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Organophosphate (OP) insecticides are some of the most abundantly used insecticides, and prenatal exposures have been linked to adverse maternal and child health outcomes. Anogenital distance (AGD) has emerged as an early marker of androgen activity, and later reproductive outcomes, that is sensitive to alteration by environmental chemicals. Here, we examined associations between prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos, an OP insecticide, with AGD. Pregnant farmworkers were enrolled in the Study of Asian Women and their Offspring's Development and Environmental Exposures (SAWASDEE; N = 104) between 2017 and 2019 in Northern Thailand. Concentrations of 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), a specific metabolite of chlorpyrifos, were measured in composited urine samples obtained from each trimester of pregnancy. AGD was measured at 12 months of age. Sex-specific adjusted linear regression models were used to examine associations between average and trimester-specific TCPy levels and AGD. In adjusted models for females and males, increasing TCPy was consistently associated with a modest, non-significant reduction in AGD. Across both strata of sex, associations were greatest in magnitude for trimester 3 (females: ß = -2.17, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = -4.99, 0.66; males: ß = -3.02, 95 % CI = -6.39, 0.35). In the SAWASDEE study, prenatal chlorpyrifos exposure was not strongly associated with AGD at 12 months of age.
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Clorpirifos , Inseticidas , Masculino , Gravidez , Criança , Humanos , Feminino , Clorpirifos/urina , Inseticidas/urina , Tailândia , Fazendeiros , Exposição Ambiental , Exposição MaternaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Adolescents living in agricultural communities may be at risk for the adverse effects of pesticide exposure because they are involved in agriculture either as a career or to support their families. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of farm activities related to pesticide exposure on blood cholinesterase (ChE) levels among adolescents from farming families in the north of Thailand. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 336 adolescents aged 12-19 years from farming families in Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai Province. Data on pesticide exposure was collected using a questionnaire, and blood ChE activity was assessed using a ChE reactive paper test kit via fingerstick blood sampling. RESULTS: Overall, 51.2% of participants had abnormal blood ChE levels. Univariable logistic regression analysis revealed that pesticide-related activities on farms associated with abnormal ChE levels were mixing/spraying (OR=10.54; 95%CI=4.63-23.99), assisting or working in areas with pesticide application (OR=5.54; 95%CI=3.45-8.89), and harvesting (OR=3.70; 95%CI=2.35-5.82). In a multivariable model (Nagelkerke R2=0.374), mixing/spraying (OR=4.90; 95%CI=2.03-11.83) and assisting or working in areas with pesticide application (OR=2.61; 95%CI=1.49-4.57) were significantly associated with abnormal ChE levels, but harvesting (OR=1.48; 95%CI=0.84-2.61) was not significant after adjusting for sex, age in years, and entering or walking through a farm. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that Thai adolescents living in farming families are at risk of pesticide exposure, particularly those involved in agricultural activities such as pesticide applicators. An intervention and measure to raise awareness and reduce the risk of pesticide exposure in adolescents is required.
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Colinesterases , Exposição Ocupacional , Praguicidas , Humanos , Adolescente , Tailândia , Feminino , Masculino , Praguicidas/sangue , Estudos Transversais , Exposição Ocupacional/estatística & dados numéricos , Colinesterases/sangue , Criança , Adulto Jovem , Fazendeiros/estatística & dados numéricos , Agricultura/estatística & dados numéricos , Exposição Ambiental/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Few studies exist on environmental risk factors for respiratory infections in Thai school children. AIM: To study associations between home and outdoor environment and respiratory infections among school children in Northern Thailand in dry and wet season. METHODS: A repeated questionnaire survey among the children (N = 1159). Data on ambient temperature and relative air humidity (RH) and PM10 and ozone was collected from nearby monitoring stations. We used logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (OR). RESULTS: 14.1% had current respiratory infections (last 7 days), 32.1% had any respiratory infection last 3 months, and 26.1% had any respiratory infection last 12 months with antibiotic treatment. Students with diagnosed allergy (7.7%) and diagnosed asthma (4.7%) had more often respiratory infections (ORs 1.40-5.40; p < 0.05). Current respiratory infections were more common in dry (18.1%) than in wet season (10.4%) (p < 0.001) and was associated with indoor mould (OR 2.16; p = 0.024) and outdoor RH (OR 1.34 per 10% RH; p = 0.004.) in the total material. In wet season, mould (OR 2.32; p = 0.016), window pane condensation (OR 1.79; p = 0.050), water leakage (OR 1.82; p = 0.018), environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) (OR 2.34; p = 0.003) and outdoor RH (OR 2.70 per 10% RH; p = 0.01) were risk factors for current respiratory infections. In dry season, mould (OR 2.64; p = 0.004) and outdoor RH (OR 1.34 per 10% RH; p = 0.046) were associated with current respiratory infections. Irrespectively of season, biomass burning inside or outside the home was a risk factor for respiratory infections (ORs 1.32-2.34; p < 0.05). Living in a wooden house decreased the risk of respiratory infections (OR 0.56: p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Dry season, high outdoor RH, household dampness, indoor mould and ETS can increase childhood respiratory infections. Living in a traditional wooden house can reduce respiratory infections, possibly due to better natural ventilation. Smoke from biomass burning can increase childhood respiratory infections in northern Thailand.
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Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados , Infecções Respiratórias , Poluição por Fumaça de Tabaco , Criança , Humanos , Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados/análise , Umidade , Biomassa , Tailândia/epidemiologia , Infecções Respiratórias/epidemiologia , Estudantes , FungosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides during pregnancy has been linked to deficiencies of neurobehavioral development in childhood; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying this association remain elusive. The placenta plays a crucial role in protecting the fetus from environmental insults and safeguarding proper fetal development including neurodevelopment. The aim of our study is to evaluate changes in the placental transcriptome associated with prenatal OP exposure. METHODS: Pregnant farm workers from two agricultural districts in northern Thailand were recruited for the Study of Asian Women and Offspring's Development and Environmental Exposures (SAWASDEE) from 2017 to 2019. For 254 participants, we measured maternal urinary concentrations of six nonspecific dialkyl phosphates (DAP) metabolites in early, middle, and late pregnancy. In parallel, we profiled the term placental transcriptome from the same participants using RNA-Sequencing and performed Weighted Gene co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA). Generalized linear regression modeling was used to examine associations of urinary OP metabolites and placental co-expression module eigenvalues. RESULTS: We identified 21 gene co-expression modules in the placenta. From the six DAP metabolites assayed, diethylphosphate (DEP) and diethylthiophosphate (DETP) were detected in more than 70% of the urine samples. Significant associations between DEP at multiple time points and two specific placental gene modules were observed. The 'black' module, enriched in genes involved in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxia, was negatively associated with DEP in early (p = 0.034), and late pregnancies (p = 0.016). The 'lightgreen' module, enriched in genes involved in myogenesis and EMT, was negatively associated with DEP in late pregnancy (p = 0.010). We observed 2 hub genes (CELSR1 and PYCR1) of the 'black' module to be negatively associated with DEP in early and late pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that prenatal OP exposure may disrupt placental gene networks in a time-dependent manner. Such transcriptomic effects may lead to down-stream changes in placental function that ultimately affect the developing fetus.
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Inseticidas , Praguicidas , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal , Feminino , Gravidez , Humanos , Redes Reguladoras de Genes , Praguicidas/urina , Organofosfatos/urina , Exposição Materna , Placenta/metabolismo , Compostos Organofosforados/urina , Inseticidas/urina , Exposição Ambiental , FosfatosRESUMO
We investigated associations between domestic exposure and respiratory health in students inNorthern Thailand in wet and dry season (1159 participants), calculating odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) by multilevel logistic regression. Totally 6.0% had wheeze, 23.0% dyspnoea, 4.0% current asthma, 54.6% rhinitis and 31.5% rhinoconjunctivitis. Girls had less wheeze (OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.43-1.00) and current asthma (OR 0.32; 95% CI 0.19-0.54). Water leakage was associated with wheeze (OR 2.35; 95% CI 1.09-5.06), dyspnea (OR 2.00; 95% CI 1.24-3.23) and rhinoconjunctivitis (OR 1.62; 95% CI 1.11-2.38). Mould was associated with rhinitis (OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.06-3.38). Window pane condensation was associated with wheeze (OR 2.60; 95% CI 1.13-5.98) and rhinoconjunctivitis (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.08-2.67). Biomass burning was associated with wheeze, dyspnoea, rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis. In conclusion, household dampness and pollution from domestic biomass burning can increase asthma symptoms and rhinitis symptoms in students in northern Thailand.
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Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados , Poluição do Ar , Asma , Rinite , Feminino , Humanos , Rinite/epidemiologia , Rinite/etiologia , Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados/efeitos adversos , Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados/análise , Estações do Ano , Tailândia/epidemiologia , Asma/induzido quimicamente , Asma/epidemiologia , Poluição do Ar/análise , Estudantes , Dispneia/epidemiologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: There are few studies on fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) among children in subtropical areas. We studied associations between FeNO and respiratory symptoms, reported diagnosed allergies and indoor and outdoor environmental factors in first grade junior high school students (N = 270) in upper northern Thailand. METHODS: Data on demographics, health and home environment were collected by a questionnaire distributed in dry season (February-March 2018). FeNO was measured when the research team visited the school. Daily outdoor pollution data (PM10 and ozone) were collected from the nearest monitoring station 3 days (lag 3) and 7 days (lag 7) before the FeNO measurements. Two-level (student, school) linear mixed models were used to analyze associations, adjusting for gender and family education level. RESULTS: In total, 29.6% had elevated FeNO level (>20 ppb) and 7.8% reported any allergy diagnosed by a doctor. Male gender (p = 0.02), diagnosed allergy (p = 0.001), especially to cat (p = 0.001) and house dust mite (HDM) allergies (p = 0.001) were associated with FeNO. Eye symptoms (p = 0.01), rhinitis symptoms (p = 0.03) and dyspnea (p = 0.05) in the last 3 days were associated with FeNO. Household indoor mold (p = 0.03), gas cooking (p = 0.03) and PM10 (lag 3 and lag 7) were negatively (protective) associated with FeNO. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosed allergy, especially to cat and HDM, can be associated with increased FeNO. Indoor mold and gas cooking can be associated with lower FeNO. Ocular, nasal and dyspnea symptoms reported by students in dry season in northern Thailand can be associated with FeNO, a biomarker of Th2 driven airway inflammation.
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Asma , Hipersensibilidade , Asma/diagnóstico , Asma/epidemiologia , Testes Respiratórios , Dispneia , Teste da Fração de Óxido Nítrico Exalado , Ambiente Domiciliar , Humanos , Hipersensibilidade/diagnóstico , Hipersensibilidade/epidemiologia , Masculino , Óxido Nítrico/análise , Estudantes , Tailândia/epidemiologiaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Organophosphate (OP) insecticides, including chlorpyrifos, have been linked with numerous harmful health effects on maternal and child health. Limited data are available on the biological mechanisms and endogenous pathways underlying the toxicity of chlorpyrifos exposures on pregnancy and birth outcomes. In this study, we measured a urinary chlorpyrifos metabolite and used high-resolution metabolomics (HRM) to identify biological perturbations associated with chlorpyrifos exposure among pregnant women in Thailand, who are disparately exposed to high levels of OP insecticides. METHODS: This study included 50 participants from the Study of Asian Women and their Offspring's Development and Environmental Exposures (SAWASDEE). We used liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry to conduct metabolic profiling on first trimester serum samples collected from participants to evaluate metabolic perturbations in relation to chlorpyrifos exposures. We measured 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), a specific metabolite of chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl, in first trimester urine samples to assess the levels of exposures. Following an untargeted metabolome-wide association study workflow, we used generalized linear models, pathway enrichment analyses, and chemical annotation to identify significant metabolites and pathways associated with urinary TCPy levels. RESULTS: In the 50 SAWASDEE participants, the median urinary TCPy level was 4.36 µg TCPy/g creatinine. In total, 691 unique metabolic features were found significantly associated with TCPy levels (p < 0.05) after controlling for confounding factors. Pathway analysis of metabolic features associated with TCPy indicated perturbations in 24 metabolic pathways, most closely linked to the production of reactive oxygen species and cellular damage. These pathways include tryptophan metabolism, fatty acid oxidation and peroxisome metabolism, cytochromes P450 metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and vitamin B3 metabolism. We confirmed the chemical identities of 25 metabolites associated with TCPy levels, including glutathione, cystine, arachidic acid, itaconate, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. DISCUSSION: The metabolic perturbations associated with TCPy levels were related to oxidative stress, cellular damage and repair, and systemic inflammation, which could ultimately contribute to health outcomes, including neurodevelopmental deficits in the child. These findings support the future development of sensitive biomarkers to investigate the metabolic underpinnings related to pesticide exposure during pregnancy and to understand its link to adverse outcomes in children.
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Clorpirifos , Inseticidas , Praguicidas , Biomarcadores/urina , Criança , Creatinina , Cistina/metabolismo , Citocromos/metabolismo , Fazendeiros , Ácidos Graxos , Feminino , Glutationa/metabolismo , Humanos , Inseticidas/toxicidade , Metaboloma , NAD/metabolismo , Niacinamida , Compostos Organofosforados/toxicidade , Praguicidas/urina , Gravidez , Primeiro Trimestre da Gravidez , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio , Tailândia , Triptofano/metabolismoRESUMO
We performed a repeated questionnaire study on home environment and health (six medical symptoms) in 1159 junior high school students (age 12.8 ± 0.7 years) in upper northern Thailand in wet and dry seasons. Data on outdoor temperature, relative humidity (RH), and air pollution were collected from nearest monitoring station. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated by multi-level logistic regression. Most common symptoms were rhinitis (62.5%), headache (49.8%), throat (42.8%), and ocular symptoms (42.5%). Ocular symptoms were more common at lower RH and rhinitis more common in dry season. Water leakage (28.2%), indoor mold (7.1%), mold odor (4.1%), and windowpane condensation (13.6%) were associated with all six symptoms (ORs: 1.3-3.5). Other risk factors included cat keeping, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), other odor than mold odor, gas cooking, and cooking with biomass fire. Biomass burning inside and outside the home for other reasons than cooking was associated with all six symptoms (ORs: 1.5-2.6). Associations between home environment exposure and rhinitis were stronger in wet season. In conclusion, dampness-related exposure, windowpane condensation, cat keeping, ETS, gas cooking, and biomass burning can impair adolescent health in upper northern Thailand. In subtropical areas, environmental health effects should be investigated in wet and dry seasons.
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Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados , Adolescente , Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados/análise , Animais , Gatos , Habitação , Humanos , Estações do Ano , Estudantes , TailândiaRESUMO
Prenatal organophosphate (OP) pesticide exposure has been reported to be associated with adverse birth outcomes and neurodevelopment. However, the mechanisms of toxicity of OP pesticides on human fetal development have not yet been elucidated. Our pilot study birth cohort, the Study of Asian Women and Offspring's Development and Environmental Exposures (SAWASDEE cohort) aimed to evaluate environmental chemical exposures and their relation to birth outcomes and infant neurodevelopment in 52 pregnant farmworkers in Fang district, Chiang Mai province, Thailand. A large array of data was collected multiple times during pregnancy including approximately monthly urine samples for evaluation of pesticide exposure, three blood samples for pesticide-related enzyme measurements and questionnaire data. This study investigated the changes in maternal acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activities and their relation to urinary diakylphosphates (DAPs), class-related metabolites of OP pesticides, during pregnancy. Maternal AChE, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and PON1 activities were measured three times during pregnancy and urinary DAP concentrations were measured, on average, 8 times from enrollment during pregnancy until delivery. Among the individuals in the group with low maternal PON1 activity (n=23), newborn head circumference was negatively correlated with log10 maternal ∑DEAP and ∑DAP at enrollment (gestational age=12±3 weeks; ß=-1.0 cm, p=0.03 and ß=-1.8 cm, p<0.01, respectively) and at 32 weeks pregnancy (ß=-1.1cm, p=0.04 and ß=-2.6 cm, p=0.01, respectively). Furthermore, among these mothers, newborn birthweight was also negatively associated with log10 maternal ∑DEAP and ∑DAP at enrollment (ß=-219.7 g, p=0.05 and ß=-371.3g, p=0.02, respectively). Associations between maternal DAP levels and newborn outcomes were not observed in the group of participants with high maternal PON1 activity. Our results support previous findings from US birth cohort studies. This is the first study to report the associations between prenatal OP pesticide exposure and birth outcomes in Thailand.
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Arildialquilfosfatase/sangue , Peso ao Nascer/efeitos dos fármacos , Exposição Materna/efeitos adversos , Compostos Organofosforados/toxicidade , Praguicidas/toxicidade , Acetilcolinesterase/sangue , Adolescente , Adulto , Agricultura , Butirilcolinesterase/sangue , Estudos de Coortes , Feminino , Sangue Fetal/enzimologia , Cabeça/anatomia & histologia , Humanos , Compostos Organofosforados/urina , Praguicidas/urina , Gravidez , Tailândia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
PURPOSE: Pregnant women with smoking family members are at risk of exposure to second-hand smoke, which leads to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Second-hand smoke prevention is thus important but remains less understood based on pregnant women's perceptions. This study aimed to describe the perceptions of pregnant women on second-hand smoke prevention. METHODS: This study employed a qualitative descriptive approach. Data collection was performed between July and August 2023 through in-depth interviews with 17 pregnant women purposively selected from a province in central Thailand. The verbatim transcribed data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Five themes emerged: unclear understanding of second-hand smoke; influences shaping perceptions related to second-hand smoke; attempt to prevent second-hand smoke exposure; barriers to prevention of second-hand smoke exposure; and needs related to prevention of second-hand smoke exposure. CONCLUSION: The findings provide insights into second-hand smoke prevention from the perception of pregnant women with smoking family members. Healthcare professionals need to design interventions tailored to pregnant women's needs and involve smoking family members. It is necessary to develop and incorporate clinical guidelines into standard prenatal care to support healthcare personnel in identifying, assessing, educating, and mitigating the issue of second-hand smoking exposure.
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Gestantes , Poluição por Fumaça de Tabaco , Feminino , Humanos , Gravidez , Poluição por Fumaça de Tabaco/prevenção & controle , Poluição por Fumaça de Tabaco/análise , Tailândia , Família , FumarRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Fine particulate matter pollution has emerged as a significant life-threatening issue in Thailand. Recognizing the importance of environmental health literacy (EHL) in disease prevention is crucial for protecting public health. This study investigated EHL levels and aimed to identify associated factors among village health volunteers (VHVs) in the upper northern region of Thailand. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data from 710 VHVs using the EHL assessment tool developed by the Department of Health, Thailand. RESULTS: The overall EHL score was moderate (mean, 3.28 out of a possible 5.0), with the highest and lowest domain-specific mean score for the ability to make decisions (3.52) and the ability to access (3.03). Multiple linear regression revealed that the factors associated with EHL score were area of residence (urban areas in Chiang Mai: B=0.254; urban areas in Lampang: B=0.274; and rural areas in Lampang: B=0.250 compared to rural areas in Chiang Mai), higher education levels (senior high school: B=0.212; diploma/high vocational certificate: B=0.350; bachelor's degree or above: B=0.528 compared to elementary school or lower), having annual health checkups compared to not having annual health check-ups (B=0.142), monthly family income (B=0.004), and individuals frequently facing air pollution issues around their residence (B=0.199) compared to those who reported no such issues. CONCLUSIONS: The VHVs exhibited moderate EHL associated with residence area, education, health check-ups, family income, and residential air pollution. Considering these factors is vital for enhancing VHVs' EHL through strategic interventions.
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Saúde Ambiental , Material Particulado , Humanos , Tailândia/epidemiologia , Estudos Transversais , VoluntáriosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Inadequate and delayed access to sexual and reproductive health services among the Hill Tribe population can be attributed to the intersection of socioeconomic challenges and distinct cultural practices. To address this limitation and create a tailored model capable of addressing it, this study assesses the effectiveness of the Community-Based Reproductive Health Care Model (CRHC) in enhancing reproductive health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among Lahu women, a prominent hill tribe population in Northern Thailand. METHODS: Implementing the CRHC model includes training programs for community influencers and subsequent education for Lahu women using culturally adapted courses. The effectiveness of the model is assessed through pre-test and post-test comparisons of knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to reproductive health care and analyzed using paired t-tests and repeated ANOVA. RESULTS: The scores for knowledge, attitudes, and practices among Lahu women changed from 8.92 ± 2.02, 52.99 ± 5.54, and 27.76 ± 6.67 to 10.47 ± 2.32 (p < 0.001), 56.61 ± 5.54 (p < 0.001), and 29.47 ± 6.76 (p = 0.030), respectively. Significant improvements are observed in these areas, particularly in maternal health practices among pregnant Lahu women (n = 11). This study additionally evaluates the model's impact on the healthcare system by analyzing changes in government performance indexes, showing increased access to high-quality antenatal care and contraceptive usage. This study highlights the challenges faced by hill tribe populations in accessing healthcare, emphasizing the need for tailored reproductive health education and the importance of addressing health insurance barriers. CONCLUSION: The CRHC model's success illustrates the potential of community-based, culturally sensitive interventions in improving reproductive health outcomes, providing valuable insights for similar interventions in other indigenous or marginalized communities.
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Executive function (EF) is a critical skill for academic achievement. Research on the psychosocial and environmental predictors of EF, particularly among Southeast Asian, agricultural, and low income/rural populations, is limited. Our longitudinal study explored the influence of agricultural environmental, psychosocial, and temperamental factors on children's emerging EF. Three-hundred and nine farm worker women were recruited during the first trimester of pregnancy. We evaluated the effects of prenatal insecticide exposure and psychosocial factors on "cool" (i.e., cognitive: A-not-B task, looking version) and "hot" EF (i.e., affective, response inhibition) measures of emerging EF. Maternal urine samples were collected monthly during pregnancy, composited, and analyzed for dialkylphosphate (DAP) metabolites of organophosphate insecticides. Psychosocial factors included socioeconomic status, maternal psychological factors, and quality of mother-child behavioral interactions. Backward stepwise regressions evaluated predictors of children's EF at 12 (N = 288), 18 (N = 277) and 24 (N = 280) months of age. We observed different predictive models for cool EF, as measured by A-not-B task, vs. hot EF, as measured by response inhibition tasks. Report of housing quality as a surrogate for income was a significant predictor of emerging EF. However, these variables had opposite effects for cool vs. hot EF. More financial resources predicted better cool EF performance but poorer hot EF performance. Qualitative findings indicate that homes with fewer resources were in tribal areas where children must remain close to an adult for safety reasons. This finding suggests that challenging physical environments (e.g., an elevated bamboo home with no electricity or running water), may contribute to development of higher levels of response inhibition through parental socialization methods that emphasize compliance. Children who tended to show more arousal and excitability, and joy reactivity as young infants in the laboratory setting had better cognitive performance. In contrast, maternal emotional availability was a significant predictor of hot EF. As expected, increased maternal exposure to pesticides during pregnancy was associated with worse cognitive performance but was not associated with inhibitory control. Identifying risk factors contributing to the differential developmental pathways of cool and hot EF will inform prevention strategies to promote healthy development in this and other unstudied rural, low income Southeast Asian farming communities.
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Coorte de Nascimento , Função Executiva , Lactente , Gravidez , Adulto , Humanos , Feminino , Pré-Escolar , Função Executiva/fisiologia , Estudos Longitudinais , Tailândia , Compostos OrganofosforadosRESUMO
Prenatal exposure to pyrethroids is linked to adverse health effects in early life and proper placental function is critical to fetal development. This study explores the impact of prenatal pyrethroid exposure, as well as factors impacting exposure and effect, on the placental transcriptome, to understand pyrethroid exposures' relationship to placental function. The study of Asian Women and their Offspring's Development and Environmental Exposures (SAWASDEE) recruited pregnant farm-working women from two agricultural districts in the Chiang Mai province of Thailand between 2017 and 2019. This cohort was predominantly exposed to cypermethrin (type II), alongside pyrethroids such as cyfluthrin (type II) and permethrin (type I). In 253 participants, maternal urinary pyrethroid metabolites, 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (PBA), cis-3-(2,2-Dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (CDCCA), and trans-3-(2,2-Dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (TDCCA) were measured in early, middle, and late pregnancy and adjusted for urinary creatinine. The placental transcriptome was analyzed using RNA-Seq. Using generalized linear regression, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with the sum of each metabolite across pregnancy, as well as those associated with location of residence and season of birth. Pathway and upstream transcription factor analyses were performed to examine potential mechanisms associated with DEGs. Notably, TDCCA and CDCCA levels peaked in late pregnancy, with significant regional differences, particularly higher levels in the Fang region. Placental gene expression analysis showed no DEGs associated with individual metabolites at FDR<0.05. However, 251 DEGs by location, implicating immune response and oxidative phosphorylation pathways, were identified, while season of birth was associated with 2585 DEGs, over-represented in fibrosis signaling and metabolism pathways. Finally, transcription factor analysis identified 226 and 282 transcription factors associated with location and season, respectively, related to cell proliferation, differentiation, and the immune system. These alterations may have significant implications for fetal development and other pathologic processes, highlighting the importance of monitoring environmental exposures during pregnancy.
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Exposição Materna , Placenta , Piretrinas , Estações do Ano , Transcriptoma , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Gravidez , Adulto Jovem , Fazendeiros , Fazendas , Inseticidas/metabolismo , Exposição Materna/estatística & dados numéricos , Placenta/metabolismo , Piretrinas/metabolismo , População do Sudeste Asiático , TailândiaRESUMO
Pesticide-related health concerns are a global public health issue. Few studies in Thailand have explored the hematological and biochemical effects of occupational pesticide exposure. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of pesticides on the hematology, hepatic, and renal function of Thai vegetable farmers. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. A total of 124 apparently healthy vegetable farmers were interviewed about their lifetime exposure to agricultural pesticides. Blood samples were collected via venipuncture to be tested for complete blood count (CBC), liver function, and kidney function. Approximately 46% of the farmers were pesticide users who reported a history of pesticide use for their crops, while 54% were non-pesticide users. In the male farmers, the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were significantly higher in the pesticide users compared to the non-pesticide users, while the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), hematocrit (HCT), and red blood cells (RBC) were significantly lower (p < 0.05). In the females, the pesticide users had significantly higher levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and MCHC than the non-pesticide users (p < 0.05). Pesticide use among Thai vegetable farmers may cause hematological alterations and increase the risk of hepatic and renal dysfunction. Some hematological and biochemical parameters may be used for monitoring to protect them from the adverse health effects of occupational exposure to pesticides.
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Background: Residential pesticide exposure can be harmful to the health of young children, particularly in agricultural areas. It is critical to educate their caregivers on pesticide exposure prevention. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a two-pronged education intervention for caregivers in preventing pesticide exposure among Thai young children living in agricultural areas. Methods: This was an experimental study with 90 primary caregivers of young children aged 6 months to 5 years. Thirty caregivers each were assigned to one of three groups: booklet plus lecture intervention, only booklet intervention, and control. Caregivers in both interventions received a booklet that educated them on residential pesticide exposure and prevention. The caregivers in the booklet plus lecture group also attended a 2-hour lecture with the same content as the booklet. A questionnaire was developed to assess caregivers' knowledge, attitudes, intention, and behaviors regarding residential pesticide exposure and prevention in children. Face-to-face interviews were conducted at their homes three times: baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up (three weeks after the end of the intervention). Results: Linear mixed models showed that, from baseline to post-intervention, the intervention effect on knowledge and attitude in both intervention groups, as well as intention in the booklet plus lecture group, was significant (p<0.05). From baseline to follow-up, the knowledge, attitude, intention, and behavior scores in both intervention groups increased significantly more than the control group (p<0.01). Only the attitude score increased more in the booklet plus lecture group than in the booklet group at post-intervention (p=0.009) and follow-up (p=0.003). Conclusion: Both the booklet plus lecture method and the booklet method alone have a positive effect on improving the caregiver's knowledge and behaviors regarding pesticide exposure prevention at home. Thus, providing a booklet to caregivers to reduce children's risk of pesticide exposure is recommended.
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Background: Thailand has an ongoing action plan to reduce human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) discrimination and stigma. We aimed to monitor the level of stigmatizing and discriminatory attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) among the general adult population and to investigate its related factors. Methods: This study was based on data from the 6th Thai National Health Examination Survey, a large-scale country-wide survey in 2019-2020. We used a multistage sampling technique and included 11 843 adults aged 20 to 59. We collected data through face-to-face interviews which included six items related to HIV stigma domains. We weighted all analyses to account for the probability of sampling the Thai population aged 20 to 59 years. Results: We found that anticipated stigma had the highest percentage of negative stigmatizing attitude responses (78.5%), followed by perceived stigma (66.6%), fear of HIV infection (54.4%), and social judgment (28.2%). Regarding the UNAIDS global indicator for discriminatory attitude, 48.6% of respondents had negative perceptions to questions about experienced stigma or discrimination. Multiple logistic regression showed that factors associated with discriminatory attitudes toward PLWHA were being aged 20-39 (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.18-1.47) or 50-59 (aOR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.09-1.40) compared to being aged 40-49, being Muslim compared to Buddhist (aOR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.46-2.06), being married compared to being single (aOR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.04-1.28), holding certificate degree or higher compared to not studying or studying at a primary level (aOR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.68-0.97), living in the Northeast (aOR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.12-1.45) and Bangkok (aOR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.12-1.51) compared to living in the North, having no HIV/AIDS infected relative or acquaintance compared to having an HIV/AIDS infected relative or acquaintance (aOR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.41-1.73), and not obtaining an HIV test compared to obtaining it (aOR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.02-1.19). Conclusions: We found that HIV stigmatizing and discriminatory attitudes toward PLWHA decreased, but remained concerning among Thai adult people. A public education and awareness campaign, as well as an intervention to reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination in the country's health care facilities, must still be maintained.
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Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida , Infecções por HIV , Adulto , Humanos , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , Tailândia , População do Sudeste Asiático , Atitude , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em SaúdeRESUMO
Gymnema inodorum (Lour.) Decne is a vegetable local to Chiang Mai Province of Northern Thailand. This study aimed to analyze the antioxidant and phytochemical potential of G. inodorum found in Chiang Mai Province; antioxidant compounds of G. inodorum were tested via DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays, and total phenolic compound and total flavonoid contents were analyzed. Anti-inflammatory effects were focused on regarding pharmacological potential. The gymnemic acid level was analyzed by HPLC-UV, and other potential chemicals were analyzed by LC-QTOF/MS. The quantifications of gymnemic acid contents analyzed using HPLC-UV showed that the highest gymnemic acid concentrations were found in the air-dried and roasted 1-day-fermented leaf extracts (0.1258 ± 0.0157 µg/mg). The highest free radical scavenging activity via DPPH assay was found in baked leaf extract, with an IC50 of 8.99 mg/mL, and via ABTS assay in baked and roasted leaf extracts, with an IC50 of 1.05 mg/mL. FRAP assays showed the highest free radical scavenging activity for the baked leaf extract, with 0.0085 ± 0.008 mM Fe2+/g sample. The total phenolic contents of fresh G. inodorum leaf extracts obtained with ethanol, methanol and water were 0.19 ± 0.0004, 0.21 ± 0.0010 and 0.10 ± 0.0008 µg GAE/g, respectively. The total flavonoid contents of fresh G. inodorum leaf extracts obtained with ethanol, methanol and water were 74.56 ± 28.00, 71.88 ± 16.11 and 10.74 ± 3.63 µg QE/g, respectively. The LC-QTOF/MS analysis of the fresh G. inodorum leaf extract showed that 6-hydroxykaempferol 7-rutinoside was the most abundant compound. In the study, G. inodorum, a plant local to Northern Thailand, is shown to be a useful plant with high antioxidant and phytochemical potential properties.
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Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking. In upper northern Thailand (UNT), lung cancer incidence was frequently reported by Thailand National Cancer Institute. Besides smoking, radon exposure may also influence the high lung cancer incidence in this region. Indoor radon concentrations were measured in 192 houses in eight provinces of UNT. Indoor radon concentrations ranged from 11 to 405 Bq m-3 and estimated annual effective dose ranged from 0.44 to 12.18 mSv y-1. There were significant differences in indoor radon concentrations between the houses of lung cancer cases and healthy controls (p = 0.033). We estimated that 26% of lung cancer deaths in males and 28% in females were attributable to indoor radon exposure in this region. Other factors influencing indoor radon levels included house characteristics and ventilation. The open window-to-wall ratio was negatively associated with indoor radon levels (B = -0.69, 95% CI -1.37, -0.02) while the bedroom location in the house and building material showed no association. Indoor radon hence induced the fractal proportion of lung cancer deaths in UNT.
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Poluentes Radioativos do Ar , Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Radônio , Poluentes Radioativos do Ar/análise , Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados/efeitos adversos , Poluição do Ar em Ambientes Fechados/análise , Feminino , Habitação , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/epidemiologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/etiologia , Masculino , Radônio/efeitos adversos , Radônio/análise , Tailândia/epidemiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Prenatal exposure to pesticides has been linked to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Gaps exist in the current literature about the timing and magnitude of exposures that result in these adverse outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The Study of Asian Women and their Offspring's Development and Environmental Exposures (SAWASDEE) cohort was established to investigate the impact of prenatal exposure to pesticides on early indicators of cognitive and motor skills, inhibitory control, emotion regulation, and memory that have been found to be important in the development of subsequent neurobehavioral and neurodevelopmental diseases. The overarching goal is to find earlier predictors of potential adverse neurologic outcomes in order to enable earlier interventions that could result in better outcome prognoses. METHODS: Recruitment of this prospective, longitudinal birth cohort began in July 2017 and was completed in June 2019 in Chom Thong and Fang, 2 farming districts in Chiang Mai Province in northern Thailand. Follow-up of the study participants is ongoing. During pregnancy, 7 questionnaires were administered. Time-resolved biospecimen samples were collected monthly (for urine) and during each trimester (for blood) during antenatal care visits. Medical records were abstracted. Infants were administered the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) test at 1 month of age. A total of 322 mother-child pairs completed the NNNS test. All children will be followed until 3 years of age and undergo a series of neurodevelopmental tests. We will complete several additional exposure related analyses. RESULTS: A total of 1298 women were screened, and of those, 394 (30.35%) women were enrolled. The mean gestational age at enrollment was 9.9 weeks (SD 2.6). Differences in literacy were observed between Chom Thong and Fang participants. In Fang, about 54 of 105 (51.4%) participants reported being able to read in Thai compared to about 206 of 217 (94.9%) participants in Chom Thong. The percentages were comparable for reporting to be able to write in Thai. CONCLUSIONS: This longitudinal birth cohort study will inform risk assessment standards for pregnant women in Thailand and other countries. Building awareness of how insecticide exposure during specific windows of pregnancy affects the neurodevelopmental trajectories of children in developing countries is a specific need recognized by the World Health Organization. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/31696.