Manganese levels in newborns' hair by maternal sociodemographic, dietary and environmental factors.

Exposure to manganese (Mn) has been associated with neurodevelopmental problems in children. Mn exposure begins in utero, and maternal sociodemographic, dietary and environmental factors may affect Mn levels in newborns' hair. This study aimed to characterize in utero Mn exposure using Mn levels in newborns' hair as a biomarker of prenatal exposure, and to analyze its relationship with sociodemographic, dietary and environmental factors in the Spanish INMA-Gipuzkoa cohort. Overall, 638 pregnant women were recruited in the first trimester of pregnancy and a hair sample was obtained from 473 newborns. Sociodemographic, dietary and environmental data were recorded through two questionnaires administered in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy. The median Mn concentration in newborns´ hair was 0.31 µg/g (P5 = 0.02; P95 = 1.23). Mn levels in newborns´ hair were associated with smoking during pregnancy (ß = 0.222; 95% CI = 0.065-0.379) and with maternal PM2.5 exposure (ß = 0.025; 95% CI = 0.004; 0.047), as well as with cereal and pasta intake in the first trimester of pregnancy (ß = 0.002; 95% CI = 0.0004; 0.003). In conclusion, fetal exposure to Mn was associated with smoking and exposure to atmospheric pollution during pregnancy.

The independent role of prenatal and postnatal exposure to active and passive smoking on the development of early wheeze in children.

Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases childhood asthma risk, but health effects in children of nonsmoking mothers passively exposed to tobacco smoke during pregnancy are unclear. We examined the association of maternal passive smoking during pregnancy and wheeze in children aged ≤2 years.Individual data of 27 993 mother-child pairs from 15 European birth cohorts were combined in pooled analyses taking into consideration potential confounders.Children with maternal exposure to passive smoking during pregnancy and no other smoking exposure were more likely to develop wheeze up to the age of 2 years (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.03-1.20) compared with unexposed children. Risk of wheeze was further increased by children's postnatal passive smoke exposure in addition to their mothers' passive exposure during pregnancy (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.19-1.40) and highest in children with both sources of passive exposure and mothers who smoked actively during pregnancy (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.59-1.88). Risk of wheeze associated with tobacco smoke exposure was higher in children with an allergic versus nonallergic family history.Maternal passive smoking exposure during pregnancy is an independent risk factor for wheeze in children up to the age of 2 years. Pregnant females should avoid active and passive exposure to tobacco smoke for the benefit of their children's health.

Pre- and postnatal exposure to tobacco smoke and respiratory outcomes during the first year.

The different role of prenatal and postnatal exposure to tobacco smoke in respiratory outcomes in infants has not yet been clearly established. Our objective is to assess the effects of these exposures on the risk of respiratory outcomes during the first year of life of infants from a Spanish multicenter cohort study. A total of 2506 women were monitored until delivery. About 2039 infants made up the final population. The outcomes were caused by the occurrence of the following: otitis, cough persisting for more than 3 weeks, lower respiratory tract symptoms (wheezing or chestiness), and lower respiratory tract infections (bronchitis, bronchiolitis, or pneumonia). The relationship between prenatal and postnatal exposure and health outcomes was explored using logistic regression analysis. Maternal smoking during pregnancy increased the odds for wheezing (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 0.99-2.01) and chestiness (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.03-2.01). Postnatal exposure from fathers was associated with otitis (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.01-1.54). Passive exposure at work of non-smoking mothers during pregnancy was related to cough (OR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.05-2.51). Exposure to tobacco smoke was related to a higher risk of experiencing respiratory outcomes in young infants. Prenatal exposure was that most clearly associated with the respiratory outcomes analyzed.

[Obesity and overweight. An assessment of the effectiveness of a public health intervention]. / Obesidad y sobrepeso. Aproximación a la efectividad de una intervención sanitaria.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of excess weight (obesity and overweight) is increasing in developed countries, with preventive measures not shown to be sufficiently effective. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the sustained prevention and treatment by Primary Care Paediatrics of overweight from early childhood. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The BMI of 1669 patients from two Paediatric Teams, were compared using four different age intervals between 4 and 14 years during 2007-2009. One of the teams had spent 15 years carrying out a systematic strategy aimed at the prevention and monitoring of overweight. RESULTS: The BMI means in this study were higher than those shown in the 1988 Orbegozo tables, particularly in older ages and in males. The prevalence of overweight was lower in the population with the systematic intervention team, and this was significant at the end of the paediatric age, 14 years (P=.043). CONCLUSIONS: The overweight problem is so great that the measures aimed at their prevention are clearly beyond the scope of health professionals. However, interventions by health professionals can be effective in maintaining a healthy weight, if they are carried out on an ongoing basis.

Evolution of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in the general adult population living close to a MSW incinerator.

It is well known that municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWI) produce dioxins and furans. The aim of this study was to assess the serum levels of compounds with dioxin-like activity such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxin-like PCBs after the commissioning of a MSWI plant. In 2006 and 2008 serum samples were obtained from 322 and 326 volunteers, respectively, from the general population, some living in the vicinity of the plant and others, as a control group, living further away from the MSWI plant and out of the path of prevailing winds. Samples for sets of 20 individuals, grouped by age and sex, were pooled, obtaining 16 pooled samples per year. No significant differences were observed in PCDD/Fs as a function of area of residence or proximity to the plant over the time of the study, with levels of WHO-TEQ/g lipid nearby and far from the MSWI being 26.9 and 20.0pg, respectively, in 2006 and 20.8 and 26.4pg, respectively, in 2008. There was a significant decrease in the concentration of non-ortho PCBs in the nearby areas, whilst there was a significant increase in the concentration of mono-ortho PCBs, both in the nearby areas and in those further away from the MSWI. Age was significantly associated with PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs, but sex showed no significant association. Overall, this study found that there was no increase in the levels of compounds with dioxin-like activity in a population living close to an MSWI, in agreement with the literature reviewed, for plants of recent construction using state-of-the-art technology.

Serum levels of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans and PCBs in the general population living near an urban waste treatment plant in Biscay, Basque Country.

Levels of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs were measured in 16 pooled samples of serum from a total of 322 adults in the general population, to coincide with the start-up of a new municipal solid urban waste treatment plant in Biscay, Basque Country (Spain). Two hundred and eighty-three individual serum samples were also obtained, in which the most common PCBs (28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180) were quantified. The samples were taken from four geographical zones: two from the metropolitan area of Bilbao, located less than 2 km from the plant and with high traffic density (Zones E1 and E2), a third located 5 km from the plant in an urban area of Bilbao, also with high traffic density (Zone C1) and the fourth located 20 km from the plant, in a municipality with minimal industrial activity and low traffic density (Zone C2), the latter two being out of the path of the prevailing winds. The median levels of dioxins+furans were similar by zone: E1=24.3, E2=27.3, C1=21.3, C2=18.8 pg g(-1) lipid (p=0.362); by sex: 20.2 vs. 22.6 pg g(-1) lipid in men and women (p=0.328); and by age: 20.8 vs. 21.3 pg g(-1) lipid in subjects aged 20-44 and 45-69 (p=0.505). No detectable levels of PCBs 52 and 101 were found. Significant differences by zone were found only for PCB 180 (p=0.041), with higher values in Zone C2, the zone with the lowest presumed contamination levels. Dioxin-like PCBs (p<0.001) and the most common PCBs (138, 153, 180) (p<0.001) were both statistically associated with age, higher values being found in the 45-69 age group.

[Exposure to organophosphate insecticides among greenhouse workers in the Basque Country]. / Exposición a plaguicidas organofosforados en trabajadores de invernaderos del País Vasco.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the impact on health produced by the use of organophosphorus pesticides in greenhouses. METHODS: A representative sample of workers with high exposure to organophosphorus pesticides was taken in Vizcaya and Guipúzcoa, provinces where cultures under plastic are very extended. Forty four workers were interviewed to collect information about symptoms and signs related to past exposures. Blood samples were taken from 36 of these workers to measure the level of cholinesterase activity, before and after exposure to these pesticides. RESULTS: Fifty two per cent referred some signs and symptoms after use of pesticides. Nevertheless, no significant decrease in cholinesterase activity was observed, nor could any significant relationship between cholinesterase activity and the way to apply the pesticides. CONCLUSIONS: The exposure to organophosphorus pesticides, at the range studied in this group of workers, does not constitute today an important health risk.