Diet as a Source of Exposure to Environmental Contaminants for Pregnant Women and Children from Six European Countries

Abstract

Background:Pregnant women and children are especially vulnerable to exposures to food contaminants, and a balanced diet during these periods is critical for optimal nutritional status.Objectives:Our objective was to study the association between diet and measured blood and urinary levels of environmental contaminants in mother–child pairs from six European birth cohorts (n=818 mothers and 1,288 children).Methods:We assessed the consumption of seven food groups and the blood levels of organochlorine pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and heavy metals and urinary levels of phthalate metabolites, phenolic compounds, and organophosphate pesticide (OP) metabolites. Organic food consumption during childhood was also studied. We applied multivariable linear regressions and targeted maximum likelihood based estimation (TMLE).Results:Maternal high (≥4 times/week) versus low (<2 times/week) fish consumption was associated with 15% higher PCBs [geometric mean (GM) ratio=1.15; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02, 1.29], 42% higher perfluoroundecanoate (PFUnDA) (GM ratio=1.42; 95% CI: 1.20, 1.68), 89% higher mercury (Hg) (GM ratio=1.89; 95% CI: 1.47, 2.41) and a 487% increase in arsenic (As) (GM ratio=4.87; 95% CI: 2.57, 9.23) levels. In children, high (≥3 times/week) versus low (<1.5 times/week) fish consumption was associated with 23% higher perfluorononanoate (PFNA) (GM ratio=1.23; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.40), 36% higher PFUnDA (GM ratio=1.36; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.64), 37% higher perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) (GM ratio=1.37; 95% CI: 1.22, 1.54), and >200% higher Hg and As [GM ratio=3.87 (95% CI: 1.91, 4.31) and GM ratio=2.68 (95% CI: 2.23, 3.21)] concentrations. Using TMLE analysis, we estimated that fish consumption within the recommended 2–3 times/week resulted in lower PFAS, Hg, and As compared with higher consumption. Fruit consumption was positively associated with OP metabolites. Organic food consumption was negatively associated with OP metabolites.Discussion:Fish consumption is related to higher PFAS, Hg, and As exposures. In addition, fruit consumption is a source of exposure to OPs. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5324

Antioxidative Molecules in Human Milk and Environmental Contaminants

“…Humans are mainly exposed to xenobiotics through the food chain [ 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 , 99 , 100 , 101 , 102 ]. Subsequently, these xenobiotics are described as environmental and dietary contaminants [ 103 , 104 ].…”

Early Life Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and ADHD: A Meta-Analysis of Nine European Population-Based Studies

“…Both compounds have a biological half-life on the order of years in humans (Worley et al 2017). Main sources for PFAS are contaminated drinking water (Sunderland et al 2019), diet (particularly, fish consumption) (Papadopoulou et al 2019), indoor air, dust, and consumer products including food packaging, outdoor gear, nonstick pan coatings, and fire extinguishers (Calafat et al 2007). PFASs bind to serum proteins, particularly albumin (Han et al 2003;Jones et al 2003).…”

Interactions between environmental pollutants and dietary nutrients: current evidence and implications in epidemiological research

“…These chemicals are known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and listed in the Stockholm Convention, banned and regulated in most countries during the 1970s. 8 Besides other animal-based foods, dietary intake of oily fish has become the main source of POP exposure in Western countries blurring a valuable nutritional profile rich on polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), minerals and vitamin D. 9–12 Modest consumption of oily fish (eg, 1–2 servings/week) may be beneficial to reduce risks of coronary death by 36% and total mortality by 17%. 13 However, the net effect of fish consumption itself has also led to inconsistent findings and substantial heterogeneity.…”