Co-exposure to phthalates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the risk of gestational hypertension in Chinese women.

Phthalates (PAEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are frequently detected in females of reproductive age. Many studies have found that environmental PAE and PAH levels are independent risk factors for gestational hypertension. However, exposure to both components is a more realistic scenario. To better assess the health effects of PAEs and PAHs in pregnant women, we explored the associations of exposure to both individual and combined PAEs and PAHs with gestational hypertension. This nested case-control study was a component of a prospective cohort study conducted in Beijing, China. We included 206 women with gestational hypertension and 214 pregnant controls. We used gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) to detect 8 PAEs and 13 PAHs in > 80 % of all collected hair samples. Multiple linear regression models were employed to test the individual associations between each component and gestational hypertension. A quantile-based g-computation (qgcomp) model and a weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression model were used to estimate whether exposure to both PAEs and PAHs increased the risk of gestational hypertension. The individual exposure analyses revealed that diethyl phthalate (DEP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) (both PAEs), benzo(k)fluoranthene (BKF), anthracene, (ANT), and benzo(a)pyrene (BAP) (all PAHs) were positively associated with increased risk of gestational hypertension. In mixed-effect analyses, the qgcomp model indicated that co-exposure to PAEs and PAHs increased the risk of gestational hypertension (odds ratio = 2.01; 95 % confidence interval: 1.02, 3.94); this finding was verified by the WQS regression model. Our findings support earlier evidence that both PAEs and PAHs increase the risk of gestational hypertension, both individually and in combination. This suggests that reductions in exposure to endocrine system-disrupting chemicals such as PAEs and PAHs might reduce the risk of gestational hypertension.

Skin aging associated with chromium among rural housewives in northern China.

Previous studies have found associations between chromium exposure and skin damage. However, few studies have focused on both chromium and skin aging. This study aimed to assess the degree of skin aging symptoms and estimate the relationship between hair chromium and skin aging among rural housewives. We recruited 405 subjects in Shanxi Province of northern China and analyzed 397 eligible hair samples with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The subjects' skin aging symptoms were assessed with SCINEXA™ (SCore of INtrinsic and EXtrinsic skin Aging). After adjusting for age and other important covariates, the regression results showed more severe skin aging symptoms in women with a higher level of hair chromium and presented an increasing linear trend. Vegetables, fruits, and beans might be a source of chromium exposure. We concluded that skin aging might be positively associated with hair chromium. It is necessary to take measures to reduce chromium exposure to prevent skin aging.

Passive smoking and insomnia in rural Chinese nonsmoking housewives: An environmental and genetic perspective.

Active smoking has been a risk factor for insomnia, however, little is known about the effect of passive smoking on insomnia. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are potential contents in tobacco smoke. We aimed to investigate the association between passive smoking exposure and insomnia, plus the modification effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to PAHs metabolism. A cross-sectional study with 392 nonsmoking women was conducted in a rural area of Shanxi Province, China. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the information on passive smoking exposure, insomnia and other health-related factors via face-to-face interviews. We simultaneously collected participants' hair samples to measure the concentrations of 26 PAHs. Whole blood samples were collected to test 9 SNPs related to PAHs metabolism. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between passive smoking and insomnia, as well as the relation between passive smoking and PAHs concentrations. We further examined the potential interaction effects between passive smoking and SNPs on insomnia. 118 (30.1 %) were exposed to passive smoking and 128 (32.7 %) suffered from insomnia. Passive smoking nearly doubled the probability of insomnia with adjusted odds ratio and 95 % confidence interval of (1.99: 1.16, 3.39). Dose-response association between passive smoking and insomnia was observed by passive smoking frequency (P trend < 0.001). Among the 7 PAHs measured with detection rates > 70 %, no specific PAH was detected to be associated with passive smoking exposure after Bonferroni correction. The mutant genotypes of CYP1B1 (rs1056836), AHR (rs2066853), and AHRR (rs2292596) were detected to have synergetic effects with passive smoking on insomnia after multivariate adjustment. We found a positive association between passive smoking status and insomnia among nonsmoking women. This association could be modified by SNPs related to PAHs metabolism. PAHs might not be the environmentally potential mechanism involved in the insomnia caused by tobacco smoke exposure.

Passive Smoking Is Associated with Multiple Heavy Metal Concentrations among Housewives in Shanxi Province, China.

BACKGROUND: Passive smoking may increase the content of heavy metals in housewives. However, this association remains a subject of debate. Female passive smoking is widespread, particularly in Chinese rural areas. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the association between heavy metal accumulation and passive smoking status among rural housewives. METHODS: 405 women were recruited in Shanxi Province of Northern China, and 384 (94.8%, 384/405) participants were included in the final study, of whom 117 women were exposed to passive smoking. The information on their basic characteristics was collected via a structured questionnaire. We used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to analyze the concentrations of nine heavy metals, including cadmium (Cd), germanium (Ge), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), titanium (Ti), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), and chromium (Cr), in hair samples. RESULTS: The results indicated that higher As, Ge, Ti, and Fe concentrations were significantly associated with passive smoking. After adjusting for potential confounders, the adjusted odds ratios and the 95% confidence intervals of As, Ge, Ti, and Fe were (1.80 (1.13-2.90), p = 0.028), (1.78 (1.14-2.80), p = 0.007), (1.70 (1.09-2.67), p = 0.019), and (1.67 (1.07-2.63), p = 0.035), respectively. The statistically significant linear trend of the adjusted odds ratios at different levels further supported their association. CONCLUSION: Our research concluded that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke might contribute to As, Ge, Ti, and Fe accumulation among housewives.

Passive Smoking and Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus among Nonsmoking Women: A Prospective Cohort Study in China.

Background: Increasing evidence has shown that active smoking can increase the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but the effect of passive smoking is still unknown. Women in pregnancy are vulnerable to secondhand smoke. This study explored the association of passive smoking with GDM in China. Method: A total of 3083 nonsmoking pregnant women living in Beijing were recruited into a prospective cohort study. Sociodemographic and passive smoking data were collected with structured questionnaires during face-to-face interviews. Glucose levels were measured by physicians according to standard protocols. Multivariate logistic regression was performed for the association estimation after accounting for potential confounders. Result: In total, 562 of the 3083 participants developed GDM (18.23%); 779 participants (25.27%) reported exposure to passive smoking. After adjusting for age, BMI, ethnicity, education, occupation, and parity, passive smoking conferred an approximately 1.4-fold risk increase in GDM (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.11, 1.70)). The adjusted ORs with 95% CIs for passive smoking levels of <1, 1−6, and ≥7 times per week were 1.21 (0.94, 1.55), 1.81 (1.22, 2.69), and 1.70 (1.02, 2.84), respectively. An obvious passive-smoking−GDM association was observed among only nulliparous women (adjusted OR = 1.45, 95% CI: (1.14, 1.85)). Conclusion: Frequent exposure to secondhand smoke could increase the risk of GDM among nonsmoking pregnant women. Parity status might modify their association. Public policies should be advocated to prevent passive smoking among this population.

Association of Rare Earth Elements with Passive Smoking among Housewives in Shanxi Province, China.

BACKGROUND: Rare earth elements (REEs) are emerging contaminants. Previous studies reported the association between REEs and active smoking, but little is known about the effects of passive smoking on this condition. In China, female passive smoking is widespread, particularly in rural areas. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the relationship between REEs accumulation and passive smoking among rural housewives. METHODS: We recruited 385 subjects in Shanxi Province of northern China, of whom 117 housewives were exposed to passive smoking, and 268 were not. We analyzed 15 REEs in the hair of housewives with ICP-MS, including lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, and yttrium. RESULTS: The results indicated higher levels of 14 REEs except for Sm in both the univariate and adjusted models among the housewives exposed to passive smoking. The increasing linear trend of adjusted odds ratios of 15 REEs supported their association. The Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models showed that 15 REEs had a significant overall effect, and Eu had a single-exposure effect with passive smoking. CONCLUSION: We concluded that passive smoking might be associated with increased exposure to REEs among rural housewives.

Early pregnancy loss: Do Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances matter?

Per- and poly-fluorinated substances (PFASs) with endocrine disrupting effect can efficiently transfer across the blood-follicle barrier. However, it is still controversial and attracting extensive public concern that whether PFASs can affect the human fertility potential. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the associations of women's exposure to PFASs with pregnancy loss, the relevant processes of fertilization, zygote implantation, and embryo development by using a prospective cohort study. The women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment were recruited in Beijing City (Beijing Center) and Yantai City (Yantai Center) in China during 2015-2017. A total of 305 women were recruited before the IVF-ET treatment. Twelve PFASs were measured in their serum samples collected in the day before the IVF-ET treatment, as well as in the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) day. The three IVF-ET outcomes were included, i.e. hCG test negative, clinical pregnancy failure (CPF), and preclinical spontaneous abortion. Nine serum PFASs had detection rate of >70% in Beijing and Yantai centers. The exposure patterns to PFASs between these two centers were overall different. For Beijing Center, we only found a positive association of perflurodecanoic acid (PFDA) with the risk of CPF [RR = 2.28 (95 %CI: 1.02-5.11)], but there is a reverse trend in Yantai Center with [RR = 0.45 (95 %CI: 0.23-0.85)]. However, the serum concentration of PFDA in Beijing Center was relatively lower than that of Yantai Center. Other significant associations of the detected PFASs with the IVF-ET outcomes, or with the relevant clinical processes, were not found. The multi-pollutant regression model of the Bayesian kernel machine regression suggested that there were no joint effects between various PFASs on the concerned outcomes. Overall, we suggest that most PFAS were not associated with early pregnancy loss at the current exposure levels. As for the PFDA, there may exist susceptibility of different populations.

Serum zinc concentration and risk of adverse outcomes to in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer: A prospective cohort study in northern China.

Zinc (Zn) plays an important role in female reproductive health. Few studies have currently assessed the effects of female Zn level on the outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). This study investigated the association between serum Zn concentration and IVF-ET outcomes, and the potential effects of some lifestyles on this association. A prospective cohort study design was adopted, and 305 women undergoing IVF-ET were recruited from two cities, Beijing and Shandong, in northern China. Fasting blood specimens were obtained on the day prior to the first treatment cycle. A questionnaire was used to collect demographic characteristics and lifestyle information. Serum Zn concentration was measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Female serum Zn levels in Beijing center were found to be significantly higher than those in Shandong center. Women who failed to achieve clinical pregnancy had significantly lower Zn concentrations among Shandong subjects, but not in Beijing or the total participants in both centers. For Beijing participants, no statistically significant associations were found between Zn concentrations and the failure risk of IVF-ET [adjusted relative risk (aRR) = 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.37-1.15]. For Shandong participants, lower Zn concentrations (< 610.3 ng/mL) were associated with a 66% increased risk of IVF-ET failure (aRR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.10-2.51). Also, significantly positive correlations were observed between Zn concentrations and the habitual consumption of two food types, including fresh vegetables and beans or bean products, but this was not the case in Beijing. It was concluded that the effect of serum Zn concentrations on IVF-ET outcome may vary by the geographic location. Lower Zn levels might be a risk factor for IVF-ET failure among Shandong women, which can be addressed by adjusting the food intakes. These findings have implications for human infertility treatment and public health problem addressing.