Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Maternal Residential Atrazine Exposure and Gastroschisis by Maternal Age

  • Published:
Maternal and Child Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Previous literature has suggested a link between maternal exposure to atrazine (the most commonly used herbicide in the US) and risk for gastroschisis (a birth defect that involves incomplete closure of the abdominal wall). Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between maternal atrazine exposure and gastroschisis risk by maternal age. We analyzed data for 1,161 cases with isolated gastroschisis and 8,390 controls delivered in Texas from 1999 through 2008. We estimated atrazine exposure based on maternal county of residence and data from the United States Geological Survey. Logistic regression was conducted among all subjects, and separately among offspring of women <25 and ≥25 years. Risk for gastroschisis in offspring was significantly increased for women ≥25 years with high levels of residential atrazine exposure compared to low (adjusted odds ratio: 1.97, 95 % confidence interval 1.19–3.26). This association was not observed among women <25 years. Our results provide additional insight into the suspected relationship of gastroschisis with atrazine. This relationship appears to be different in older versus younger mothers, providing further evidence that the etiology of gastroschisis may vary based on maternal age.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Laughon, M., Meyer, R., Bose, C., Wall, A., Otero, E., Heerens, A., et al. (2003). Rising birth prevalence of gastroschisis. Journal of Perinatology, 23, 291–293.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Loane, M., Dolk, H., & Bradbury, I. (2007). Increasing prevalence of gastroschisis in Europe 1980–2002: A phenomenon restricted to younger mothers? Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 21, 363–369.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Frolov, P., Alali, J., & Klein, M. D. (2010). Clinical risk factors for gastroschisis and omphalocele in humans: A review of the literature. Pediatric Surgery International, 26, 1135–1148.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Salemi, J. L., Pierre, M., Tanner, J. P., Kornosky, J. L., Hauser, K. W., Kirby, R. S., et al. (2009). Maternal nativity as a risk factor for gastroschisis: A population-based study. Birth Defects Research Part A Clinical and Molecular Teratology, 85, 890–896.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Lupo, P. J., Langlois, P. H., Reefhuis, J., Lawson, C. C., Symanski, E., Desrosiers, T. A., et al. (2012). Maternal occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and gastroschisis among offspring in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Environmental Health Perspectives,. doi:10.1289/ehp.1104305.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Werler, M. M., Mitchell, A. A., Moore, C. A., & Honein, M. A. (2009). Is there epidemiologic evidence to support vascular disruption as a pathogenesis of gastroschisis? American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 149A, 1399–1406.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Waller, S. A., Paul, K., Peterson, S. E., & Hitti, J. E. (2010). Agricultural-related chemical exposures, season of conception, and risk of gastroschisis in Washington State. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 202(241), e1–e6.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Mattix, K. D., Winchester, P. D., & Scherer, L. R. (2007). Incidence of abdominal wall defects is related to surface water atrazine and nitrate levels. Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 42, 947–949.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Sass, J. B., & Colangelo, A. (2006). European Union bans atrazine, while the United States negotiates continued use. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 12, 260–267.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Hayes, T. B., Stuart, A. A., Mendoza, M., Collins, A., Noriega, N., Vonk, A., et al. (2006). Characterization of atrazine-induced gonadal malformations in African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) and comparisons with effects of an androgen antagonist (cyproterone acetate) and exogenous estrogen (17beta-estradiol): Support for the demasculinization/feminization hypothesis. Environmental Health Perspectives, 114(Suppl 1), 134–141.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). (2003). Toxicological profile for atrazine. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.

  12. Munger, R., Hanson, J., & Isacson, P. (1992). Birth defects and pesticide-contaminated water supplies in Iowa. American Journal of Epidemiology, 136, 959.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Winchester, P. D., Huskins, J., & Ying, J. (2009). Agrichemicals in surface water and birth defects in the United States. Acta Paediatrica, 98, 664–669.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Agopian, A. J., Cai, Y., Langlois, P. H., Canfield, M. A., & Lupo, P. J. (2012). Maternal residential atrazine exposure and risk for choanal atresia and stenosis in offspring. Journal of Pediatrics,. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2012.08.012.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Lubinsky, M. (2012). Hypothesis: Estrogen related thrombosis explains the pathogenesis and epidemiology of gastroschisis. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 158A, 808–811.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Troisi, R., Hoover, R. N., Thadhani, R., Hsieh, C. C., Sluss, P., Ballard-Barbash, R., et al. (2008). Maternal, prenatal and perinatal characteristics and first trimester maternal serum hormone concentrations. British Journal of Cancer, 99, 1161–1164.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Chabra, S. (2008). Gastroschisis and omphalocele codes “all-inclusive”: Urgent need for modifications! Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 43, 966. (author reply 7).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities C. (2002). Appendix A: ICD-9 and CDC/BPA codes. Teratology, 66(Suppl 1), S218–S219.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Rasmussen, S. A., Olney, R. S., Holmes, L. B., Lin, A. E., Keppler-Noreuil, K. M., & Moore, C. A. (2003). Guidelines for case classification for the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Birth Defects Research Part A Clinical and Molecular Teratology, 67, 193–201.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Thelin, G. P., & Stone, W. W. (2010). Method for estimating annual atrazine use for counties in the conterminous United States, 1992–2007: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5034.

  21. Reynolds, P., Von Behren, J., Gunier, R. B., Goldberg, D. E., Hertz, A., & Smith, D. F. (2003). Childhood cancer incidence rates and hazardous air pollutants in California: An exploratory analysis. Environmental Health Perspectives, 111, 663–668.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Benjamin, B. G., Ethen, M. K., Van Hook, C. L., Myers, C. A., & Canfield, M. A. (2010). Gastroschisis prevalence in Texas 1999–2003. Birth Defects Research Part A Clinical and Molecular Teratology, 88, 178–185.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Calzolari, E., Bianchi, F., Dolk, H., & Milan, M. (1995). Omphalocele and gastroschisis in Europe: A survey of 3 million births 1980–1990. EUROCAT Working Group. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 58, 187–194.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. vom Saal, F. S., Akingbemi, B. T., Belcher, S. M., Birnbaum, L. S., Crain, D. A., Eriksen, M., et al. (2007). Chapel Hill bisphenol A expert panel consensus statement: Integration of mechanisms, effects in animals and potential to impact human health at current levels of exposure. Reproductive Toxicology, 24, 131–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Diamanti-Kandarakis, E., Bourguignon, J. P., Giudice, L. C., Hauser, R., Prins, G. S., Soto, A. M., et al. (2009). Endocrine-disrupting chemicals: An Endocrine Society scientific statement. Endocrine Reviews, 30, 293–342.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Curwin, B. D., Hein, M. J., Sanderson, W. T., Striley, C., Heederik, D., Kromhout, H., et al. (2007). Urinary pesticide concentrations among children, mothers and fathers living in farm and non-farm households in Iowa. Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 51, 53–65.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Lupo, P. J., Symanski, E., Chan, W., Mitchell, L. E., Waller, D. K., Canfield, M. A., et al. (2010). Differences in exposure assignment between conception and delivery: The impact of maternal mobility. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 24, 200–208.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This project was supported in part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-funded Texas Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention (#5U01DD000494) through a cooperative agreement with Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), as well as the Title V Office of Texas DSHS. The authors would like to thank the staff of the Birth Defects Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch, Texas Department of State Health Services, for help with collecting data for the Texas Birth Defects Registry.

Conflict of interest

None of the authors have a conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, Human Genetics Center, University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA

    A. J. Agopian & Yi Cai

  2. Birth Defects Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch, Texas Department of State Health Services, PO Box 149347, MC 1964, Austin, TX, USA

    Peter H. Langlois & Mark A. Canfield

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Hematology-Oncology Section, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, MS: BCM305, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Philip J. Lupo

Authors
  1. A. J. Agopian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peter H. Langlois
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yi Cai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mark A. Canfield
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Philip J. Lupo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Philip J. Lupo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Agopian, A.J., Langlois, P.H., Cai, Y. et al. Maternal Residential Atrazine Exposure and Gastroschisis by Maternal Age. Matern Child Health J 17, 1768–1775 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-1196-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-1196-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation