenital malformations.

Background: Previous studies on occupational exposures in parents and cancer risks in their children support a link between solvents and paints with childhood leukaemia. Few studies have focused specifically on benzene. Objectives: To examine whether parental occupational exposure to benzene is associated with an increased cancer risk in a census-based cohort of children. Methods: From a census-based cohort study in Switzerland, we included children aged

UNLABELLED: WHAT'S KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT? AND WHAT DOES THE STUDY ADD?: The various phenotypes of hypospadias may result from disturbances of dissimilar embryonic processes in different time windows, suggesting aetiological heterogeneity; however, only a few studies have investigated the risk factors for the different hypospadias phenotypes. The study confirmed that genetic predisposition possibly plays a role in anterior and middle hypospadias, as shown by the large effect estimates for familial occurrence of these forms of hypospadias. By contrast, the posterior phenotype was more often associated with pregnancy-related factors, such as primiparity, preterm delivery, and being small for gestational age. New findings were that hormone-containing contraceptive use after conception increased the risk of middle and posterior hypospadias, while multiple pregnancies were associated with the posterior form in particular. OBJECTIVE: To identify specific risk factors for different phenotypes of hypospadias that may arise as a result of dissimilar embryonic processes in different time windows. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 405 hypospadias cases and 627 male controls were included in a Dutch case-control study. Medical records of cases were reviewed to determine the anatomical location of the urethral opening, while demographic, lifestyle and pregnancy-related risk factor data were obtained from self-administered questionnaires. Multivariable and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to calculate effect estimates for the group containing all cases of hypospadias and for the different hypospadias phenotypes. RESULTS: Cases were subdivided into anterior (glandular and coronal; 59%), middle (penile; 29%) and posterior (penoscrotal, scrotal and perineal; 12%) hypospadias. Being a twin/triplet, primiparity, preterm delivery, and being small for gestational age were associated with hypospadias, particularly in posterior cases. Family history of hypospadias increased the risk of hypospadias, an effect that seemed to be more predominant in anterior and middle forms. Maternal obesity seemed to increase the risk of hypospadias in general, and hormone-containing contraceptive use during pregnancy especially increased the risk of middle and posterior hypospadias. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides some indications for aetiological heterogeneity of hypospadias, separating anterior and middle phenotypes from posterior hypospadias. Future research should continue to try to establish which specific risk factors and mechanisms may differ according to hypospadias phenotype.

Maternal exposures to environmental factors during pregnancy influence the risk of many chronic adult-onset diseases in the offspring. Here we investigate whether feeding pregnant rats a high-fat (HF)- or ethinyl-oestradiol (EE2)-supplemented diet affects carcinogen-induced mammary cancer risk in daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters. We show that mammary tumourigenesis is higher in daughters and granddaughters of HF rat dams and in daughters and great-granddaughters of EE2 rat dams. Outcross experiments suggest that the increase in mammary cancer risk is transmitted to HF granddaughters equally through the female or male germ lines, but it is only transmitted to EE2 granddaughters through the female germ line. The effects of maternal EE2 exposure on offspring's mammary cancer risk are associated with changes in the DNA methylation machinery and methylation patterns in mammary tissue of all three EE2 generations. We conclude that dietary and oestrogenic exposures in pregnancy increase breast cancer risk in multiple generations of offspring, possibly through epigenetic means., Environmental factors can influence one's susceptibility to cancer, but it is not clear whether such an influence extends beyond the directly exposed generations. Here, feeding pregnant rats with a high-fat diet or a hormone derivative, the authors observe increased breast cancer risk in up to three subsequent generations.

Contains fulltext : 107835.pdf (Author’s version preprint ) (Open Access) PURPOSE: Hypospadias is a common congenital malformation of the male external genitalia. Association studies for single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes encoding steroid 5alpha-reductase, estrogen receptors 1 and 2, and activating transcription factor 3 have been equivocal. We examined whether nonreplication of findings for 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms in these genes could be due to interaction with environmental exposures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We genotyped 712 Dutch hypospadias case-parent triads for the 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms, used questionnaire information to determine exposures and performed association tests using the log-linear approach. We studied gene-environment interactions for the 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms with exposure to estrogens, cytokines or cigarette smoke, multiple birth, being born small for gestational age, maternal hypertension or preeclampsia, high body mass index or primiparity. In addition, the presence of maternal genetic and parent of origin effects was tested. RESULTS: Gene-environment interactions were identified for rs523349 in SRD5A2 with estrogen exposure and maternal hypertension or preeclampsia, as well as for rs11119982 in ATF3 with exposure to cytokines. Both single nucleotide polymorphisms seemed to influence hypospadias risk only in exposed cases. For rs6932902 in ESR1 only maternally derived alleles appeared to increase hypospadias risk in offspring. CONCLUSIONS: Interactions between genetic and environmental factors may help to explain nonreplication in genetic studies of hypospadias.

Chorangiosis is considered to be strongly associated with various fetal, maternal, and placental disorders, including pre-eclampsia, diabetes, hypertension, and major congenital anomalies, and has been found to correlate with increased fetal morbidity and mortality. In this study, we investigated the pathologic effects of maternal smoking and air Pollution on the pathogenesis of chorangiosis. We investigated 92 placentas macroscopically and microscopically over a 3-month period (March 2006-May 2006) at Denizli State Hospital to identify the frequency of chorangiosis and the potential role of maternal smoking and air pollution. Placental changes were examined by light microscopy after hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemical evaluation of CD 34 and CID 68; muscle-specific actin was used to confirm the diagnosis. Among the 92 mothers included in the study, 33 were smokers (group 1), 31 were thought to have been exposed to air pollution (group II), and 28 were living in rural areas free of air pollution and maternal smoking (group 111). Chorangiosis was found in 14% (13/92) of all placentas: 7 (53.8%) cases were assigned to group 1, 5 (38.5%) to group II, and I (7.7%) to group III. Vascular changes were found mainly in the smoking and air pollution groups. There appeared to be no correlation of these vascular changes with placental weight, parity, gestational age, major congenital anomalies, and maternal factors, including diabetes and pre-eclampsia. We presume that smoking and air pollution may contribute to the development of chorangiosis. We suggest that chorangiosis may be an adaptive response to maternal hypoxia, and studies addressing the role of smoking and air pollution in chorangiosis may provide new insights into the pathogenesis of this condition. (C) 2008 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Background: Prenatal exposures to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been associated with asthma medication use and self-reported symptoms, but associations with lung function and allergic sensitization have been minimally explored. The aim of the study was to examine the associations between prenatal exposures to POPs and allergic sensitization and lung function in 20-year-old offspring. Methods: In a Danish cohort of 965 pregnant women established in 1988-1989, six polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) were quantified in archived maternal serum drawn in gestational week 30 (n=872). Among those with available maternal exposure information, at age 20, 421 offspring attended attended a clinical examination including measurements of allergic sensitization (serum-specific IgE≥0.35 kU A/L) (n = 418) and lung function [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1) and forced vital capacity (FVC)] (n = 414). Results: There were no associations between maternal concentrations of POPs and offspring allergic sensitization at 20years of age. Maternal concentrations of POPs were, however, positively associated with offspring airway obstruction (FEV 1/FVC1% of predicted value

Background Though commercial production of polychlorinated biphenyls was banned in the United States in 1977, exposure continues due to their environmental persistence. Several studies have examined the association between environmental polychlorinated biphenyl exposure and modulations of the secondary sex ratio, with conflicting results. Objective Our objective was to evaluate the association between maternal preconceptional occupational polychlorinated biphenyl exposure and the secondary sex ratio. Methods We examined primipara singleton births of 2595 women, who worked in three capacitor plants at least one year during the period polychlorinated biphenyls were used. Cumulative estimated maternal occupational polychlorinated biphenyl exposure at the time of the infant's conception was calculated from plant-specific job-exposure matrices. A logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between maternal polychlorinated biphenyl exposure and male sex at birth (yes/no). Results Maternal body mass index at age 20, smoking status, and race did not vary between those occupationally exposed and those unexposed before the child's conception. Polychlorinated biphenyl-exposed mothers were, however, more likely to have used oral contraceptives and to have been older at the birth of their first child than non-occupationally exposed women. Among 1506 infants liveborn to polychlorinated biphenyl-exposed primiparous women, 49.8% were male; compared to 49.9% among those not exposed (n = 1089). Multivariate analyses controlling for mother's age and year of birth found no significant association between the odds of a male birth and mother's cumulative estimated polychlorinated biphenyl exposure to time of conception. Conclusions Based on these data, we find no evidence of altered sex ratio among children born to primiparous polychlorinated biphenyl-exposed female workers.