Factors associated with polybrominated diphenyl ether levels in a cohort of pregnant African American women in metropolitan Atlanta Open Access
Lui-Tankersley, Janet (Fall 2019)
Abstract
Background: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are endocrine disrupting compounds that have been linked with adverse health outcomes. Research has shown that African Americans have disproportionately higher levels of PBDEs, as compared to Caucasians. Known routes of exposure include dust inhalation, dietary ingestion, and hand-to-mouth behaviors. However, elucidation of why higher levels exist in African Americans has yet to determined. In this study, the aim was to evaluate dietary and home environment variables as potential predictors of elevated PBDE levels in a cohort of pregnant African American women.
Methods: Blood samples and dietary data were collected from 153 women at an initial prenatal visit between 8 and 14 weeks’ gestation. Samples were processed to assess levels of PBDE congeners and lipid weights. A subset of 42 patients consented to a household survey at 20-24 weeks’ gestation as a supplemental study. Pearson correlations and multivariate linear regression analyses, using both a stepwise and backwards approach, were performed to determine the best fit models at an alpha of 0.05.
Results: Serum concentrations of PBDE -47, -99, and -100 were measured above the limit of detection in over 70% of participants. The best fit model of dietary predictors for PBDE-47 included intake of high omega-3 fish and insurance status (R2 = 0.07). The sub- analysis with home environment variables indicated the age of the couch, shaking out a rug, and marijuana use as the best model (R2 = 0.15), but when included with dietary data, only the age of the couch explained the variance in PBDE-47 levels (R2 = 0.24). In the models evaluating for the summed PBDE value, the age of the couch was also significantly associated with increasing levels (R2 = 0.28).
Conclusion: In this cohort, increasing PBDE exposure may be more attributable to factors within the home environment rather than diet. Regression models indicated that age of the couch accounts for a significant portion of the variance in PBDE-47 and summed PBDE levels. However, larger studies with objective measures of dust inhalation or hand-to-mouth behaviors are needed.
Table of Contents
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................ 1
BACKGROUND / LITERATURE REVIEW.................................................................... 2
METHODS ........................................................................................................................ 9
RESULTS ........................................................................................................................ 13
DISCUSSION .................................................................................................................. 15
FUTURE DIRECTIONS.................................................................................................. 18
REFERENCES................................................................................................................. 19
TABLES........................................................................................................................... 23
Table 1 .......................................................................................................................... 23
Table 2 .......................................................................................................................... 24
Table 3 .......................................................................................................................... 25
Table 4 .......................................................................................................................... 26
Table 5 .......................................................................................................................... 27
APPENDIX ...................................................................................................................... 28
Table A1........................................................................................................................ 28
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