Dataset Information

Exposure profiles in pregnant women from a birth cohort in a highly contaminated area of southern Italy.

ABSTRACT: Protecting the health of pregnant women from environmental stressors is crucial for reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases. In industrially contaminated sites, this action is particularly challenging due to the heterogeneous pollutant mixtures in environmental matrices. The aim of this study was to evaluate distribution patterns of mercury, hexachlorobenzene and polychlorobiphenyls in the serum of 161 pregnant women recruited in the framework of the Neonatal Environment and Health Outcomes (NEHO) cohort and living both inside and outside the National Priority Contaminated Site (NPCS) of Priolo. Food macro-categories were determined, and serum levels of contaminants were used to perform k-means cluster analysis and identify the role of food in pollutant transfer from the environment. Two groups of mothers with high and low measured pollutant levels were distinguished. Concentrations in mothers in the high-exposure cluster were at least twofold for all the evaluated pollutants (p < 0.0001) and included mothers living inside and outside NPCS, with a predominance of individuals from the NPCS (p = 0.045). Fish consumption was higher in the high-exposure cluster (p = 0.019). These findings suggest a link between contamination of environmental matrices such as sediment with maternal exposure, through the intake of local food. Such consideration appears poorly investigated in the context of contaminated sites.

SUBMITTER: Drago G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10491776 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Exposure profiles in pregnant women from a birth cohort in a highly contaminated area of southern Italy.

Drago Gaspare G Ruggieri Silvia S Sprovieri Mario M Rizzo Giulia G Colombo Paolo P Giosuè Cristina C Quinci Enza E Traina Anna A Gastaldelli Amalia A Cibella Fabio F Panunzi Simona S

Scientific reports 20230908 1

Protecting the health of pregnant women from environmental stressors is crucial for reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases. In industrially contaminated sites, this action is particularly challenging due to the heterogeneous pollutant mixtures in environmental matrices. The aim of this study was to evaluate distribution patterns of mercury, hexachlorobenzene and polychlorobiphenyls in the serum of 161 pregnant women recruited in the framework of the Neonatal Environment and Health Outc ...[more]

PMID: 37684286

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Project description:The study assessed knowledge, attitudes, and medication use of a random sample of pregnant women attending outpatient Gynecology and Obstetrics clinics at randomly selected public General and Teaching hospitals in Naples, Italy. A total of 503 women participated. Those more likely to know that a pregnant woman with chronic condition must discuss whether or not to take a medication with the physician were Italian, aged 31-40 years, employed, with no history of abortion, having had a medical problem within the previous year, with a better self-perceived health status, who knew how to use medications during pregnancy, and who needed information on medications. The knowledge of the potential risk of using non-prescribed medications during pregnancy was significantly higher in employed women, who received information from physicians, who knew how to use medications during pregnancy, and who knew the possible damages related to medications use. More than half had used at least one medication. Those aged 26-35 years, Italian, non-graduated, in the third trimester, having had a medical problem within the previous year, with a risky pregnancy, and with a knowledge that women with chronic condition must discuss whether or not to take a medication with the physician were more likely to use medication. Less than half had used medication without a physician's advice. Those who were more likely to self-medicate were older, Italian, multiparous, with no history of abortion, who knew that women with chronic condition must discuss whether or not to take a medication with the physician, who did not know the potential risk of using non-prescribed medication during pregnancy, who had used prescribed medication during pregnancy, and who needed information about medications. Educational programs for women about medication use are important to increase their knowledge of the potential risks to the pregnant women and the unborn child in order to reduce self-medication.

Project description:INTRODUCTION:Environmental pollution has been progressively becoming one of the main risk factors to human diseases. In particular, populations living in high-contaminated sites are particularly exposed to environmental toxicants, with consequent increased risks to human health. In Italy, there are currently ongoing three epidemiological etiological studies aimed at evaluating the association between exposure to inorganic and organic chemicals and presence of biological markers of early effects in population living in three National Priority Contaminated Sites (NPCSs). Specifically, the correlations concern preclinical indicators of liver disease in Priolo NPCS, thyroid diseases in Milazzo-Valle del Mela NPCS and cardiovascular risk and kidney damage in Crotone NPCS. METHODS AND ANALYSIS:Overall, approximately 1300 subjects of both sexes will be enrolled in the three NPCSs according to specific inclusion criteria. For each subject, serum and urine specimens are collected, on which the determination of biological markers of exposure and early effects for the selected outcomes are performed. Individual information on environmental and occupational exposure, medical history, diet and life habits is obtained through questionnaires provided by web platform. In Milazzo-Valle del Mela and Crotone NPCSs, not invasive instrumental and imaging examinations are performed in order to evaluate further risk factors of thyroid carcinoma and cardiovascular disease, respectively. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION:The protocol studies have been approved by the Ethics Committees responsible for the three involved NPCSs: the Ethics Committee 'Catania 2' for the NPCS of Priolo (21 July 2017, n. 500/2017/CECT2), the Ethics Committee of the University Hospitals of Messina for the NPCS of Milazzo-Valle del Mela (19 February 2018, n.2/2018); the Ethics Committee of the Region of Calabria for the NPCS of Crotone (20 July 2017, n. 174). Results will be disseminated among policy-makers, citizens, stakeholders and scientific community through the organisation of conferences and events, and the publication on international peer/reviewed journals.

Project description:IntroductionExposure to environmental contaminants during pregnancy is one of the determinants of child's future health outcomes. The effect of environmental pollution on pregnant women living in heavily polluted areas is of special interest and, in this context, the Neonatal Environment and Health Outcomes (NEHO) cohort will focus on the investigation of (1) toxicants transferred from the environment to the mother and from the mother to the developing fetus and (2) the influence of toxicants on pregnancy outcomes, fetal development and health status during infancy. Because the human placenta is positioned at the interface between the maternal/external environment and the embryo, it can be considered a highly informative matrix regarding many key pregnancy events that can shape infant's future health.Methods and analysisThe NEHO cohort will enrol an estimated total of 800 pregnant women in three selected National Priority Contaminated Sites in southern Italy. Epidemiological data, concerning maternal health status, lifestyle and pregnancy, are obtained through questionnaires provided to the mother starting from the last 2 months of pregnancy. At delivery, maternal blood, umbilical cord blood and placenta tissue are collected to assess contaminant levels and to clarify how toxicants interact with the placental domain. Furthermore, placental transcriptome is studied in order to explore the interferences of toxicants on the role of the placenta in maternal/fetal interplay. Regular follow-up is planned at 6, 12 and 24 months.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by all the Ethics Committees of the three National Priority Contaminated Sites involved: the Ethics Committee of the University Hospitals of Messina (18 September 2017, n. 9/2017); the Ethics Committee 'Catania 2' (11 July 2017, n. 38/2017/CECT2); the Ethics Committee of the Region of Calabria (20 July 2017, n. 173). Findings will be disseminated in the scientific community and on a regional basis for appropriate policy actions.

Dataset Information

Exposure profiles in pregnant women from a birth cohort in a highly contaminated area of southern Italy.

Publications

Exposure profiles in pregnant women from a birth cohort in a highly contaminated area of southern Italy.

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