%0 Journal Article %J Sci Total Environ %D 2020 %T Environmental surveillance and adverse neonatal health outcomes in foals born near unconventional natural gas development activity. %A Kathleen Mullen %A Briana N Rivera %A Lane G Tidwell %A Renata Ivanek %A Kim A Anderson %A Dorothy Ainsworth %K Animals %K Animals, Newborn %K Environmental Monitoring %K Female %K Horses %K Humans %K Infant, Newborn %K Male %K Natural Gas %K New York %K Outcome Assessment, Health Care %K Pennsylvania %K Pregnancy %X

Studies of neonatal health risks of unconventional natural gas development (UNGD) have not included comprehensive assessments of environmental chemical exposures. We investigated a clustering of dysphagic cases in neonatal foals born between 2014 and 2016 in an area of active UNGD in Pennsylvania (PA),USA. We evaluated equine biological data and environmental exposures on the affected PA farm and an unaffected New York (NY) farm owned by the same proprietor. Dams either spent their entire gestation on one farm or moved to the other farm in late gestation. Over the 21-month study period, physical examinations and blood/tissue samples were obtained from mares and foals on each farm. Grab samples of water, pasture soil and feed were collected; continuous passive sampling of air and water for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was performed. Dysphagia was evaluated as a binary variable; logistic regression was used to identify risk factors. Sixty-five foals were born, 17 (all from PA farm) were dysphagic. Odds of dysphagia increased with the dam residing on the PA farm for each additional month of gestation (OR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.2, 1.7, p = 6.0E-04). Males were more likely to be born dysphagic (OR = 5.5, 95% CI 1.2, 24.5, p = 0.03) than females. Prior to installation of a water filtration/treatment system, PA water concentrations of 3,6-dimethylphenanthrene (p = 6.0E-03), fluoranthene (p = 0.03), pyrene (p = 0.02) and triphenylene (p = 0.01) exceeded those in NY water. Compared to NY farm water, no concentrations of PAHs were higher in PA following installation of the water filtration/treatment system. We provide evidence of an uncommon adverse health outcome (dysphagia) in foals born near UNGD that was eliminated in subsequent years (2017-2019) following environmental management changes. Notably, this study demonstrates that domestic large animals such as horses can serve as important sentinels for human health risks associated with UNGD activities.

%B Sci Total Environ %V 731 %P 138497 %8 2020 Aug 20 %G eng %R 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138497 %0 Journal Article %J Environ Sci Technol %D 2019 %T Silicone Pet Tags Associate Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-isopropyl) Phosphate Exposures with Feline Hyperthyroidism. %A Carolyn M Poutasse %A Julie Herbstman %A Mark E Peterson %A Jana Gordon %A Peter Soboroff %A Darrell Holmes %A Dezere Gonzalez %A Lane G Tidwell %A Kim A Anderson %K Animals %K Cats %K Flame Retardants %K Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers %K Hyperthyroidism %K New York %K Oregon %K Organophosphates %K Phosphates %K Silicones %X

Feline hyperthyroidism is the most commonly diagnosed endocrine-related disease among senior and geriatric housecats, but the causes remain unknown. Exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds with thyroid targets, such as flame retardants (FRs), may contribute to disease development. Silicone passive sampling devices, or pet tags, quantitatively assessed the bioavailable FR exposures of 78 cats (≥7 y) in New York and Oregon using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Pet tags were analyzed for 36 polybrominated diphenyl ethers, six organophosphate esters (OPEs), and two alternative brominated FRs. In nonhyperthyroid cats, serum free thyroxine (fT), total T (TT), total triiodothyronine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone concentrations were compared with FR concentrations. Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-isopropyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) concentrations were higher in hyperthyroid pet tags in comparison to nonhyperthyroid pet tags (adjusted odds ratio, < 0.07; Mantel-Cox, < 0.02). Higher TDCIPP concentrations were associated with air freshener use in comparison to no use ( < 0.01), residences built since 2005 compared to those pre-1989 ( < 0.002), and cats preferring to spend time on upholstered furniture in comparison to no preference ( < 0.05). Higher TDCIPP concentrations were associated with higher fT and TT concentrations ( < 0.05). This study provides proof-of-concept data for the use of silicone pet tags with companion animals and further indicates that bioavailable TDCIPP exposures are associated with feline hyperthyroidism.

%B Environ Sci Technol %V 53 %P 9203-9213 %8 2019 Aug 06 %G eng %N 15 %R 10.1021/acs.est.9b02226