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Advances in the Use of Residual Newborn Dried Blood Spots Within Environmental Epidemiology

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Epidemiological evidence links certain early-life environmental exposures to adverse health outcomes. However, neonatal biospecimens are difficult to obtain, limiting proper evaluation of the detrimental health effects of environmental exposures during such a critical period of life.

Recent Findings

The availability of archived residual newborn dried blood spots (DBS) from existing newborn screening programs provide a much-needed resource of neonatal biospecimens for epidemiological studies focused on retrospectively assessing the short- and long-term effects of environmental exposures. We discuss emerging omics technologies and biomarkers of exposure/chemical assessments that have recently shown compatibility with the use of DBS.

Summary

Recent developments in the omics technologies are allowing the use of DBS for biomonitoring environmental exposures in community settings, particularly to study the health effects of early life exposures through the use of archived residual newborn DBS. The use of newborn DBS and untargeted omics technologies can dramatically improve the internal exposome assessment. Future studies should continue to validate and standardize the use of DBS as a resource for epidemiological studies.

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Funding

This work was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (P42 ES004696; JMG and JM), and the start-up funds from the Sheldon D. Murphy Endowment (https://deohs.washington.edu/sheldon-d-murphy-endowed-chair; JM). RAD was supported by a Graduate Student Equity & Excellence (GSEE, formerly GO-MAP) Graduate Fellowship. Funding sources did not direct the study.

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  1. Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 100, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA

    Rothboury A. Doung, Jacqueline M. Garrick & Judit Marsillach

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Doung, R.A., Garrick, J.M. & Marsillach, J. Advances in the Use of Residual Newborn Dried Blood Spots Within Environmental Epidemiology. Curr Epidemiol Rep 10, 264–274 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40471-023-00338-8

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