Grantee Research Project Results

2016 Progress Report: A Non-Targeted Method for Measuring Multiple Chemical Exposures Amoung a Demographically Diverse Population of Pregnant Women in Northern California

EPA Grant Number: R835643
Title: A Non-Targeted Method for Measuring Multiple Chemical Exposures Amoung a Demographically Diverse Population of Pregnant Women in Northern California
Investigators: Woodruff, Tracey J. , Sirota, Marina , Morello-Frosch, Rachel , Gerona, Roy
Institution: University of California - San Francisco
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2017 (Extended to September 30, 2018)
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 2015 through September 30,2016
Project Amount: $900,000
RFA: New Methods in 21st Century Exposure Science (2013) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Chemical Safety for Sustainability

Objective:

We apply an innovative non-targeted biomonitoring method using liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF/MS) to evaluate everyday exposure to over 700 chemicals classified as Environmental Organic Acids (EOAs) and the extent to which exposures vary among different racial/ethnic and socio-economic groups of pregnant women. Our new LC-QTOF/MS non-targeted screening methodology has the capacity to directly (without enzymatic hydrolysis) and simultaneously screen for approximately 10 times more EOAs than what is currently being biomonitored in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

We focus on EOAs, which are industrial compounds with at least one ionizable proton, because: (1) their chemical structure facilitates a higher rate of analytical detection; (2) many of their chemical structures are similar to hormones, increasing the potential for endocrine disruption, which can negatively affect fetal development; and (3) many are produced in high quantities and used in a wide range of consumer products, but have not been extensively biomonitored in pregnant women. We use liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to confirm the presence and levels of select EOAs identified through our non-targeted screening. Finally, we assess differences in EOA exposures by race/ethnicity and socio-economic status (SES). We hypothesize that pregnant women are exposed to more EOAs than previously documented, and that EOA exposure varies by race/ethnicity and SES, resulting in disproportionate EOA body-burdens among certain subpopulations.

Progress Summary:

Fund Year (FY) 2 was spent recruiting participants and collecting biospecimens at San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH), and the Betty Irene Moore Women’s Health Hospital at Mission Bay (MB).

In FY2 (October 1, 2015 – September 30, 2016), participant enrollment rates improved significantly due to increases in staff time and recruitment resources as explained in our FY1 report. We enrolled 196 participants during FY2 and 361 participants total at the date of this report. During FY2, we collected 78 third trimester maternal serum samples. Overall, we have collected 168 third trimester maternal serum samples, nearing our overall goal of 200. 

A summary of the demographics demonstrating ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of our population can be found in the cumulative enrollment table (Table 1).

All study personnel have undergone required trainings for Human Subjects Research, electronic medical records (APeX), Biosafety and Bloodborne Pathogens. We maintain institutional approvals for our project, including IRB/Human Subjects Approval, Biological Use Authorization, San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH), Moffitt‐Long Hospital (MLH), and Mission Bay research approvals.

Dr. Roy Gerona, Assistant Professor in the UCSF Department of OB/GYN and Reproductive Sciences and Co-investigator on this project, received 95 samples of third trimester maternal serum, of which 80 have been analyzed. Preliminary findings were presented at ISEE 2016 and published in Fertility and Sterility. We are using the preliminary analysis to determine chemicals for which we will develop targeted methods. Non-targeted and targeted analysis of 6 EOAs will continue through FY3.

Table 1.  Cumulative Enrollment

Cumulative Enrollment (N=361)	n	%
Ethnicity
Hispanic/Latina	110	30%
Non-Hispanic/Latina	233	65%
Race
Asian/PI	59	16%
AA/Black	30	9%
Caucasian/White	146	40%
Native American	2	1%
Other	104	29%
Missing	19	5%
Education
< High school	37	10%
High school/GED	54	15%
Some college/AA	45	13%
Bachelor’s degree	78	22%
Master’s degree	72	20%
Doctoral degree	56	16%
Income
< $20k	67	19%
$20k < $50k	52	14%
$50k < $100k	35	10%
$100k < $200k	84	23%
≥ $200k	80	22%
Unknown	20	6%

Future Activities:

We will continue to enroll participants each week from both study sites (SFGH, MB), and we will continue to collect third trimester maternal serum in FY3. We began the process of selecting chemicals for developing methods for targeted analysis in FY2 and will continue this process, and begin targeted analysis in FY3.

Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Publications Views

Other project views:	All 23 publications	7 publications in selected types	All 7 journal articles

Publications

Type	Citation	Project	Document Sources
Journal Article	Wang A, Padula A, Sirota M, Woodruff TJ. Environmental influences on reproductive health: the importance of chemical exposures. Fertility and Sterility 2016;106(4):905-929.	R835643 (2016) R835643 (2017) R835433 (2016) R835433 (2017) R835433 (Final)	Abstract from PubMed Full-text: ScienceDirect-Full Text HTML Exit Abstract: ScienceDirect-Abstract Exit

Supplemental Keywords:

Endocrine disrupting chemicals, environmental organic acids, non-targeted testing, LC-QTOF/MS, LC-MS/MS, environmental justice, ethnic/racial disparities, pregnancy, chemical exposure

Relevant Websites:

Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment Exit

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

2015 Progress Report

2017 Progress Report

Final Report