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Prenatal exposure to environmental contaminants and body composition at age 7-9 years

Immle Delvaux1, Jolijn Van Cauwenberghe1, Elly Den Hond2

  • 1Department of Public Health, Ghent University, UZ 2 Blok A, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.

Environmental Research
|April 19, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) impacts girls' body composition. Cadmium exposure was linked to lower weight and fat, while p,p'-DDE exposure was associated with increased abdominal fat in girls.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are environmental contaminants linked to various health issues.
  • Prenatal exposure to EDCs may influence child development and body composition.
  • Understanding these associations is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between prenatal EDC exposure and body composition in Flemish children aged 7-9 years.
  • To identify specific EDCs associated with altered body composition metrics.
  • To explore potential sex-specific effects of prenatal EDC exposure.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of cadmium, PCBs, dioxins, p,p'-DDE, and HCB in cord blood/plasma from 114 Flemish children.
  • Measurement of height, weight, waist circumference, and skinfolds in children at 7-9 years of age.
  • Statistical analysis adjusted for confounders and covariates to assess associations.

Main Results:

  • Significant associations were observed only in girls.
  • Prenatal cadmium exposure showed a negative association with weight, BMI, and abdominal/subcutaneous fat indicators.
  • Prenatal p,p'-DDE exposure showed a positive association with abdominal fat indicators in girls.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal exposure to certain EDCs, specifically p,p'-DDE and cadmium, is associated with altered body composition in girls.
  • Cadmium exposure may reduce adiposity, while p,p'-DDE exposure may increase abdominal adiposity in girls.
  • These findings highlight the importance of monitoring and mitigating EDC exposure during pregnancy.

Keywords:
Body compositionChildrenEndocrine disruptorsGrowthPrenatal exposure

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