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Association between pre/perinatal exposure to POPs and children's anogenital distance at age 4 years: A study from the INMA-Asturias cohort.

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Date

2020-05-18

Authors

Garcia-Villarino, Miguel
Riaño-Galan, Isolina
Rodriguez-Dehli, Ana Cristina
Freire, Carmen
Vizcaino, Esther
Grimalt, Joan O
Tardon, Adonina
Fernandez-Somoano, Ana

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Elsevier GmbH
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Abstract

Prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals may impair genital development and alter reproductive tract anatomy. Anogenital distance (AGD) is a useful biomarker of exposure to chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors. We evaluated associations between prenatal and perinatal exposure to several persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and AGD in 4-year-old children. Data were drawn from the INMA-Asturias cohort. Pediatricians measured the anofourchetal distance in female children and anoscrotal distance in male children. The anogenital index (AGI) was defined as the AGD divided by the child's weight at age of examination. We measured the levels of two hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, hexachlorobenzene, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites, six polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, and six polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners in maternal serum at 12 gestational weeks (n = 155) and in cord blood serum (n = 229). Anthropometric and parental sociodemographic variables were collected via face-to-face interviews. Linear regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between exposure to POPs and AGI, adjusted for confounders and stratified by sex. In male children, we found inverse associations between AGI and maternal concentrations of PCB-138 (ß = -0.041, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.074, -0.008, second tertile), PCB-153 (ß = -0.052, 95% CI: -0.085, -0.020, second tertile), PCB-180 ß = -0.065, 95% CI: -0.096, -0.035, second tertile; ß = -0.042, 95% CI: -0.073, -0.011, third tertile), PBDE-209 (ß = -0.031, 95% CI: -0.058, -0.006), cord serum concentrations of PCB-153 (ß = -0.029, 95% CI: -0.059, -0.000, second tertile; ß = -0.047, 95% CI: -0.085, -0.008, third tertile), and PCB-180 (ß = -0.041, 95% CI: -0.078, -0.005, third tertile). In female children, AGI was positively associated with maternal serum concentrations of PCB-101 (ß = 0.039, 95% CI: 0.002, 0.076, second tertile), and higher cord serum levels of 4,4'-DDT (ß = 0.032, 95% CI: 0.003, 0.061, third tertile) and 4,4'-DDE (ß = 0.040, 95% CI: 0.011, 0.069, third tertile). Our findings provide evidence of associations between specific POPs and AGI in boys and girls aged 4 years, and suggest that pre/perinatal exposure to POPs has a feminizing effect in males and a masculinizing effect in females.

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MeSH Terms

Adult
Anal Canal
Anthropometry
Biological Monitoring
Child, Preschool
Cohort Studies
Environmental Pollutants
Female
Fetal Blood
Genitalia
Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
Humans
Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated
Infant, Newborn
Male
Maternal Exposure
Maternal-Fetal Exchange
Pregnancy
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
Spain

DeCS Terms

Antropometría
Canal anal
Contaminantes ambientales
Efectos tardíos de la exposición prenatal
Embarazo
España
Estudios de cohortes
Exposición materna
Femenino
Genitales
Hidrocarburos clorados
Humanos
Intercambio materno-fetal
Monitoreo biológico
Recién nacido
Sangre fetal
Éteres Difenilos Halogenados

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Keywords

Anogenital distance, Anogenital index, Endocrine disruptor, Genital development, Persistent organic pollutant

Citation

García-Villarino M, Riaño-Galán I, Rodríguez-Dehli AC, Freire C, Vizcaíno E, Grimalt JO, et al. Association between pre/perinatal exposure to POPs and children's anogenital distance at age 4 years: A study from the INMA-Asturias cohort. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2020 Aug;229:113563.