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Fathers Matter: Why It’s Time to Consider the Impact of Paternal Environmental Exposures on Children’s Health

  • Environmental Epidemiology (J Braun, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose

Despite accumulating evidence from experimental animal studies showing that paternal environmental exposures induce genetic and epigenetic alterations in sperm which in turn increase the risk of adverse health outcomes in offspring, there is limited epidemiological data on the effects of human paternal preconception exposures on children’s health. We summarize animal and human studies showing that paternal preconception environmental exposures influence offspring health. We discuss specific approaches and designs for human studies to investigate the health effects of paternal preconception exposures, the specific challenges these studies may face, and how we might address them.

Recent Findings

In animal studies, paternal preconception diet, stress, and chemical exposures have been associated with offspring health and these effects are mediated by epigenetic modifications transmitted through sperm DNA, histones, and RNA. Most epidemiological studies have examined paternal preconception occupational exposures and their effect on the risk of birth defects and childhood cancer; few have examined the effects of low-level general population exposure to environmental toxicants. While the design and execution of epidemiological studies of paternal preconception exposures face challenges, particularly with regard to selection bias and recruitment, we believe these are tractable and that preconception studies are feasible.

Summary

New or augmented prospective cohort studies would be the optimal method to address the critical knowledge gaps on the effect of paternal preconception exposures on prevalent childhood health outcomes. Determining if this period of life represents a window of heightened vulnerability would improve our understanding of modifiable risk factors for children’s health and wellbeing.

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Acknowledgements

NIEHS grants R00 ES020346, R01 ES024381, R01 ES025214, R01 ES022955, P01 ES000002, and R01 ES009718. We thank David Savitz for his helpful feedback on an earlier version of this commentary.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Box G-S121(2), Providence, RI, 02912, USA

    Joseph M. Braun

  2. Department of Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    Carmen Messerlian & Russ Hauser

  3. Department of Epidemiology, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    Russ Hauser

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  1. Joseph M. Braun
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  2. Carmen Messerlian
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Correspondence to Joseph M. Braun.

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Joseph M. Braun, Carmen Messerlian, and Russ Hauser each declare no potential conflicts of interest.

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Braun, J.M., Messerlian, C. & Hauser, R. Fathers Matter: Why It’s Time to Consider the Impact of Paternal Environmental Exposures on Children’s Health. Curr Epidemiol Rep 4, 46–55 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40471-017-0098-8

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