Pesticide exposure of pregnant women in Guadeloupe: Ability of a food frequency questionnaire to estimate blood concentration of chlordecone

Context Chlordecone, an environmentally persistent organochlorine insecticide used intensively in banana culture in the French West Indies until 1993, has permanently polluted soils and contaminated foodstuffs. Consumption of contaminated food is the main source of exposure nowadays. We sought to identify main contributors to blood chlordecone concentration (BCC) and to validate an exposure indicator based on food intakes.Material and methods We used a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) completed by a sample of 194 pregnant women to estimate their dietary exposure to chlordecone and compared it to blood levels. In a first approach, chlordecone daily intake was estimated as the product of daily eaten quantity of 214 foodstuffs, multiplied by their chlordecone content, and summed over all items. We then predicted individual blood chlordecone concentration with empirical weight regression models based on frequency of food consumption, and without contamination data.Results Among the 191 subjects who had BCC determination, 146 (76%) had detectable values and mean BCC was 0.86†ng/mL (range < LOD-13.2). Mean per capita dietary intake of chlordecone was estimated at 3.3†[mu]g/day (range: 0.1-22.2). Blood chlordecone levels were significantly correlated with food exposure predicted from the empirical weight models (r=0.47, p<0.0001) and, to a lesser extent, with chlordecone intake estimated from food consumption and food contamination data (r=0.20, p=0.007). Main contributors to chlordecone exposure included seafood, root vegetables, and Cucurbitaceous.Conclusion These results show that the Timoun FFQ provides valid estimates of chlordecone exposure. Estimates from empirical weight models correlated better with blood levels of chlordecone than did estimates from the dietary intake assessment

Maternal fish and shellfish intake and pregnancy outcomes: A prospective cohort study in Brittany, France

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recommendations about risks and benefits of seafood intake during pregnancy have been published in the last decade, but the specific health effects of the different categories of seafood remain unknown. Fish and shellfish may differ according to their fatty acid content and their concentration of chemical pollutants and toxins. Not taking these particularities into account may result in underestimating of both the positive and negative effects of seafood on birth outcomes and partly explains inconsistent results on the subject.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In the PELAGIE cohort study, including 2398 pregnant women from Brittany, we fit multiple linear and logistic regression models to examine associations of fish (salt-water fish only) and shellfish intake before pregnancy with length of gestation, birthweight, and risks of preterm births, low birthweight or small-for-gestational-age (SGA) babies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>When fish and shellfish consumptions were considered simultaneously, we observed a decrease in the risk of SGA birth with increasing frequency of fish intake: OR = 0.57 (95%CI: 0.31 to 1.05) for women eating fish twice a week or more compared with those eating it less than once a month. The risk of SGA birth was significantly higher among women eating shellfish twice a week or more than among those eating it less than once a month: OR = 2.14 (95%CI: 1.13 to 4.07). Each additional monthly meal including fish was significantly related to an increase in gestational length of 0.02 week (95%CI: 0.002 to 0.035). No association was observed with birthweight or preterm birth.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results suggest that different categories of seafood may be differently associated with birth outcomes, fish consumption with increased length of gestation and shellfish consumption with decreased fetal growth.</p

Apports alimentaires en contaminants chimiques et nutriments, impact sur l'issue de la grossesse

LE KREMLIN-B.- PARIS 11-BU Méd (940432101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Expositions environnementales et grossesse : premiers résultats de la cohorte Pélagie en Bretagne

International audienc

Organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, seafood consumption, and time-to-pregnancy.

International audienceBACKGROUND: People in developed countries are widely exposed to low levels of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Seafood is a major contributor to PCB exposure. Toxicity of those various pollutants to reproductive and endocrine functions raises questions about possible effects on fertility. We explored whether serum levels of these pollutants and seafood consumption were associated with the fertility of couples enrolled in a French birth cohort (PELAGIE). METHODS: Time-to-pregnancy was investigated in 3,421 pregnant women by asking how many months they had taken to conceive. Levels of 14 organochlorine pesticides, 12 PCBs, and 10 PBDE compounds were measured in cord blood serum from a random subcohort (n = 394). Mercury concentrations measured in maternal hair were considered as a potential coexposure. Fecundability odds ratios (ORs) were estimated from multivariate discrete-time Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: Shellfish consumption was associated with longer time-to-pregnancy (fecundability OR ≥twice/week vs. 0.410 µg/L vs. <0.266 µg/L, fecundability OR = 0.46 [0.32-0.66]). In multiple sensitivity analyses, reduced fecundability was most consistently associated with shellfish consumption, p,p'-DDE, total PCBs, PCB153, and PCB187. Models that simultaneously included multiple coexposure factors led to similar conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings were robust in sensitivity analyses, including analysis restricted to primiparous women. These results suggest that PCBs, p,p'-DDE, and other shellfish contaminants may impair human fertility

Multiple pesticide analysis in hair samples of pregnant French women Results from the ELFE national birth cohort

International audienceBackground - A growing body of evidence suggests that prenatal exposure to pesticides might impair fetal development. Nonetheless, knowledge about pesticide exposure of pregnant women, especially in Europe, is largely restricted to a limited panel of molecules. Aim - To characterize the concentration of 140 pesticides and metabolites in hair strands from women in the ELFE French nationwide birth cohort. Methods - Among cohort members who gave birth in northeastern and southwestern France in 2011, we selected those with a sufficient available mass of hair (n = 311). Bundles of hair 9 cm long were collected at delivery. We screened 111 pesticides and 29 metabolites, including 112 selected a priori based on their reported usage or detection in the French environment. The bundles of hair from 47 women were split into three segments to explore the intraindividual variability of the exposure. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were computed for the chemicals with a detection frequency >70%. Results - We detected a median of 43 chemicals per woman (IQR 38-47). Overall, 122 chemicals (>20 chemical families) were detected at least once, including 28 chemicals detected in 70-100% of hair samples. The highest median concentrations were observed for permethrin (median: 37.9 pg/mg of hair), p-nitrophenol (13.2 pg/mg), and pentachlorophenol (10.0 pg/mg). The ICCs for the 28 chemicals studied ranged from 0.59 to 0.94. Conclusion - Pregnant women are exposed to multiple pesticides simultaneously from various chemical families, including chemicals suspected to be reproductive toxicants or endocrine disruptors. The ICCs suggest that the intraindividual variability of pesticide concentrations in hair is lower than its interindividual variability

Use and storage of pesticides at home in France (the Pesti'home survey 2014)

Les données sont disponibles sur data.gouv.fr (cf. la section "voir aussi")International audienceSome epidemiological studies have raised health concerns following the chronic exposure of pregnant women and children to pesticides in the domestic environment. In France very little is known about potential exposure to pesticides at home. An observational study called Pesti'home was carried out in continental France between July and November 2014. The residential use of pesticides was investigated and an inventory of pesticides and active ingredients used and stored at home was drawn up. Plant protection products, biocides, and human and animal external pest control products were listed during face-to-face interviews.A random sample of households including at least one adult (18–79 years old) was selected following a two-stage stratified random sampling method using the national census database. Within each household, an adult was appointed to answer survey questions. Data related to the interviewee's sociodemographic and housing characteristics, the reported use of pesticides at home, and a visual inventory of all stored pesticides were collected. Overall, 1507 households participated. The participation rate was between 36% and 57% according to the definition chosen.Over the previous 12 months, 75% of households declared that they had used at least one pesticide. Households who used and stored at least one product most frequently used an insecticide (84%). The active ingredients most frequently used by these households as insecticides were pyrethroids, namely tetramethrin and permethrin.The Pesti'home survey collected detailed data on the residential use of pesticides for risk assessment at national and European levels

Étude Pesti’home - Enquête nationale sur les utilisations domestiques de pesticides - Départements et régions d’outre-mer (DROM) Guadeloupe - Martinique - La Réunion: Rapport d’étude scientifique

En mars 2008, dans le cadre de son premier plan d’action (2006-2008), l’Observatoire des résidus de pesticides (ORP) a confié à un groupe d’experts pluridisciplinaire la réalisation d’un état des lieux des connaissances disponibles quant à l’exposition, l’imprégnation et les déterminants de l’exposition de la population générale aux pesticides. Ces travaux ont abouti, en octobre 2010, à la publication du rapport « Exposition de la population générale aux résidus de pesticides en France » (Anses, 2010). Dans le cadre de ces travaux, le terme « pesticides » englobe à la fois les substances et les produits phytopharmaceutiques (protection des plantes), certaines substances et produits biocides (élimination des nuisibles à domicile ou sur le lieu de travail), ainsi que certains antiparasitaires à usage humain et vétérinaire. Dans un premier temps, un inventaire des données existantes permettant de caractériser les utilisations de pesticides et d’identifier les substances actives présentes dans les différents milieux a été réalisé. L'exposition chronique de la population générale aux pesticides se caractérise par des expositions à faibles doses, répétées dans le temps. Selon l'Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS), l'alimentation est la principale source d'exposition aux pesticides. Toutefois, la population générale est également exposée à d'autres sources d'exposition qui ne doivent pas être négligées. Ainsi, la contamination de l'air extérieur et intérieur, des sols ou des poussières intérieures, l'utilisation de pesticides dans les jardins, dans les habitations ou sur les animaux domestiques constituent également des sources potentielles d'exposition. Diverses équipes, de disciplines différentes, s’intéressent à ces différentes sources d'exposition et leur part dans l'exposition globale reste encore à déterminer. Toutefois, les données produites sont très hétérogènes (contextes d’étude et objectifs très divers, populations et/ou zones géographiques d’étude particulières) et ne sont pas suffisantes pour caractériser complètement les expositions de la population générale aux pesticides.À l’issue de ses travaux en 2010, le groupe d’experts pluridisciplinaire d’étude a recommandé notamment la réalisation d’une enquête nationale sur les utilisations domestiques de pesticides (biocides, produits de jardinage, traitement des plantes d’intérieur et antiparasitaires à usage humain et vétérinaire). Cette recommandation émane du constat d’un manque de données représentatives pour l’ensemble de la population française sur les produits utilisés, sur la fréquence et les modalités d’utilisation de ces produits avec pour conséquence une difficulté à évaluer l’exposition de la population générale aux pesticides à usages domestiques.Par ailleurs, l’expertise collective Inserm « Pesticides, effets sur la santé » (Inserm, 2013) a conclu à une présomption de lien entre l’exposition domestique de la femme enceinte à des pesticides organophosphorés et le neurodéveloppement de l’enfant. Au vu de ces résultats, le collectif d’experts réuni par l’Inserm a recommandé également de documenter les niveaux et les sources d’exposition de la population générale aux pesticides dans les différents environnements de vie, notamment par le biais d’enquêtes sur les pratiques d’utilisation de ces produits et/ou la réalisation de mesures. Une méta-analyse publiée en 2018 a depuis montré une association positive entre l’exposition aux pesticides domestiques et le cancer de l’enfant (Van Maele-Fabry, 2018).Dans ce contexte, des débats ont lieu sur la mise en place de dispositifs encadrant les ventes de pesticides, en particulier de biocides afin d’améliorer l’information des consommateurs, que ce soit via l’étiquetage, l’information en magasin voire le passage obligatoire par le conseil d’un vendeur (« mise sous clefs »).Pour répondre à ces questions et recommandations et dans le cadre de sa mission d’amélioration des connaissances sur l’exposition globale de la population aux pesticides (Action 6 du Plan national santé-environnement 2 - PNSE 2), l’ORP a proposé la mise en œuvre d’une enquête nationale représentative visant à décrire les utilisations domestiques de pesticides en population générale. Le projet d’étude a été présenté le 26 juin 2012 au Comité de suivi de l’ORP composé des tutelles (ministères chargés de la santé, de l’agriculture, de la consommation, de l’écologie et du travail) dont il a reçu l’avis favorable.L’enquête Pesti’home a été conduite sur la période de juillet 2014 à mars 2015 en France métropolitaine, en Guadeloupe, en Martinique et à La Réunion.Le présent rapport fait état des résultats de l’enquête réalisée dans les DROM de février à juillet 2015