TitleChemical exposures assessed via silicone wristbands and endogenous plasma metabolomics during pregnancy.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2022
AuthorsDoherty BT, McRitchie SL, Pathmasiri WW, Stewart DA, Kirchner D, Anderson KA, Gui J, Madan JC, Hoen AG, Sumner SJ, Karagas MR, Romano ME
JournalJ Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol
Volume32
Issue2
Pagination259-267
Date Published2022 Mar
ISSN1559-064X
Cohort Studies, Female, Humans, Metabolome, Metabolomics, Pregnancy, Prospective Studies, Silicones

BACKGROUND: Metabolomics is a promising method to investigate physiological effects of chemical exposures during pregnancy, with the potential to clarify toxicological mechanisms, suggest sensitive endpoints, and identify novel biomarkers of exposures.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the influence of chemical exposures on the maternal plasma metabolome during pregnancy.

METHODS: Data were obtained from participants (n = 177) in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study, a prospective pregnancy cohort. Chemical exposures were assessed via silicone wristbands worn for one week at ~13 gestational weeks. Metabolomic features were assessed in plasma samples obtained at ~24-28 gestational weeks via the Biocrates AbsoluteIDQ® p180 kit and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Associations between chemical exposures and plasma metabolomics were investigated using multivariate modeling.

RESULTS: Chemical exposures predicted 11 (of 226) and 23 (of 125) metabolomic features in Biocrates and NMR, respectively. The joint chemical exposures did not significantly predict pathway enrichment, though some individual chemicals were associated with certain amino acids and related metabolic pathways. For example, N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide was associated with the amino acids glycine, L-glutamic acid, L-asparagine, and L-aspartic acid and enrichment of the ammonia recycling pathway.

SIGNIFICANCE: This study contributes evidence to the potential effects of chemical exposures during pregnancy upon the endogenous maternal plasma metabolome.

10.1038/s41370-021-00394-6
Alternate JournalJ Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol
PubMed ID34702988
PubMed Central IDPMC8930423
Grant ListU2C OD023375 / OD / NIH HHS / United States
UH3 OD023275 / OD / NIH HHS / United States
P42 ES007373 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
P01 ES022832 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
P42 ES016465 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
R25 CA134286 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
P20 GM104416 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
U24 OD023382 / OD / NIH HHS / United States
U2C ES026544 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
R01 LM012723 / LM / NLM NIH HHS / United States
P30 ES030287 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
Projects Reference: 
Silicone Wristband Personal Monitoring Device