Modelling the pesticide transfer during tea and herbal tea infusions by the identification of critical infusion parameters.

Pesticide residues in tea and herbal tea often exceed EU maximum residue limits. Consideration of the transfer of pesticides from the leaves (called transfer factors) to the brew is essential to assess the associated risk. This study identified infusion parameters influencing the transfer behaviour of 61 pesticides and elaborated a predictive model for pesticides with unknown transfer factors in black, green, herbal and flavoured teas. Tea type and the presence of flavours were the criteria that most influenced the pesticide transfer. Interestingly, infusion parameters that are individual and area dependent such as infusion time, temperature and water hardness, did not play a significant role. Beta regression models developed to characterise pesticide behaviour during infusion showed good predictions for most pesticides and revealed that log (P) was the main physico-chemical parameter to estimate the pesticide transfer. The transfer factors database and validated models are valuable tools for improving risk assessment.

Evolution of maternal and neonatal outcomes before and after the adoption of the IADPSG/WHO guidelines in Belgium: A descriptive study of 444,228 pregnancies.

Objectives: To appraise adverse pregnancy outcomes after the adoption of IADPSG/WHO guidelines in Belgium. Methods: A retrospective study of the Center for Perinatal Epidemiology registry was conducted. Demographic changes and adverse pregnancy outcomes were compared between a pre- and post-guideline period in women with and without hyperglycemia in pregnancy (HIP). Adjusted odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes controlling for potential confounders (maternal age, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, parity, and multiple births). Results: The prevalence of HIP increased (6.0%-9.2%). In the overall population regardless of glycemic status, gestational weight gain (12.3 ± 5.7 vs 11.9 ± 5.8; p < 0.001), hypertension (0.92; 95% CI, 0.89-0.94; p < 0.001), and neonatal intensive care unit/special care nursery (0.89; 95% CI, 0.87-0.91; p < 0.001) decreased despite increasing maternal age and pre-pregnancy BMI. Emergency cesarean section rates (1.07; 95% CI, 1.05-1.09; p < 0.001) increased, but not in the HIP population (1.02; 95% CI, 0.95-1.10; ns). The overall incidence of preterm birth (1.09; 95% CI, 1.06-1.12; p < 0.001), stillbirth (1.10; 95% CI, 1.01-1.21; p < 0.05), and perinatal mortality (1.10; 95% CI, 1.01-1.19; p < 0.05) increased, except in the HIP population (1.03; 95% CI, 0.95-1.11; ns), (1.04; 95% CI, 0.74-1.47; ns) and (1.09; 95% CI, 0.80-1.49; ns), respectively. The overall incidence of small- for-gestational-age remained unchanged (0.99; 95%CI, 0.97-1.01; ns) regardless of glycemic status. In the HIP population, large-for-gestational age (0.90; 95% CI, 0.84-0.95; p < 0.001) and macrosomia (0.84; 95% CI, 0.78-0.92; p < 0.001) decreased. Conclusion: After the implementation of IADPSG/WHO guidelines, the prevalence of HIP increased by 53.7% and the incidence of major HIP-related pregnancy complications appears to be lower. However, we cannot conclude that the reduction of LGA-macrosomia is due to a better management of diabetes or due to greater recruitment of women with mild HIP associated with a lower risk of obstetrical complications.

Effect of maternal origin on the association between maternal height and risk of preterm birth in Belgium: a retrospective observational cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of maternal origin on the association between maternal height and the risk of preterm birth (PTB). DESIGN: Retrospective observational cohort study. SETTING: Two of the three Belgian regions, including Brussels-Capital and Walloon regions. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 245 204 women spontaneously delivered live singletons between 2009 and 2013. Maternal nationality at the time of birth included Belgium, Congo, French, Italy, Morocco, Poland, Romania and Turkey. OUTCOMES MEASURES: The outcome variable was spontaneous PTB, defined as childbirth occurring at less than 37 weeks' gestation. RESULTS: Average height, demographic characteristics and the spontaneous PTB rate differed according to maternal origin, defined as maternal nationality at birth. The pattern of association between maternal height and the risk of PTB was not uniform by maternal nationality at birth. The low maternal height category was associated with a statistically significant increased risk of spontaneous PTB for Belgian (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.23, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.32), Italian (aOR 1.48, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.96) and Polish (aOR 1.76, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.78), respectively. However, this association was not observed for the women from Congo, France, Morocco, Romania and Turkey. CONCLUSIONS: The association between height and the risk of PTB was modified by maternal nationality, even for mothers from the same region of the world. For example, there was a significant inverse association for the Belgians and Italians but not for French women. Our data suggest that PTB risk assessment should take into account the specific height of maternal origin.

Missing information in birth certificates in Brussels after reinforcement of data collection, and variation according to immigration status. A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: A problem repeatedly reported in birth certificate data is the presence of missing data. In 2008, a Centre for Perinatal Epidemiology was created inter alia to assist the Health Departments of Brussels-Capital City Region to check birth certificates. The purpose of this study is to assess the changes brought by the Centre in terms of completeness of data registration for the entire population and according to immigration status. METHODS: Birth certificates from the birth registry of 2008 and 2009 of Brussels were considered. We evaluated the initial missing information in January 2008 (baseline situation) and the corresponding rate at the end of 2008 after oral and written information had been given to the city civil servants and health providers. The data were evaluated again at the end of 2009 where no reinforcement rules were adopted. We also measured residual missing data after correction in socio-economic and medical data, for the entire population and according to maternal nationality of origin. Changes in registration of stillbirths were estimated by comparison to 2007 baseline data, and all multiple births were checked for complete identification of pairs. RESULTS: Missing information initially accounted for 64.0%, 20.8% and 19.5% of certificates in January 2008, December 2008, and 2009 respectively. After correction with lists sent back to the hospitals or city offices, the mean residual missing data rate was 2.1% in 2008 and 0.8% in 2009. Education level and employment status were missing more often in immigrant mothers compared to Belgian natives both in 2008 and 2009. Mothers from Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest missing rate of socio-economic data. The stillbirth rate increased from 4.6 ‰ in 2007 to 8.2 ‰ in 2009. All twin pairs were identified, but early loss of a co-twin before 22 weeks was rarely reported. CONCLUSIONS: Reinforcement of data collection was associated with a decrease of missing information. The residual missing data rate was very low. The stillbirth rate was also improved but the early loss of a co-twin before 22 weeks seems to remain underreported.