Maternal Occupational Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Risk of Neural Tube Defect-affected Pregnancies

Overview

Journal Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol

Publisher Wiley

Date 2012 Jul 19

PMID 22807044

Citations 27

Authors

Peter H Langlois

Adrienne T Hoyt

Philip J Lupo

Christina C Lawson

Martha A Waters

Tania A Desrosiers

Gary M Shaw

Paul A Romitti

Edward J Lammer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: This study evaluated whether there is an association between maternal occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and neural tube defects (NTDs) in offspring. This is the first such study of which the authors are aware.

Methods: Data were analyzed from 1997 to 2002 deliveries in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, a large population-based case-control study in the United States. Maternal interviews yielded information on jobs held in the month before through 3 months after conception. Three industrial hygienists blinded to case or control status assessed occupational exposure to PAHs. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression.

Results: Of the 520 mothers of children with NTDs, 5.0% were classified as exposed to occupational PAHs, as were 3.5% of the 2989 mothers of controls. The crude OR for PAH exposure was 1.43 (95% CI, 0.92-2.22) for any NTD and 1.71 (95% CI, 1.03-2.83) for spina bifida. Adjusted ORs were smaller in magnitude and not significant. Among women who were normal weight or underweight, the crude OR for spina bifida was 3.13 (95% CI, 1.63-6.03) and adjusted OR was 2.59 (95% CI, 1.32-5.07). Based on estimated cumulative exposure, a statistically significant dose-response trend was observed for spina bifida; however, it was attenuated and no longer significant after adjustment.

Conclusion: Maternal occupational exposure to PAHs may be associated with increased risk of spina bifida in offspring among women who are normal weight or underweight. Other comparisons between PAHs and NTDs were consistent with no association.

Citing Articles

High fat diet-induced obesity and gestational DMBA exposure alter folliculogenesis and the proteome of the maternal ovary†.

Novbatova G, Fox I, Timme K, Keating A Biol Reprod. 2024; 111(2):496-511.

PMID: 38813940 PMC: 11327317. DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioae070.

Disparities in Toxic Chemical Exposures and Associated Neurodevelopmental Outcomes: A Scoping Review and Systematic Evidence Map of the Epidemiological Literature.

Payne-Sturges D, Taiwo T, Ellickson K, Mullen H, Tchangalova N, Anderko L Environ Health Perspect. 2023; 131(9):96001.

PMID: 37754677 PMC: 10525348. DOI: 10.1289/EHP11750.

Distinct H3K27me3 and H3K27ac Modifications in Neural Tube Defects Induced by Benzo[a]pyrene.

Lin S, Wang C, Li Z, Qiu X Brain Sci. 2023; 13(2).

PMID: 36831877 PMC: 9954656. DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13020334.

Birth defects associated with paternal firefighting in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.

Siegel M, Rocheleau C, Hollerbach B, Omari A, Jahnke S, Almli L Am J Ind Med. 2022; 66(1):30-40.

PMID: 36345775 PMC: 9969860. DOI: 10.1002/ajim.23441.

Overview of Neural Tube Defects: Gene-Environment Interactions, Preventative Approaches and Future Perspectives.

Isakovic J, Simunic I, Jagecic D, Hribljan V, Mitrecic D Biomedicines. 2022; 10(5).

PMID: 35625701 PMC: 9138472. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10050965.

References

Yang H, NAMKUNG M, Greenaway J, Fantel A, Juchau M . Mutagenic, cytotoxic, and teratogenic effects of 2-acetylaminofluorene and reactive metabolites in vitro. Teratog Carcinog Mutagen. 1984; 4(3):273-83. DOI: 10.1002/tcm.1770040303. View

Wassenberg D, Nerlinger A, Battle L, Di Giulio R . Effects of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon heterocycles, carbazole and dibenzothiophene, on in vivo and in vitro CYP1A activity and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-derived embryonic deformities. Environ Toxicol Chem. 2005; 24(10):2526-32. DOI: 10.1897/04-440r1.1. View

Barbieri O, Ognio E, Rossi O, Astigiano S, Rossi L . Embryotoxicity of benzo(a)pyrene and some of its synthetic derivatives in Swiss mice. Cancer Res. 1986; 46(1):94-8. View

Yoon P, Rasmussen S, Lynberg M, Moore C, Anderka M, Carmichael S . The National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Public Health Rep. 2002; 116 Suppl 1:32-40. PMC: 1913684. DOI: 10.1093/phr/116.S1.32. View

Shimada T . Xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes involved in activation and detoxification of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 2006; 21(4):257-76. DOI: 10.2133/dmpk.21.257. View

Rasmussen S, Olney R, Holmes L, Lin A, Keppler-Noreuil K, Moore C . Guidelines for case classification for the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 2003; 67(3):193-201. DOI: 10.1002/bdra.10012. View

Hansen A, Mathiesen L, Pedersen M, Knudsen L . Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-HP) in environmental and occupational studies--a review. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2008; 211(5-6):471-503. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2007.09.012. View

Rocheleau C, Lawson C, Waters M, Hein M, Stewart P, Correa A . Inter-rater reliability of assessed prenatal maternal occupational exposures to solvents, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2011; 8(12):718-28. DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2011.627293. View

Incardona J, Collier T, Scholz N . Defects in cardiac function precede morphological abnormalities in fish embryos exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2004; 196(2):191-205. DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2003.11.026. View

10.

Madhavan N, Naidu K . Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in placenta, maternal blood, umbilical cord blood and milk of Indian women. Hum Exp Toxicol. 1995; 14(6):503-6. DOI: 10.1177/096032719501400607. View

11.

Olsson A, Fevotte J, Fletcher T, Cassidy A, t Mannetje A, Zaridze D . Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and lung cancer risk: a multicenter study in Europe. Occup Environ Med. 2009; 67(2):98-103. DOI: 10.1136/oem.2009.046680. View

12.

Correa A, Min Y, Stewart P, Lees P, Breysse P, Dosemeci M . Inter-rater agreement of assessed prenatal maternal occupational exposures to lead. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 2006; 76(11):811-24. DOI: 10.1002/bdra.20311. View

13.

Dodds L, Seviour R . Congenital anomalies and other birth outcomes among infants born to women living near a hazardous waste site in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Can J Public Health. 2001; 92(5):331-4. PMC: 6979761. View

14.

Choi H, Rauh V, Garfinkel R, Tu Y, Perera F . Prenatal exposure to airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and risk of intrauterine growth restriction. Environ Health Perspect. 2008; 116(5):658-65. PMC: 2367680. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.10958. View

15.

Selevan S, Kimmel C, Mendola P . Identifying critical windows of exposure for children's health. Environ Health Perspect. 2000; 108 Suppl 3:451-5. PMC: 1637810. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.00108s3451. View

16.

Zhang Y, Tao S, Shen H, Ma J . Inhalation exposure to ambient polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and lung cancer risk of Chinese population. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009; 106(50):21063-7. PMC: 2789752. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0905756106. View

17.

Gladen B, Zadorozhnaja T, Chislovska N, Hryhorczuk D, Kennicutt 2nd M, Little R . Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in placenta. Hum Exp Toxicol. 2001; 19(11):597-603. DOI: 10.1191/096032700671433928. View

18.

Sjaastad A, Svendsen K . Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), mutagenic aldehydes, and particulate matter in Norwegian a la carte restaurants. Ann Occup Hyg. 2009; 53(7):723-9. DOI: 10.1093/annhyg/mep059. View

19.

Jackson L, Correa-Villasenor A, Lees P, Dominici F, Stewart P, Breysse P . Parental lead exposure and total anomalous pulmonary venous return. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 2004; 70(4):185-93. DOI: 10.1002/bdra.20014. View

20.

Topinka J, Milcova A, Libalova H, Novakova Z, Rossner Jr P, Balascak I . Biomarkers of exposure to tobacco smoke and environmental pollutants in mothers and their transplacental transfer to the foetus. Part I: bulky DNA adducts. Mutat Res. 2009; 669(1-2):13-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2009.04.011. View