| 1. |
- Bellavia, Andrea, et al.
(författare)
-
Association between chemical mixtures and female fertility in women undergoing assisted reproduction in Sweden and Estonia
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Environmental Research. - : Elsevier. - 0013-9351 .- 1096-0953. ; 216:Part 1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Women of reproductive age are exposed to ubiquitous chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, and per -and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which have potential endocrine disrupting properties and might affect fertility. Our objective was to investigate associations between potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and female fertility in two cohorts of women attending fertility clinics.Methods: In a total population of 333 women in Sweden and Estonia, we studied the associations between chemicals and female fertility, evaluating ovarian sensitivity index (OSI) as an indicator of ovarian response, as well as clinical pregnancy and live birth from fresh and frozen embryo transfers. We measured 59 chemicals in follicular fluid samples and detected 3 phthalate metabolites, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) metabolites, 1 paraben, and 6 PFAS in > 90% of the women. Associations were evaluated using multivariable-adjusted linear or logistic regression, categorizing EDCs into quartiles of their distributions, as well as with Bayesian Kernel Ma-chine Regression.Results: We observed statistically significant lower OSI at higher concentrations of the sum of DEHP metabolites in the Swedish cohort (Q4 vs Q1, beta =-0.21, 95% CI:-0.38,-0.05) and methylparaben in the Estonian cohort (Q3 vs Q1, beta =-0.22, 95% CI:-0.44,-0.01). Signals of potential associations were also observed at higher concentrations of PFUnDA in both the combined population (Q2 vs. Q1,beta =-0.16, 95% CI-0.31,-0.02) and the Estonian population (Q2 vs. Q1,beta =-0.27, 95% CI-0.45,-0.08), and for PFOA in the Estonian population (Q4 vs. Q1, beta =-0.31, 95% CI-0.61,-0.01). Associations of chemicals with clinical pregnancy and live birth presented wide confidence intervals.Conclusions: Within a large chemical mixture, we observed significant inverse associations levels of DEHP me-tabolites and methylparaben, and possibly PFUnDA and PFOA, with OSI, suggesting that these chemicals may contribute to altered ovarian function and infertility in women.
|
|
| 2. |
- Björvang, Richelle D., et al.
(författare)
-
Association of Diabetes Mellitus in Pregnancy and Perinatal Depression
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Psychosomatic Medicine. - : Wolters Kluwer. - 0033-3174 .- 1534-7796. ; 86:1, s. 52-58
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective Diabetes is frequently linked with depression, and both conditions are common complications during pregnancy. However, research findings exploring the relationship between diabetes mellitus in pregnancy (DMP) and perinatal depression (PND) have been inconsistent. Thus, this study seeks to examine the association between DMP and PND in a prospective population-based cohort.Methods Women aged 18 to 48 years (n = 4459) were identified from the Biology, Affect, Stress, Imaging and Cognition study. The diagnosis of DMP was based on International Classification of Diseases code O24 from medical records and was classified as pregestational, gestational, or unspecified diabetes. PND was assessed using psychometric instruments, clinical interviews, and/or register data and categorized into antepartum or postpartum depression. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to study the associations of DMP with antepartum and postpartum depression. The association between DMP and continuous depression scores, antepartum and postpartum, was investigated with multivariable linear regressions.Results Of 4459 pregnancies, 949 women had antepartum depression (21.2%) and 1123 had postpartum depression (25%). DMP had a prevalence of 1.2%. Women with DMP had twofold higher odds for postpartum depression compared with women without DMP. Although no association was observed between DMP and antepartum depression, DMP was associated with higher antepartum depression scores.Conclusions Our study shows an association between DMP and PND, which might be considered a risk factor when screening for high-risk groups.
|
|
| 3. |
- Björvang, Richelle D., et al.
(författare)
-
Mixtures of persistent organic pollutants are found in vital organs of late gestation human fetuses
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Chemosphere. - : Elsevier. - 0045-6535 .- 1879-1298. ; 283
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are industrial chemicals with long half-lives. Early life exposure to POPs has been associated with adverse effects. Fetal exposure is typically estimated based on concentrations in maternal serum or placenta and little is known on the actual fetal exposure. We measured the concentrations of nine organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), ten polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners by gas chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry in maternal serum, placenta, and fetal tissues (adipose tissue, liver, heart, lung and brain) in 20 pregnancies that ended in stillbirth (gestational weeks 36–41). The data were combined with our earlier data on perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the same cohort (Mamsen et al. 2019). HCB, p,p’-DDE, PCB 138 and PCB 153 were quantified in all samples of maternal serum, placenta and fetal tissues. All 22 POPs were detected in all fetal adipose tissue samples, even in cases where they could not be detected in maternal serum or placenta. Tissue:serum ratios were significantly higher in later gestations, male fetuses, and pregnancies with normal placental function. OCPs showed the highest tissue:serum ratios and PFAS the lowest. The highest chemical burden was found in adipose tissue and lowest in the brain. Overall, all studied human fetuses were intrinsically exposed to mixtures of POPs. Tissue:serum ratios were significantly modified by gestational age, fetal sex and placental function. Importantly, more chemicals were detected in fetal tissues compared to maternal serum and placenta, implying that these proxy samples may provide a misleading picture of actual fetal exposures.
|
|
| 4. |
- Björvang, Richelle D., et al.
(författare)
-
Persistent organic pollutants and the size of ovarian reserve in reproductive-aged women
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Environment International. - : Elsevier BV. - 0160-4120 .- 1873-6750. ; 155
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Industrial chemicals such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been associated with reduced fertility in women, including longer time-to-pregnancy (TTP), higher odds for infertility, and earlier reproductive senescence. Fertility is highly dependent on the ovarian reserve, which is composed of a prenatally determined stock of non-growing follicles. The quantity and quality of the follicles decline with age, thereby eventually leading to menopause. In the clinical setting, assessing ovarian reserve directly through the histological analysis of follicular density in ovaries is not practical. Therefore, surrogate markers of ovarian reserve, such as serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) are typically used. Here, we studied associations between chemical exposure and ovarian reserve in a cohort of pregnant women undergoing elective caesarean section (n = 145) in Stockholm, Sweden. Full data (histological, clinical, serum) were available for 50 women. We estimated the size of the reserve both directly by determining the density of follicles in ovarian cortical tissue samples, and indirectly by measuring AMH in associated serum samples. Concentrations of 9 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), 10 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 3 polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) and 9 perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were determined in serum, and clinical data were retrieved from electronic medical records. Healthy follicle densities (median 0, range 0–193 follicles/mm3) and AMH levels (median 2.33 ng/mL, range 0.1–14.8 ng/mL) varied substantially. AMH correlated with the density of growing follicles. Twenty-three chemicals detected in more than half of the samples were included in the analyses. None of the chemicals, alone or as a mixture, correlated with AMH, growing or atretic follicles. However, HCB, transnonachlor, PCBs 74 and 99 were associated with decreased non-growing follicle densities. HCB and transnonachlor were also negatively associated with healthy follicle density. Further, mixture of lipophilic POPs (PBDE 99, p,p’-DDE, and PCB 187) was associated with lower non-growing follicle densities. In addition, exposure to HCB, p,p’-DDE, and mixture of OCPs were significantly associated with higher odds of infertility. The results suggest that exposure to chemicals may reduce the size of ovarian reserve in humans, and strongly encourage to study mechanisms behind POP-associated infertility in women in more detail.
|
|
| 5. |
- Bongaerts, Eva, et al.
(författare)
-
Ambient black carbon particles in human ovarian tissue and follicular fluid
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Environment International. - : Elsevier. - 0160-4120 .- 1873-6750. ; 179
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Evidence indicates a link between exposure to ambient air pollution and decreased female fertility. The ability of air pollution particles to reach human ovarian tissue and follicles containing the oocytes in various maturation stages has not been studied before. Particulate translocation might be an essential step in explaining reproductive toxicity and assessing associated risks. Here, we analysed the presence of ambient black carbon particles in (i) follicular fluid samples collected during ovum pick-up from 20 women who underwent assisted reproductive technology treatment and (ii) adult human ovarian tissue from 5 individuals. Follicular fluid and ovarian tissue samples were screened for the presence of black carbon particles from ambient air pollution using white light generation by carbonaceous particles under femtosecond pulsed laser illumination. We detected black carbon particles in all follicular fluid (n = 20) and ovarian tissue (n = 5) samples. Black carbon particles from ambient air pollution can reach the ovaries and follicular fluid, directly exposing the ovarian reserve and maturing oocytes. Considering the known link between air pollution and decreased fertility, the impact of such exposure on oocyte quality, ovarian ageing and fertility needs to be clarified urgently.
|
|
| 6. |
- Mamsen, Linn Salto, et al.
(författare)
-
Concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in human embryonic and fetal organs from first, second, and third trimester pregnancies
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Environment International. - : Elsevier BV. - 0160-4120 .- 1873-6750. ; 124, s. 482-492
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The persistent environmental contaminants perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have gained attention due to their potential adverse health effects, in particular following early life exposure. Information on human fetal exposure to PFASs is currently limited to one report on first trimester samples. There is no data available on PFAS concentrations in fetal organs throughout all three trimesters of pregnancy. Methods: We measured the concentrations of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) in human embryos and fetuses with corresponding placentas and maternal serum samples derived from elective pregnancy terminations and cases of intrauterine fetal death. A total of 78 embryos and fetuses aged 7–42 gestational weeks were included and a total of 225 fetal organs covering liver, lung, heart, central nervous system (CNS), and adipose tissue were analyzed, together with 71 placentas and 63 maternal serum samples. PFAS concentrations were assayed by liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Results: All evaluated PFASs were detected and quantified in maternal sera, placentas and embryos/fetuses. In maternal serum samples, PFOS was detected in highest concentrations, followed by PFOA > PFNA > PFDA = PFUnA = PFHxS. Similarly, PFOS was detected in highest concentrations in embryo/fetal tissues, followed by PFOA > PFNA = PFDA = PFUnA. PFHxS was detected in very few fetuses. In general, PFAS concentrations in embryo/fetal tissue (ng/g) were lower than maternal serum (ng/ml) but similar to placenta concentrations. The total PFAS burden (i.e. the sum of all PFASs) was highest in lung tissue in first trimester samples and in liver in second and third trimester samples. The burden was lowest in CNS samples irrespective of fetal age. The placenta:maternal serum ratios of PFOS, PFOA and PFNA increased across gestation suggesting bioaccumulation in the placenta. Further, we observed that the ratios were higher in pregnancies with male fetuses compared to female fetuses. Conclusions: Human fetuses were intrinsically exposed to a mixture of PFASs throughout gestation. The compounds were detected in all analyzed tissues, suggesting that PFASs reach and may affect many types of organs. Collectively, our results demonstrate that PFASs pass the placenta and deposit to embryo and fetal tissues, calling for risk assessment of gestational exposures.
|
|
