Ethylene oxide hemoglobin adducts in cord blood and offspring's size at birth: The NewGeneris European Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Prenatal ethylene oxide exposure may have adverse effects on fetal development. We examined the relationships between ethylene oxide hemoglobin (Hb) adduct levels and offspring's size at birth in a prospective European mother-child study. METHODS: This study included 1,106 singletons from the NewGeneris project (2006-2010) with ethylene oxide Hb adducts measured in cord blood. We examined the relationships between adduct levels and offspring's size at birth among all infants and separately among infants of non-smokers, using linear regression models for birth weight and birth head circumference and logarithmic binomial regression models for small-for-gestational age (SGA). We examined potential interactions between CYP2E1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in cord blood and the effects of ethylene oxide Hb adduct levels on offspring birth size. RESULTS: Higher quartiles of adduct levels as a measure of exposure were associated with decreasing birth weight and head circumference in the overall population. Compared to infants in the lowest quartile, those in the highest quartile exhibited lower birth weight (-70.73 g, 95% CI -141.16, -0.30) and reduced head circumference (-0.30 cm, 95% CI -0.58, -0.02). We observed similar, albeit less pronounced, patterns among infants of non-smokers. There was no evidence of an association between ethylene oxide Hb adducts and risk of SGA, nor consistent evidence of an interaction with CYP2E1 polymorphisms on the association between EO Hb adduct levels and offspring's size at birth. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that higher ethylene oxide Hb adduct levels in cord blood are associated with a reduction in offspring birth size.