Grant Number:
Principal Investigator:
Braun, Joseph M
Institution:
Brown University
Most Recent Award Year:
2015
Lifestage of Participants:
Exposure:
Prenatal; Infant (0-1 year); Youth (1-18 years); Adulthood (mother)
Assessment:
Infant (0-1 year); Youth (1-18 years)
Exposures:
Personal Care/Consumer Products:
Bisphenol A (BPA); Phthalates
Health Outcomes:
Metabolic Outcomes:
Thyroid dysfunction
Neurological/Cognitive Outcomes:
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); Neurobehavioral outcomes; Neurodevelopmental outcomes
Biological Sample:
Blood (mother, child); Cord blood; Urine (mother, child); Meconium
Other Participant Data:
Behavioral/Cognitive tests
Genes or Other DNA Products Studied:
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), T4, and triiodothyronine (T3)
Abstract:
Neurodevelopment is dependent on the action of thyroid hormones, and disruption of this hormonal axis during sensitive periods of development could increase the risk of clinical disorders like attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder or learning disabilities. Phthalate, Triclosan, and bisphenol A (BPA) exposures are nearly universal in pregnant women and children, and could adversely affect thyroid hormones and brain development. No studies have prospectively linked these exposures to both thyroid hormones and neurodevelopment to determine if and when the developing fetal or child brain is more sensitive to these early life exposures. We will address this gap using an existing prospective cohort of 356 mother-child pairs who have been followed from the 2nd trimester of pregnancy until their child is ~8 years old. We will comprehensively assess pre- and postnatal phthalate, triclosan, and BPA exposure using infant meconium samples, two pregnancy urine samples, and up to six urine samples from infancy/childhood. Child cognitive abilities and behavior have been repeatedly assessed from 1-8 years of age and thyroid hormone levels will be measured during pregnancy, at birth, and 1, 3, 5, and ~8 years of age. These data will be systematically investigated to: 1) determine if and when early life phthalate, triclosan, and BPA exposures have an adverse effect on children's cognitive abilities and behavior between 1-8 years of age and 2) investigate the association between early life phthalate, triclosan, and BPA exposure and maternal/child thyroid hormone concentrations to determine if thyroid hormones mediate the associations between chemical exposures and neurobehavioral outcomes. Innovative features of this project include detailed prospective exposure assessment using meconium biomarkers to directly assess fetal exposure and up to 8 urine samples during gestation and childhood, repeated neurobehavioral assessments, hormonal intermediates that are essential for neurodevelopment and potentially sensitive to these chemical exposures, and sophisticated statistical methods to pinpoint the period of maximum sensitivity to these chemicals. These data will inform public health agencies about the toxicity of highly prevalent and potentially modifiable environmental chemical exposures and help target effective public health interventions aimed at reducing exposure during the most sensitive periods of brain development.
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Related NIEHS-Funded Study Populations
Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment (HOME) Study
Principal Investigator:
Lanphear, Bruce; Yolton, Kimberly; Cecil, Kim; Braun, Joseph; Chen, Aimin
| Study Population Page Study Population c64
Institution:
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Location:
Cincinnati, Ohio
Number of Participants::
468 Mothers and 479 children
Brief Description::
This is a pregnancy and birth cohort study in Cincinnati to evaluate the impact of low-level fetal and childhood chemical exposures on health, developmental, and neurobehavioral outcomes. The study recruited over 400 pregnant women between 2003 to 2006. Offspring have been followed to age 12 years.