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Importance: Research on fetal epigenetic programming suggests that the intrauterine environment can have long-term effects on offspring disease susceptibility. Objective: To examine the association between prenatal maternal occupation and child epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) among a farmworker community. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study included participants in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas, a prospective, Latino, prebirth cohort. Pregnant women were recruited from October 1, 1999, to October 1, 2000, from 6 community clinics in California's Salinas Valley agricultural region. Participants were 18 years or older, English or Spanish speaking, Medicaid eligible, and at 20 weeks' gestation or earlier at enrollment. Mother-child pairs who had blood DNA methylation measured at the ages of 7, 9, and 14 years were included. Data were analyzed from July 2021 to November 2023. Exposures: Prenatal maternal occupation was ascertained through study interviews conducted during prenatal visits and shortly after delivery. Main Outcomes and Measures: Child EAA at 7, 9, and 14 years of age was estimated using DNA methylation-based epigenetic age biomarkers. Three EAA measures were calculated: the Horvath EAA, skin and blood EAA, and intrinsic EAA. Linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate longitudinal associations of prenatal maternal occupation and child EAA, adjusting for confounders and prenatal organophosphate pesticide exposure. Results: Analyses included 290 mother-child pairs (mean [SD] maternal age at delivery, 26.5 [5.2] years; 152 [52.4%] female infants); 254 mothers (87.6%) were born in Mexico, 33 (11.4%) in the US, and 3 (1.0%) in other countries; and 179 families (61.7%) were below the federal poverty line during pregnancy. Mothers reported engaging in several types of work during pregnancy, including agricultural fieldwork (90 [31.0%]), other agricultural work (40 [13.8%]), nonagricultural work (53 [18.3%]), or no work (107 [36.9%]). Children whose mothers worked in agricultural fields during pregnancy had a mean of 0.66 (95% CI, 0.17-1.15) years of greater Horvath EAA, 0.62 (95% CI, 0.31-0.94) years of greater skin and blood EAA, and 0.45 (95% CI, 0.07-0.83) years of greater intrinsic EAA compared with children whose mothers did not work during pregnancy. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, prenatal maternal agricultural fieldwork was associated with accelerated childhood epigenetic aging independent of organophosphate pesticide exposure. Future research on which factors related to agricultural fieldwork accelerate aging in the next generation can inform targeted prevention programs and policies that protect children's health.

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BACKGROUND: A growing literature suggests associations between occupational pesticide exposure and respiratory health. In this study, we aimed to examine the association of exposure to insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides, individually and as a mixture, with respiratory health outcomes and rhinitis in avocado farmworkers from Michoacán, Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 105 avocado farmworkers between May and August 2021. We quantified 12 insecticide, fungicide, and herbicide metabolites in urine samples collected during two study visits (8-10 weeks apart). We collected survey data on self-reported pesticide use during the 12 months prior to the baseline survey and estimated annual exposure-intensity scores (EIS) using a semi-quantitative exposure algorithm. We also assessed respiratory symptoms, including wheezing, chest tightness, wheezing after exercise, and night cough. We used generalized linear regression models to examine associations of individual urinary metabolite concentrations and annual EIS with respiratory health outcomes and rhinitis. Mixture effects were assessed using Bayesian Weighted Quantile Sum (BWQS) regression. RESULTS: After adjusting for multiple comparisons, we observed mostly null associations of individual pesticide metabolite concentrations and annual EIS with the outcomes of interest. However, in BWQS analyses, we found evidence of a mixture association of urinary pesticide metabolites with increased odds of night cough (OR: 5.34, 95 % CrI: 1.67, 20.62). Pyrethroid metabolites 3-phenoxybenzoic acid and cis- and trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid were the main contributors to this association (43 %). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that exposure to a mixture of pesticides, particularly pyrethroid insecticides, may be associated with night cough in avocado farmworkers.

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BACKGROUND: Early life exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides is linked with adverse neurodevelopment and brain function in children. However, we have limited knowledge of how these exposures affect functional connectivity, a measure of interaction between brain regions. To address this gap, we examined the association between early life OP pesticide exposure and functional connectivity in adolescents. METHODS: We administered functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to 291 young adults with measured prenatal or childhood dialkylphosphates (DAPs) in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) study, a longitudinal study of women recruited during pregnancy and their offspring. We measured DAPs in urinary samples collected from mothers during pregnancy (13 and 26 weeks) and children in early life (ages 6 months, 1, 2, 3, and 5 years). Youth underwent fNIRS while they performed executive function and semantic language tasks during their 18-year-old visit. We used covariate-adjusted regression models to estimate the associations of prenatal and childhood DAPs with functional connectivity between the frontal, temporal, and parietal regions, and a mediation model to examine the role of functional connectivity in the relationship between DAPs and task performance. RESULTS: We observed null associations of prenatal and childhood DAP concentrations and functional connectivity for the entire sample. However, when we looked for sex differences, we observed an association between childhood DAPs and functional connectivity for the right interior frontal and premotor cortex after correcting for the false discovery rate, among males, but not females. In addition, functional connectivity appeared to mediate an inverse association between DAPs and working memory accuracy among males. CONCLUSION: In CHAMACOS, a secondary analysis showed that adolescent males with elevated childhood OP pesticide exposure may have altered brain regional connectivity. This altered neurofunctional pattern in males may partially mediate working memory impairment associated with childhood DAP exposure.

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BACKGROUND: Prenatal and early-life exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) is associated with detrimental and irreversible neurodevelopmental health outcomes during childhood. Breastfeeding may be a child's largest sustained exposure to PBDE- potentially exacerbating their risk for adverse neurodevelopment outcomes. However, breastfeeding has also been associated with positive neurodevelopment. Our study investigates if breastfeeding mitigates or exacerbates the known adverse effects of prenatal exposure to PBDEs and child neurodevelopment. METHODS: Participants included 321 mother-infant dyads from the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS), a longitudinal birth cohort in California. PBDE concentrations were measured in maternal serum blood samples collected during pregnancy or at delivery. Using generalized estimated equations (GEE), we estimated associations of PBDE concentrations with children's attention, executive function, and cognitive scores assessed longitudinally between 7 and 12 years of age, stratified by duration of exclusive and complementary breastfeeding. RESULTS: We observed that higher maternal prenatal PBDE concentrations were associated with poorer executive function among children who were complementary breastfed for a shorter duration compared to children breastfed for a longer duration; preservative errors (ß for 10-fold increase in complementary breastfeeding <7 months = -6.6; 95 % Confidence Interval (CI): -11.4, -1.8; ß ≥ 7 months = -5.1; 95 % CI: -10.2, 0.1) and global executive composition (ß for 10-fold increase <7 months = 4.3; 95 % CI: 0.4, 8.2; ß for 10-fold increase ≥7 months = 0.6; 95 % CI: -2.8, 3.9). CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged breastfeeding does not exacerbate but may mitigate some previously observed negative associations of prenatal PBDE exposure and child neurodevelopment.

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OBJECTIVE: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are used in the sterilization and manufacture of medical equipment. These compounds have high vapor pressures with low water solubility and are emitted as gases from solids or liquids. They can be mutagenic, neurotoxic, genotoxic, and/or carcinogenic. Safe limits of exposure are not known for neonates. This study examined determinants of exposure in newborns undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: Twenty metabolites of 16 VOCs (eg, xylene, cyanide, acrolein, acrylonitrile, N, N-dimethylformamide, 1,3-butadiene, styrene, and benzene) were measured as metabolites in daily urine samples collected from 10 neonates undergoing cardiac operations (n = 150 samples). Metabolites were quantified using reversed-phase ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Repeated measures analysis of covariance was performed for each metabolite to examine associations with use of medical devices. RESULTS: At least 3 metabolites were detected in every sample. The median number of metabolites detected in each sample was 14 (range, 3-15). In a model controlling for other factors, the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was associated with significantly (P ≤ .05) greater metabolite levels of acrolein, acrylonitrile, ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, styrene, and ethylbenzene. Patients breathing ambient air had greater levels of metabolites of acrolein, xylene, N,N-dimethylformamide, methyl isocyanate, cyanide, 1,3-butadiene (all P ≤ .05). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to volatile organic compounds is pervasive in newborns undergoing cardiac surgery. Sources of exposure likely include medical devices and inhalation from the air in the intensive care unit. The contribution of VOC exposure during cardiac surgery in newborns to adverse outcomes warrants further evaluation.

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BACKGROUND: Early life exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides has been linked with poorer neurodevelopment from infancy to adolescence. In our Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) birth cohort, we previously reported that residential proximity to OP use during pregnancy was associated with altered cortical activation using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in a small subset (n = 95) of participants at age 16 years. METHODS: We administered fNIRS to 291 CHAMACOS young adults at the 18-year visit. Using covariate-adjusted regression models, we estimated associations of prenatal and childhood urinary dialkylphosphates (DAPs), non-specific OP metabolites, with cortical activation in the frontal, temporal, and parietal regions of the brain during tasks of executive function and semantic language. RESULTS: There were some suggestive associations for prenatal DAPs with altered activation patterns in both the inferior frontal and inferior parietal lobes of the left hemisphere during a task of cognitive flexibility (ß per ten-fold increase in DAPs = 3.37; 95% CI: -0.02, 6.77 and ß = 3.43; 95% CI: 0.64, 6.22, respectively) and the inferior and superior frontal pole/dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of the right hemisphere during the letter retrieval working memory task (ß = -3.10; 95% CI: -6.43, 0.22 and ß = -3.67; 95% CI: -7.94, 0.59, respectively). We did not observe alterations in cortical activation with prenatal DAPs during a semantic language task or with childhood DAPs during any task. DISCUSSION: We observed associations of prenatal OP concentrations with mild alterations in cortical activation during tasks of executive function. Associations with childhood exposure were null. This is reasonably consistent with studies of prenatal OPs and neuropsychological measures of attention and executive function found in CHAMACOS and other birth cohorts.

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BACKGROUND: Phthalate exposures are ubiquitous during pregnancy and may contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in preterm birth. OBJECTIVES: We investigated race and ethnicity in the relationship between biomarkers of phthalate exposure and preterm birth by examining: a) how hypothetical reductions in racial and ethnic disparities in phthalate metabolites might reduce the probability of preterm birth; and b) exposure-response models stratified by race and ethnicity. METHODS: We pooled individual-level data on 6,045 pregnancies from 16 U.S. cohorts. We investigated covariate-adjusted differences in nine urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations by race and ethnicity [non-Hispanic White (White, 43%), non-Hispanic Black (Black, 13%), Hispanic/Latina (38%), and Asian/Pacific Islander (3%)]. Using g-computation, we estimated changes in the probability of preterm birth under hypothetical interventions to eliminate disparities in levels of urinary phthalate metabolites by proportionally lowering average concentrations in Black and Hispanic/Latina participants to be approximately equal to the averages in White participants. We also used race and ethnicity-stratified logistic regression to characterize associations between phthalate metabolites and preterm birth. RESULTS: In comparison with concentrations among White participants, adjusted mean phthalate metabolite concentrations were consistently higher among Black and Hispanic/Latina participants by 23%-148% and 4%-94%, respectively. Asian/Pacific Islander participants had metabolite levels that were similar to those of White participants. Hypothetical interventions to reduce disparities in metabolite mixtures were associated with lower probabilities of preterm birth for Black [13% relative reduction; 95% confidence interval (CI): -34%, 8.6%] and Hispanic/Latina (9% relative reduction; 95% CI: -19%, 0.8%) participants. Odds ratios for preterm birth in association with phthalate metabolites demonstrated heterogeneity by race and ethnicity for two individual metabolites (mono-n-butyl and monoisobutyl phthalate), with positive associations that were larger in magnitude observed among Black or Hispanic/Latina participants. CONCLUSIONS: Phthalate metabolite concentrations differed substantially by race and ethnicity. Our results show hypothetical interventions to reduce population-level racial and ethnic disparities in biomarkers of phthalate exposure could potentially reduce the probability of preterm birth. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12831.

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BACKGROUND: Diesel exhaust (DE) exposures pose concerns for serious health effects, including asthma and lung cancer, in California communities burdened by multiple stressors. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate DE exposures in disproportionately impacted communities using biomonitoring and compare results for adults and children within and between families. METHODS: We recruited 40 families in the San Francisco East Bay area. Two metabolites of 1-nitropyrene (1-NP), a marker for DE exposures, were measured in urine samples from parent-child pairs. For 25 families, we collected single-day spot urine samples during two sampling rounds separated by an average of four months. For the 15 other families, we collected daily spot urine samples over four consecutive days during the two sampling rounds. We also measured 1-NP in household dust and indoor air. Associations between urinary metabolite levels and participant demographics, season, and 1-NP levels in dust and air were evaluated. RESULTS: At least one 1-NP metabolite was present in 96.6% of the urine samples. Detection frequencies for 1-NP in dust and indoor air were 97% and 74%, respectively. Results from random effect models indicated that levels of the 1-NP metabolite 6-hydroxy-1-nitropyrene (6-OHNP) were significantly higher in parents compared with their children (p-value = 0.005). Urinary 1-NP metabolite levels were generally higher during the fall and winter months. Within-subject variability was higher than between-subject variability (~60% of total variance versus ~40%, respectively), indicating high short-term temporal variability. IMPACT: Biomonitoring, coupled with air monitoring, improves understanding of hyperlocal air pollution impacts. Results from these studies will inform the design of effective exposure mitigation strategies in disproportionately affected communities.

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Consumer awareness of the presence of pesticides in fruits and vegetables and associated health risks influences the actions they undertake to reduce their exposure. This study was carried out to explore consumers' awareness of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables and perceptions towards associated health effects in Kampala Metropolitan Area (KMA) in Uganda. Eight focus group discussions (FGDs) were done with fruit and vegetables consumers in KMA. The FGDs consisted of females and males living in urban and rural areas. Discussions were recorded and transcribed. The transcripts were coded inductively and analysed using conventional content analysis. Consumers were aware of the presence of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables. Non-compliance to good agricultural practices, desire to produce good quality fruits and vegetables, and conflict of interest were thought to be the underlying reasons for the contamination. Consumers thought that their health is at risk of chronic and acute health effects, and that this risk is unavoidable. They emphasized that long term exposure to the pesticide residues puts them at risk of conditions like reproductive defects and noncommunicable diseases like cancer, hypertension, obesity, kidney and heart diseases among others. To reduce the risk, consumers were aware of and relied on mitigation measures including washing, peeling, drying and cooking or applied them in combination. Consumers were aware of the presence of pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables, potential short and long term health risks due to exposure, and domestic processing methods to reduce health risks. There is need for authorities to ensure adherence to good agricultural practices and ensure that farmers and consumers understand that pesticide are used to control pests and disease but not to primarily increase shelf life of fruits and vegetables.

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BACKGROUND: We previously reported associations of prenatal exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides with poorer neurodevelopment in early childhood and at school age, including poorer cognitive function and more behavioral problems, in the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS), a birth cohort study in an agriculture community. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the extent to which early-life exposure to OP pesticides is associated with behavioral problems, including mental health, in youth during adolescence and early adulthood. METHODS: We measured urinary dialkylphosphates (DAPs), nonspecific OP metabolites, in urine samples collected from mothers twice during pregnancy (13 and 26 wk) and at five different times in their children (ages 6 months to 5 y). We assessed maternal report and youth report of externalizing and internalizing behavior problems using the Behavior Assessment System for Children, 2nd edition (BASC-2), when the youth were ages 14, 16, and 18 y. Because there was evidence of nonlinearity, we estimated associations across quartiles of DAPs and modeled repeated outcome measures using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: There were 335 youths with prenatal maternal DAP measures and 14-. 16-, or 18-y BASC-2 scores. Prenatal maternal DAP concentrations (specific gravity-adjusted median, Q1-Q3=159.4, 78.7-350.4 nmol/L) were associated with higher T-scores (more behavior problems) from maternal report, including more hyperactivity [fourth vs. first quartile of exposure ß=2.32; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18, 4.45], aggression (ß=1.90; 95% CI: 0.15, 3.66), attention problems (ß=2.78; 95% CI: 0.26, 5.30), and depression (ß=2.66; 95% CI: 0.08, 5.24). Associations with youth report of externalizing problems were null, and associations with depression were suggestive (fourth vs. first quartile of exposure ß=2.15; 95% CI: -0.36, 4.67). Childhood DAP metabolites were not associated with behavioral problems. DISCUSSION: We found associations of prenatal, but not childhood, urinary DAP concentrations with adolescent/young adult externalizing and internalizing behavior problems. These findings are consistent with prior associations we have reported with neurodevelopmental outcomes measured earlier in childhood in CHAMACOS participants and suggests that prenatal exposure to OP pesticides may have lasting effects on the behavioral health of youth as they mature into adulthood, including their mental health. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11380.

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BACKGROUND: The prevalence of liver disorders and metabolic syndrome has increased among youth. Glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide worldwide, could contribute to the development of these conditions. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess whether lifetime exposure to glyphosate and its degradation product, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), is associated with elevated liver transaminases and metabolic syndrome among young adults. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study (n=480 mother-child dyads) and a nested case-control study (n=60 cases with elevated liver transaminases and 91 controls) using data from the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS). We measured glyphosate and AMPA concentrations in urine samples collected during pregnancy and at child ages 5, 14, and 18 y from cases and controls. We calculated glyphosate residue concentrations: [glyphosate + (1.5×AMPA)]. We estimated the amount of agricultural-use glyphosate applied within a 1-km radius of every residence from pregnancy to age 5 y for the full cohort using California Pesticide Use Reporting data. We assessed liver transaminases and metabolic syndrome at 18 y of age. RESULTS: Urinary AMPA at age 5 y was associated with elevated transaminases [relative risk (RR) per 2-fold increase=1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06, 1.53] and metabolic syndrome (RR=2.07, 95% CI: 1.38, 3.11). Urinary AMPA and glyphosate residues at age 14 y were associated with metabolic syndrome [RR=1.80 (95% CI: 1.10, 2.93) and RR=1.88 (95% CI: 1.03, 3.42), respectively]. Overall, a 2-fold increase in urinary AMPA during childhood was associated with a 14% and a 55% increased risk of elevated liver transaminases and metabolic syndrome, respectively. Living near agricultural glyphosate applications during early childhood (birth to 5 y of age) was also associated with metabolic syndrome at age 18 y in the case-control group (RR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.16, 2.02). DISCUSSION: Childhood exposure to glyphosate and AMPA may increase risk of liver and cardiometabolic disorders in early adulthood, which could lead to more serious diseases later in life. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11721.

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This is dataset describing the levels of Food, Drug, & Cosmetic (FD&C) dye in juice drinks, breakfast cereals, frozen desserts, ice cream cones, fruit flavored soft drinks, frostings & icings, fruit snacks/candy, decoration chips for baking, water enhancers, and flavored fruit drink powder. Data values are organized by absolute values, averages, SDs and % RSD. High performance liquid chromatography with a photometric diode array detector (HPLC-PDA) was used to measure dye levels and generate the data. These values can be used to calculate levels of dyes consumed within various populations, such as children, and compare them to accepted daily intake (ADIs) values established by the United States Food & Drug Administration (US FDA). The data are interpreted in "Survey of Certified Food Dye Levels in Food Samples Consumed by Children for Updated Exposure Levels" in the Journal of Food Additives and Contaminants: Part B.1.

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BACKGROUND: Young children may be exposed to pesticides in child care centers, but little is known about determinants of pesticide contamination in these environments. OBJECTIVE: Characterize pesticide contamination in early care and education (ECE) centers and identify predictors of pesticide concentrations and loading in dust collected from classroom carpets. METHODS: Carpet dust samples were collected from 51 licensed child care centers in Northern California and analyzed for 14 structural and agricultural pesticides. Program characteristics were collected through administration of director interviews and observational surveys, including an integrated pest management (IPM) inspection. Pesticide use information for the prior year was obtained from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation to characterize structural applications and nearby agricultural pesticide use. RESULTS: The most frequently detected pesticides were cis-permethrin (98%), trans-permethrin (98%), bifenthrin (94%), fipronil (94%), and chlorpyrifos (88%). Higher bifenthrin levels were correlated with agricultural applications within 3 kilometers, and higher fipronil levels were correlated with professional pesticide applications in the prior year. In multivariable models, higher IPM Checklist scores were associated with lower loading of chlorpyrifos and permethrin. Placement of the sampled area carpet was also a predictor of chlorpyrifos loading. The strongest predictor of higher pesticide loading for the most frequently detected pesticides was location in California's San Joaquin Valley. SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings contribute to the growing understanding that pesticides are ubiquitous in children's environments. Pesticide levels in carpet dust were associated with some factors that ECE directors may have control over, such as IPM practices, and others that are beyond their control, such as geographic location. IPM is an important tool that has the potential to reduce pesticide exposures in ECE environments, even for pesticides no longer in use. IMPACT: One million children in California under six years old attend child care programs where they may spend up to 40 h per week. Children are uniquely vulnerable to environmental contaminants; however early care settings are under researched in environmental health studies. Little is known about predictors of pesticide levels found in environmental samples from child care facilities. This study aims to identify behavioral and environmental determinants of pesticide contamination in California child care centers. Findings can empower child care providers and consumers and inform decision makers to reduce children's exposures to pesticides and promote lifelong health.

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BACKGROUND: Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) synthetic color additives (SCAs) have been associated with attentional and behavioral problems in children. Efforts to quantify exposure have focused on foods, while the contribution of medications and supplements remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: To estimate exposures to SCAs in children (2-16 years) and pregnant women from intake of common over-the-counter (OTC) medications and vitamins. METHODS: We estimated single-day exposure (mg/kg/day) to FD&C SCAs based on measurements of 25 different products and recommended dosages on product labels. Exposures were compared to SCA exposure estimates from food we previously developed and acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) established by FDA and the World Health Organization. RESULTS: The highest exposure was found for FD&C Red No. 40 in a children's cold/cough/allergy syrup. A child aged 12-16 years consuming the maximum daily dosage would have an exposure of 0.221 mg/kg/day, which is twice this age group's typical exposure to this additive from food. No estimated exposures exceeded the ADIs. SIGNIFICANCE: Some children's OTC medications and vitamins may cause daily SCA exposures comparable to those from foods. OTC medications and vitamins should be considered in efforts to quantify population exposure to FD&C SCAs. IMPACT: Exposure to synthetic color additives (SCAs) from foods has been associated with behavioral problems in children. Exposures from over-the-counter (OTC) medications and vitamins remain unquantified despite widespread use. We estimated exposures in children and pregnant women for 25 different OTC medication and vitamin products sold in the United States. While exposures were below acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) established by the US Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization, some were comparable to typical daily exposures from foods. This work critically informs future SCA exposure assessments and provides valuable information for parents concerned about the health effects of SCAs.

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The use of household cleaning products can result in exposure to potentially hazardous volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs). "Green" cleaning products have become increasingly available, but there is no official "green" standard, and it is difficult for consumers to know what chemicals they may be exposed to while cleaning. We measured air concentrations of 46 VOCs and SVOCs of concern released from conventional and "green" cleaning products during both real-world household cleaning and a controlled chamber environment, with a focus on chemicals that might increase women's risk of breast cancer, including possible carcinogens, reproductive/developmental toxicants, or endocrine disruptors. Air samples were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography. First, in a study of 50 women cleaning their own homes using either conventional or "green" cleaning products, we recorded the products used and collected air samples from the breathing zone to determine whether specific products or types of products were associated with increased concentrations of specific VOCs and SVOCs. The results showed that women who used conventional bleach products, disinfecting wipes, and dish soap had higher breathing zone air concentrations of several VOCs, including chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, hexaldahyde, and 1,4-dioxane, than women who did not use these products. While fewer "green" products were associated with increases in VOC air concentrations, use of "green" all-purpose cleaners was associated with increases in air concentrations of some fragrance chemicals of concern. In the laboratory, we then selected 9 of the most common conventional products and 7 "green" products used in the in-home study for measurement of the same VOCs using a continuous stirred cylindrical flow-through chamber. We found that 75% of the highest VOC emissions were emitted by conventional cleaning products, but we also identified VOC emissions of concern from green products. VOC emissions in the chamber largely agreed with the modeled associations from real-world cleaning.

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BACKGROUND: Children with congenital heart defects have an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disability. The impact of environmental chemical exposures during daily life on neurodevelopmental outcomes in toddlers with congenital heart defects is unknown. METHODS: This prospective study investigated the impacts of early childhood exposure to mixtures of environmental chemicals on neurodevelopmental outcomes after cardiac surgery. Outcomes were assessed at 18 months of age using The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III. Urinary concentrations of exposure biomarkers of pesticides, phenols, parabens, and phthalates, and blood levels of lead, mercury, and nicotine were measured at the same time point. Bayesian profile regression and weighted quantile sum regression were utilized to assess associations between mixtures of biomarkers and neurodevelopmental scores. RESULTS: One-hundred and forty infants were enrolled, and 110 (79%) returned at 18 months of age. Six biomarker exposure clusters were identified from the Bayesian profile regression analysis; and the pattern was driven by 15 of the 30 biomarkers, most notably 13 phthalate biomarkers. Children in the highest exposure cluster had significantly lower adjusted language scores by -9.41 points (95%CI: -17.2, -1.7) and adjusted motor scores by -4.9 points (-9.5, -0.4) compared to the lowest exposure. Weighted quantile sum regression modeling for the overall exposure-response relationship showed a significantly lower adjusted motor score (ß = -2.8 points [2.5th and 97.5th percentile: -6.0, -0.6]). The weighted quantile sum regression index weights for several phthalates, one paraben, and one phenol suggest their relevance for poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Like other children, infants with congenital heart defects are exposed to complex mixtures of environmental chemicals in daily life. Higher exposure biomarker concentrations were associated with significantly worse performance for language and motor skills in this population.

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates artificial food colors (AFCs) in the United States. Exposure to AFCs has raised concerns about adverse behavioral effects in children. We quantified AFC exposure in women of childbearing age, pregnant women, and children and compared them to FDA and World Health Organization acceptable daily intakes (ADIs). We estimated the "typical" and "high" single-day and two-day average dietary exposure to each AFC (mg/kg/day) based on laboratory measurements and food consumption data from the 2015−2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We also examined whether AFC intake differed by income, education, and ethnicity. Exposure tended to be higher in children and the highest AFC exposure was found for Red No. 40. Children's mean and 95th percentile FD&C Red No. 3 estimated intakes exceeded the ADIs in some instances. Juice drinks, soft drinks, icings, and ice cream cones were major foods contributing to children's (<16 years old) AFC exposure. AFC intake was higher in participants with lower incomes and education and of African American ethnicity. The findings indicate widespread AFC exposure including in very young children. Research is needed on the sociodemographic determinants of exposure and AFC toxicokinetics to better describe the absorption and organ-specific exposure.

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This study assessed concentrations of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables from farm-to-fork in Kampala Metropolitan Area, Uganda. A total of 160 samples of fruit and vegetables collected from farms, markets, streets, restaurants and homes were analysed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; and Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer for dithiocarbamates. Multiple pesticide residues were detected in majority of the samples (95.6%). The proportions of the most frequently detected pesticides residue classes were organophosphates (91.3%), carbamates (67.5%), pyrethroids (60.0%) dithiocarbamates (48.1%) and neonicotinoids (42.5%). Among organophosphates, propotamophos, acephate, fonofos, monocrotophos and dichlorvos were the most detected active ingredients; aminocarb, methomyl and pirimicarb were the commonly detected carbamates; while imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid and lambda-cyhalothrin, pyrethroid were also highly detected. Twenty-seven pesticide were tested at all stages, of which the concentrations either decreased or increased along the chain. Multiple pesticide residues occurred in commonly consumed fruit and vegetables with decreasing or increasing concentrations from farm-to-fork.

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Importance: Phthalate exposure is widespread among pregnant women and may be a risk factor for preterm birth. Objective: To investigate the prospective association between urinary biomarkers of phthalates in pregnancy and preterm birth among individuals living in the US. Design, Setting, and Participants: Individual-level data were pooled from 16 preconception and pregnancy studies conducted in the US. Pregnant individuals who delivered between 1983 and 2018 and provided 1 or more urine samples during pregnancy were included. Exposures: Urinary phthalate metabolites were quantified as biomarkers of phthalate exposure. Concentrations of 11 phthalate metabolites were standardized for urine dilution and mean repeated measurements across pregnancy were calculated. Main Outcomes and Measures: Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between each phthalate metabolite with the odds of preterm birth, defined as less than 37 weeks of gestation at delivery (n = 539). Models pooled data using fixed effects and adjusted for maternal age, race and ethnicity, education, and prepregnancy body mass index. The association between the overall mixture of phthalate metabolites and preterm birth was also examined with logistic regression. G-computation, which requires certain assumptions to be considered causal, was used to estimate the association with hypothetical interventions to reduce the mixture concentrations on preterm birth. Results: The final analytic sample included 6045 participants (mean [SD] age, 29.1 [6.1] years). Overall, 802 individuals (13.3%) were Black, 2323 (38.4%) were Hispanic/Latina, 2576 (42.6%) were White, and 328 (5.4%) had other race and ethnicity (including American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, >1 racial identity, or reported as other). Most phthalate metabolites were detected in more than 96% of participants. Higher odds of preterm birth, ranging from 12% to 16%, were observed in association with an interquartile range increase in urinary concentrations of mono-n-butyl phthalate (odds ratio [OR], 1.12 [95% CI, 0.98-1.27]), mono-isobutyl phthalate (OR, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.00-1.34]), mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (OR, 1.16 [95% CI, 1.00-1.34]), and mono(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate (OR, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.01-1.29]). Among approximately 90 preterm births per 1000 live births in this study population, hypothetical interventions to reduce the mixture of phthalate metabolite levels by 10%, 30%, and 50% were estimated to prevent 1.8 (95% CI, 0.5-3.1), 5.9 (95% CI, 1.7-9.9), and 11.1 (95% CI, 3.6-18.3) preterm births, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance: Results from this large US study population suggest that phthalate exposure during pregnancy may be a preventable risk factor for preterm delivery.

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Background: Pesticide use for fruits and vegetable production in Uganda may result in presence of residues on produce which may pose health risks to consumers. Uganda does not have an established system for monitoring pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables and assessing potential health risks. This research aimed to conduct a health risk assessment of presence of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables in the Kampala Metropolitan Area in Uganda. Method: Pesticides were measured in 160 fruits and vegetables samples collected at farms, markets, street vendors, restaurants and homes; and analysed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fruit and vegetable consumption information was collected from 2177 people. Pesticide concentrations were compared with European Union maximum residual limits (MRLs). Mean values of pesticide concentration residues found in the sample of fruits and vegetables; and fruits and vegetables intake and body weight were used to calculate the estimated daily intake (EDI) of pesticide residues. EDI values were compared with acceptable daily intakes (ADI) to calculate the hazard quotient by age group, and stage at which consumption happens along the chain. Results: Overall, 57 pesticides were detected in fruits and vegetables from farm to fork. Of the 57, 39 pesticides were detected in all the fruits and vegetables studied. Concentrations of fonofos, fenitrothion and fenhexamid were above the European Union MRLs in some samples. Hazard quotients based on dietary ingestion scenarios for 18 pesticides, including dichlorvos (444) alanycarb (314), fonofos (68), fenitrothion (62), dioxacarb (55) and benfuracarb (24) and others, were above 1, indicating the possibility of chronic health risk to consumers. Chronic health risk decreased with age but was stable for stage at which consumption happens along the food chain. The number of pesticides with EDI greater than the ADI decreased with increase in age; with 18, 13, 9, 11, 8, 9, and 9 pesticides for age groups < 5, 5-12, 13-19, 20-25, 36-49 and ≥ 50 respectively. Conclusion: Chronic dietary pesticide exposures to Ugandans are likely common, and for some pesticides result in exposure exceeding health-based benchmarks. Risks were highest for younger participants. There is an urgent need to increase monitoring and regulation of pesticides in fruits and vegetables in order to protect consumers, especially the children who are vulnerable to the adverse effects of pesticides. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40550-022-00090-9.