Determinants of exposure levels, metabolism, and health risks of phthalates among pregnant women in Wuhan, China

Abstract Background Neonicotinoid insecticides (neonicotinoids) are widely used, however, they can negatively affect human health. Thus, neonicotinoids and their metabolites in human urine are analyzed globally to assess exposure levels and health risks. To properly assess the exposure levels and health risks, accurate analytical results are a necessity. Objective This study aims to develop urine certified reference material (CRM), NMIJ CRM 7408-a, for the quantification of neonicotinoids. Method To develop NMIJ CRM 7408-a, commercially available artificial urine was used as the raw material to which the target neonicotinoids were added. Analyses of neonicotinoids in NMIJ CRM 7408-a were carried out by isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS). Results Sample homogeneity was assessed, with the results showing that acetamiprid, clothianidin, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam exhibited sufficiently homogeneous distributions in the material. The relative uncertainties due to inhomogeneity were 1.2–7.0%. The results obtained from long-term stability assessment indicated that the target neonicotinoids were stable. The relative uncertainties due to instability were 9.4–17.2% (for an expiry date of 21 months). The characterization for providing concentration values was carried out using one (clothianidin and thiacloprid) or two (acetamiprid and thiamethoxam) analytical methods. The certified values of the target neonicotinoids (acetamiprid, clothianidin, thiacloprid, and thiamethoxam) were 0.19–1.38 µg/kg. Conclusions This is the first frozen artificial urine CRM in which neonicotinoids were quantified by IDMS and will be useful for evaluating the accuracy of analysis and validation of analytical methods for the determination of neonicotinoids in urine. Highlights NMIJ CRM 7408-a, which has been certified for four neonicotinoids, was developed by NMIJ.

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Maternal immune responses and obstetrical outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19 and possible health risks of offspring

Journal of Reproductive Immunology ◽

10.1016/j.jri.2020.103250 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 143 ◽

pp. 103250

Author(s):

Marcelo Borges Cavalcante ◽

Candice Torres de Melo Bezerra Cavalcante ◽

Manoel Sarno ◽

Ricardo Barini ◽

Joanne Kwak-Kim

Keyword(s):

Immune Responses ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Health Risks ◽

Obstetrical Outcomes

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Pregnant Aboriginal women self-assess health risks from smoking and efficacy to quit over time using an adapted Risk Behaviour Diagnosis (RBD) Scale

The Journal of Smoking Cessation ◽

10.1017/jsc.2020.27 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 198-205

Author(s):

Gillian Sandra Gould ◽

Simon Chiu ◽

Christopher Oldmeadow ◽

Yael Bar-Zeev ◽

Michelle Bovill ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Health Risks ◽

Coping Style ◽

Risk Behaviour ◽

Perceived Threat ◽

Aboriginal Women ◽

Stop Smoking ◽

Intentions To Quit ◽

Stable Reduction ◽

Over Time

AbstractIntroductionDuring pregnancy, the imperative to stop smoking becomes urgent due to health risks for mother and baby.AimExplore responses to a smoking-related, pregnancy-focused Risk Behaviour Diagnosis (RBD) Scale over time with Aboriginal1 pregnant women.MethodsSix Aboriginal Medical Services in three states recruited 22 eligible women: ⩽28 weeks' gestation, ⩾16 years old, smoked tobacco, pregnant with an Aboriginal baby. Surveys were completed at baseline (n = 22), 4-weeks (n = 16) and 12-weeks (n = 17). RBD Scale outcome measures included: perceived threat (susceptibility and severity), perceived efficacy (response and self-efficacy), fear control (avoidance), danger control (intentions to quit) and protection responses (protecting babies).ResultsAt baseline, the total mean threat scores at 4.2 (95% CI: 3.9–4.4) were higher than total mean efficacy scores at 3.9 (95% CI: 3.6–4.1). Over time there was a non-significant reduction in total mean threat and efficacy; fear control increased; danger control and protection responses remained stable. Reduction of threat and efficacy perceptions, with raised fear control responses, may indicate a blunting effect (a coping style which involves avoidance of risks).ConclusionIn 22 Aboriginal pregnant women, risk perception changed over time. A larger study is warranted to understand how Aboriginal women perceive smoking risks as the pregnancy progresses so that health messages are delivered accordingly.

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Pregnant women warned of potential health risks from contact with sheep

Nursing Standard ◽

10.7748/ns.23.24.10.s15 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 23 (24) ◽

pp. 10-10

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Health Risks ◽

Potential Health

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Exposure and Risk Assessment with Respect to Contaminated Soil: Significance of Biomarkers and Bioavailability

International Journal of Toxicology ◽

10.1080/109158197227044 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 16 (4-5) ◽

pp. 419-432 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Urvashi Rangan ◽

Christine Hedli ◽

Michael Gallo ◽

Paul Lioy ◽

Robert Snyder

Keyword(s):

Health Risk ◽

Exposure Assessment ◽

Health Risks ◽

Contaminated Soil ◽

Biological Effects ◽

Chemical Exposure ◽

Subsequent Exposure ◽

Gastrointestinal Barrier ◽

Exposure Levels

The evaluation of health risk from chemical exposure is evolving in concept and practice. The ability to sensitively detect levels of chemicals in the environment has served as the traditional foundation for determining exposure levels and consequent health risks. More recently, however, other parameters have been constructed to probe the pathway between environmental levels of a chemical and the biological effects of subsequent exposure. Among these, two that are discussed in this paper are bioavailability and biomarker determinations. Chemicals in the environment often are associated with a medium such as airborne particulate, water, or soil. The interaction between the chemical and its medium is dependent on the physicochemical properties of the system. In some cases, such as 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in soil, the chemical becomes partially and irreversibly bound to the medium. Animalingestion studies of TCDD-contaminated soil suggest that some of the TCDD remains bound to the soil and does not cross the gastrointestinal barrier during digestion, and therefore only a fraction of the TCDD enters the blood and becomes bioavailable. The characterization of bioavailability provides for more accurate exposure assessment. Biomarker information potentially can validate exposure assessment information from bioavailability studies, elucidate specific biological effects from chemical exposure, and investigate genetic susceptibility issues that may increase the likelihood that an individual or population will experience increased health risks. Benzene-induced chromosome damage is discussed as an example of a significant biomarker that has demonstrated the potential for providing information useful for accurately prediction health risk.

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Awareness of Pregnancy-Associated Health Risks Among Pregnant Women and Male Partners Surveyed in a Prenatal Clinic

Journal of Women s Health ◽

10.1089/jwh.2018.7585 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 376-382

Author(s):

Michelle Mellon ◽

Andrew Schiller ◽

Anita L. Nelson ◽

Hindi E. Stohl

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Health Risks ◽

Male Partners

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Poor Understanding of Pregnancy-Associated Health Risks Among Indigent Pregnant Women [23N]

Obstetrics and Gynecology ◽

10.1097/01.aog.0000533119.33924.c1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 131 ◽

pp. 158S ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michelle Mellon ◽

Andrew Schiller ◽

Anita L. Nelson ◽

Hindi E. Stohl ◽

Fanglong Dong

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Health Risks ◽

Poor Understanding

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Oral exposure to lead for Japanese children and pregnant women, estimated using duplicate food portions and house dust analyses

Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12199-019-0818-4 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mayumi Ohtsu ◽

Nathan Mise ◽

Akihiko Ikegami ◽

Atsuko Mizuno ◽

Yayoi Kobayashi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

High Risk ◽

Cord Blood ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Lead Exposure ◽

House Dust ◽

Blood Lead ◽

Lead Contamination ◽

Japanese Children ◽

Exposure Levels

Abstract Background Lead is a toxic metal abundant in the environment. Consumption of food contaminated at low levels of lead, especially by small children and pregnant women, raises a health concern. Methods Duplicated food portions and drinking water were collected over 3 days from 88 children and 87 pregnant women in Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan. Participants were recruited in this study between January 2014 and October 2015. Dust was also collected from their homes. Lead concentrations were measured and consequent oral lead exposure levels were estimated for this population at high risk to environmental toxicants. Lead concentrations of peripheral and cord blood, taken from children and pregnant women, and were also analyzed. Results Lead concentrations in food, drinking water, and house dust were low in general. Oral lead exposure to lead was higher for children (Mean ± SEM; 5.21 ± 0.30 μg/kg BW/week) than in pregnant women (1.47 ± 0.13 μg/kg BW/week). Food and house dust were main sources of lead contamination, but the contribution of house dust widely varied. Means ± SEM of peripheral and cord blood lead concentrations were 0.69 ± 0.04 μg/dL and 0.54 ± 0.05 μg/dL, respectively for pregnant women and 1.30 ± 0.07 μg/dL (peripheral only) in children. We detect no correlation between smoking situations and blood lead concentration in pregnant women. Conclusion We conclude that oral lead exposure levels for Japanese children and pregnant women were generally low, with higher concentrations and exposure for children than for pregnant women. More efforts are necessary to clarify the sources of lead contamination and reduce lead exposure of the population at high risk even in Japan.

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