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4 Urinary Fluoride Levels and Metal Co-Exposures Among Pregnant Women in Los Angeles, California
- Ashley J Malin, Howard Hu, E. Angeles Martinez-Mier, Sandrah P Eckel, Shohreh Farzan, Rima Habre, Theresa M Bastain, Carrie V Breton
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 867-868
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Objective:
Approximately 73% of the United States (US) population on public water systems receives fluoridated water for tooth decay prevention. In Los Angeles (LA) County, 89% of cities are at least partially fluoridated. Drinking water is the primary source of fluoride exposure in the US. Studies conducted in Mexico and Canada suggest that prenatal fluoride exposure, at levels relevant to the US, may contribute to poorer neurodevelopment in offspring. However, data on biomarkers and patterns of fluoride exposure among US pregnant women are scarce. This study examined urinary fluoride levels according to sociodemographic factors and metal co-exposures among pregnant women in the US.
Participants and Methods:Participants were from the Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) cohort based in Los Angeles, California. There were 293 and 490 women with urine fluoride measured during the first and third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. An intra-class correlation coefficient examined consistency of specific gravity-adjusted maternal urinary fluoride (MUFsg) between trimesters. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests examined associations of MUFsg with sociodemographic variables. Spearman correlations examined associations of MUFsg with blood and urine metals within and between trimesters. A False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction accounted for multiple comparisons. The criterion for statistical significance was an alpha of 0.05.
Results:Participants were approximately 29 years old on average, and 80% were Hispanic or Latina. Median (IQR) MUFsg during trimesters one and three was 0.65 (0.5) mg/L and 0.8 (0.59) mg/L, respectively. MUFsg levels were moderately consistent between trimesters (N=292, ICC = 0.46, 95%CI: 0.32,0.57). Maternal age was positively associated with MUFsg during first (p = 0.16, p = 0.006) and third (p = 0.18, p < 0.001) trimesters. MUFsg differed by race/ethnicity during first and third trimesters (N = 293, H (3) = 7.99, p = 0.046; N = 486, H (3) = 25.31, p < 0.001, respectively). Specifically, MUFsg was higher for White, Non-Hispanic participants (first trimester Median (IQR) =1.03 (1.31) mg/L; third trimester Median (IQR) = 1.32 (1.24) mg/L) than for Hispanic participants in both trimesters (first trimester Median (IQR) =0.64 (0.48) mg/L; third trimester Median (IQR) = 0.76 (0.55) mg/L). Additionally, during trimester three, MUFsg was higher for White, Non-Hispanic participants than for Black Non-Hispanic participants (Median (IQR) = 0.82 (0.49) mg/L). MUFsg also differed by education during trimester one (N = 293, H (4) = 10.61, p = 0.031), and was higher for participants with some graduate training than for those with high school or some college/technical school education (ps = 0.03 and 0.04, respectively). After FDR correction, MUFsg was associated with blood lead (N =91, p = 0.29, p = 0.024) and urinary cadmium (N =279, p = 0.19, p = 0.042), copper (N=279, p = 0.16, p = 0.042), and tungsten (N=279, p = 0.16, p = 0.049) during trimester three.
Conclusions:Consistent with studies conducted in Canada and Mexico, MUFsg increased across pregnancy. Lower MUFsg among Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Black participants may reflect lower tap water consumption. Metal co-exposures are important to consider when examining potential neurodevelopmental impacts of fluoride.
Impact of sedentary behavior and emotional support on prenatal psychological distress and birth outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Alison E. Hipwell, Irene Tung, Phillip Sherlock, Xiaodan Tang, Kim McKee, Monica McGrath, Akram Alshawabkeh, Tracy Bastain, Carrie V. Breton, Whitney Cowell, Dana Dabelea, Cristiane S. Duarte, Anne L. Dunlop, Assiamira Ferrera, Julie B. Herbstman, Christine W. Hockett, Margaret R. Karagas, Kate Keenan, Robert T. Krafty, Catherine Monk, Sara S. Nozadi, Thomas G. O'Connor, Emily Oken, Sarah S. Osmundson, Susan Schantz, Rosalind Wright, Sarah S. Comstock
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- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine / Volume 53 / Issue 14 / October 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 08 March 2023, pp. 6792-6805
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Background
Studies have reported mixed findings regarding the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on pregnant women and birth outcomes. This study used a quasi-experimental design to account for potential confounding by sociodemographic characteristics.
MethodsData were drawn from 16 prenatal cohorts participating in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program. Women exposed to the pandemic (delivered between 12 March 2020 and 30 May 2021) (n = 501) were propensity-score matched on maternal age, race and ethnicity, and child assigned sex at birth with 501 women who delivered before 11 March 2020. Participants reported on perceived stress, depressive symptoms, sedentary behavior, and emotional support during pregnancy. Infant gestational age (GA) at birth and birthweight were gathered from medical record abstraction or maternal report.
ResultsAfter adjusting for propensity matching and covariates (maternal education, public assistance, employment status, prepregnancy body mass index), results showed a small effect of pandemic exposure on shorter GA at birth, but no effect on birthweight adjusted for GA. Women who were pregnant during the pandemic reported higher levels of prenatal stress and depressive symptoms, but neither mediated the association between pandemic exposure and GA. Sedentary behavior and emotional support were each associated with prenatal stress and depressive symptoms in opposite directions, but no moderation effects were revealed.
ConclusionsThere was no strong evidence for an association between pandemic exposure and adverse birth outcomes. Furthermore, results highlight the importance of reducing maternal sedentary behavior and encouraging emotional support for optimizing maternal health regardless of pandemic conditions.
When a birth cohort grows up: challenges and opportunities in longitudinal developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) research
- Emily Oken, Theresa M. Bastain, Nicole Bornkamp, Carrie V. Breton, Rebecca C. Fry, Diane R. Gold, Marie-France Hivert, Steve Howland, Daniel J. Jackson, Christine C. Johnson, Kyra Jones, MollyAn Killingbeck, T. Michael O’Shea, Marleny Ortega, Dennis Ownby, Frederica Perera, Julie V. Rollins, Julie B. Herbstman
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- Journal:
- Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease / Volume 14 / Issue 2 / April 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 November 2022, pp. 175-181
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High-quality evidence from prospective longitudinal studies in humans is essential to testing hypotheses related to the developmental origins of health and disease. In this paper, the authors draw upon their own experiences leading birth cohorts with longitudinal follow-up into adulthood to describe specific challenges and lessons learned. Challenges are substantial and grow over time. Long-term funding is essential for study operations and critical to retaining study staff, who develop relationships with participants and hold important institutional knowledge and technical skill sets. To maintain contact, we recommend that cohorts apply multiple strategies for tracking and obtain as much high-quality contact information as possible before the child’s 18th birthday. To maximize engagement, we suggest that cohorts offer flexibility in visit timing, length, location, frequency, and type. Data collection may entail multiple modalities, even at a single collection timepoint, including measures that are self-reported, research-measured, and administrative with a mix of remote and in-person collection. Many topics highly relevant for adolescent and young adult health and well-being are considered to be private in nature, and their assessment requires sensitivity. To motivate ongoing participation, cohorts must work to understand participant barriers and motivators, share scientific findings, and provide appropriate compensation for participation. It is essential for cohorts to strive for broad representation including individuals from higher risk populations, not only among the participants but also the staff. Successful longitudinal follow-up of a study population ultimately requires flexibility, adaptability, appropriate incentives, and opportunities for feedback from participants.