Soffritti et al., 2002

Soffritti, Morando, Belpoggi, Fiorella, Minardi, Franco, & Maltoni, Cesare; “Ramazzini Foundation Cancer Program: History and Major Projects, Life-Span Carcinogenicity Bioassay Design, Chemicals Studied, and Results;” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2002, 982, 26-45.

ABSTRACT:

The Ramazzini Foundation research program was started over thirty years ago. The features of this program are: (1) systematic and integrated project design; (2) consistency over time; (3) homogeneity of approach: key members of the team remain unchanged; and (4) choice to work on new frontiers of scientific research. The program centers mainly on three projects: Project 1: experimental carcinogenicity bioassays; Project 2: experimental anticarcinogenesis assays to identify factors and active principles (compounds) capable of opposing the onset of tumors while being suitable for preventive/ chemopreventive intervention; Project 3: epidemiological studies, both descriptive and analytical, on tumor incidence and mortality in persons professionally and environmentally exposed to industrial carcinogenic risks. The project involving experimental carcinogenicity bioassays for the identification of exogenous carcinogens (environmental and industrial above all) began in 1966. This project has included 398 experimental bioassays on 200 compounds/ agents using some 148,000 animals monitored until their spontaneous death. Among the studies already concluded, 47 agents have shown “clear evidence” of carcinogenicity. The results have demonstrated for the first time that (1) vinyl chloride can cause liver angiosarcoma as well as other tumors; (2) benzene is carcinogenic in experimental animals for various tissues and organs; (3) formaldehyde may produce lymphomas and leukemias; and (4) methyl-tertbutyl ether (MTBE), the most common oxygenated additive used in gasolines, can cause lymphomas/leukemias. Many of the results achieved have led to the introduction of norms and measures of primary prevention. FULL TEXT

Ford and Schust, 2009

Ford, Holly B., & Schust, Danny J.; “Recurrent pregnancy loss: etiology, diagnosis, and therapy;” Reviews in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2009, 2(2), 76-83.

ABSTRACT:

Spontaneous pregnancy loss is a surprisingly common occurrence, with approximately 15% of all clinically recognized pregnancies resulting in pregnancy failure. Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) has been inconsistently defined. When defined as 3 consecutive pregnancy losses prior to 20 weeks from the last menstrual period, it affects approximately 1% to 2% of women. This review highlights the current understanding of the various etiologies implicated in RPL, including factors known to be causative, as well as those implicated as possible causative agents. The appropriate diagnostic evaluation, therapy, and prognosis are also addressed. FULL TEXT

Sacala & Roszak, 2019

Sacała, Elżbieta, & Roszak, Michał, “Mitigation of glyphosate-based herbicide toxicity in maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings by ascorbic acid,” Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry, 2019, 100(5-7), 550-559. DOI: 10.1080/02772248.2019.1567731.

ABSTRACT:

The toxicity of glyphosate at 3.6 mg L⁻¹ to maize seedlings raised from un-treated seeds and the effectiveness of seed pretreatment by soaking in 0.25 mmol L⁻¹ ascorbic acid (AsA) solution for mitigation of toxicity were evaluated in hydroponic culture. Glyphosate dramatically reduced the growth of roots and photosynthetic pigments in the leaves but increased protein content in the leaves. Superoxide dismutase activity and AsA concentration in the roots were increased, and guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX) activity was unaffected. Pretreatment with AsA improved the dry mass of the roots and shoots, increased the protein content in roots and leaves, and significantly decreased the activity of GPOX in roots. The positive effect of AsA treatment was not associated with more efficient functioning of the antioxidative system. FULL TEXT

Winchester et al., 2019

Winchester, Paul, Reiter, Jill L., Proctor, Cathy, Gerona, Roy R., Avery, Kayleigh D., Bromm, Jennifer R., Elsahy, Deena A, Hadley, Emily A., McGraw, Sara N., & Jones, Dana D., “Glyphosate in 1st Trimester of Pregnancy: Herbicides in the Womb,” 2019, Presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Meeting 2019, 4/24-5/1/2019, Baltimore, MD.

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND: Our previous study demonstrated that >90% of pregnant Midwest women had detectable glyphosate (GLY) in their urine. Most glyphosate exposure occurs through food & certain beverages but not through drinking water. Shorter pregnancies, rural address and caffeinated beverages were associated with higher GLY levels. The cohort was small and predominantly Caucasian. The current study was needed to confirm high rates of GLY detection in a racially more diverse high risk population.
OBJECTIVE: Will GLY be detected in a majority of pregnancies regardless of race/ethnicity? Are GLY levels associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes? Do GLY levels vary by season of collection in pregnancy?
DESIGN/METHODS: Prospective observation study. Discarded urine from 1st trimester pregnancies were collected prospectively from a high risk University obstetrical clinic. All pregnancy outcomes and neonatal outcomes were abstracted. Urines were frozen, shipped to analytical lab (USCF, RG) for analysis. Urine GLY (Glyphosate (N(phosphomethyl) glycine) was analyzed via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), limit of quantification of 0.1 ng/mL. GLY measured as independent variable was compared to multiple variables using bivariate analysis.
RESULTS: GLY was detected in 99% (186 of 187) pregnancies. Levels varied from 1.004 to 10.31ng/mL with geometric mean 3.264ng/mL. Mean maternal age was 30, with 69% white, 4.2% Hispanic, 12% Black, 3.7% Asian and one “other”. GLY levels did not differ significantly by racial/ethnic group. GLY levels were not significantly difference between preterm and term outcomes, multiple/singleton or between fetal loss and live births. GLY levels were higher with increasing gestation at enrollment with 4-8 weeks GLY 2.73 vs 9-13 weeks 3.51(p=.0098). Significantly higher GLY levels were found in April-July pregnancies vs other months(3.64 vs 3.07 p=.03). NICU admission rates were 85% for preterm and 35% for term. Birth defect rate was12% and 37% had intrauterine drug exposure or NAS. Preterm birth rate was 31%. CONCLUSIONS: Glyphosate was found in virtually all of these high risk pregnancies in the first trimester regardless of race/ethnicity, plurality, fetal loss or gestation at birth. GLY levels rose with increasing gestation in the first trimester suggesting that gestation at measurement impacts GLY levels. Dietary sources contribute to GLY but we did find April-July are associated with higher GLY levels than other months. The fetal epigenetic consequences of 1st trimester GLY exposure remains unknown. FULL TEXT

Crall et al., 2018

Crall, James D, Switzer, Callin M, Oppenheimer, Robert L, Ford Versypt, Ashlee N, Dey, Biswadip, Brown, Andrea, Eyster, Mackay, Guerin, Claire, Pierce, Naomi E, Combes, Stacey A, & de Bivort, Benjamin L, “Neonicotinoid exposure disrupts bumblebee nest behavior, social networks, and thermoregulation,” Science, 2018, 362(6415), 683-686. DOI: 10.1126/science.aat1598.

ABSTRACT:

Neonicotinoid pesticides can negatively affect bee colonies, but the behavioral mechanisms by which these compounds impair colony growth remain unclear. Here, we investigate imidacloprid’s effects on bumblebee worker behavior within the nest, using an automated, robotic platform for continuous, multicolony monitoring of uniquely identified workers. We find that exposure to field-realistic levels of imidacloprid impairs nursing and alters social and spatial dynamics within nests, but that these effects vary substantially with time of day. In the field, imidacloprid impairs colony thermoregulation, including the construction of an insulating wax canopy. Our results show that neonicotinoids induce widespread disruption of within-nest worker behavior that may contribute to impaired growth, highlighting the potential of automated techniques for characterizing the multifaceted, dynamic impacts of stressors on behavior in bee colonies. FULL TEXT

Yousef et al., 1995

Yousef, M. I., Salem, M. H., Ibrahim, H. Z., Helmi, S., Seehy, M. A., & Bertheussen, K., “Toxic effects of carbofuran and glyphosate on semen characteristics in rabbits,” Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B, 1995, 30(4), 513-534. DOI: 10.1080/03601239509372951.

ABSTRACT:

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of chronic treatment with two sublethal doses of Carbofuran (carbamate insecticide) and Glyphosate (organophosphorus herbicide) on body weight and semen characteristics in mature male New Zealand white rabbits. Pesticide treatment resulted in a decline in body weight, libido, ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, semen initial fructose and semen osmolality. This was accompanied with increases in the abnormal and dead sperm and semen methylene blue reduction time. The hazardous effect of these pesticides on semen quality continued during the recovery period, and was dose-dependent. These effects on sperm quality may be due to the direct cytotoxic effects of these pesticides on spermatogenesis and/or indirectly via hypothalami-pituitary-testis axis which control the reproductive efficiency.

Wang et al., 2018

Wang, M., Zhou, X., Zang, X., Pang, Y., Chang, Q., Wang, C., & Wang, Z., “Determination of pesticides residues in vegetable and fruit samples by solid-phase microextraction with a covalent organic framework as the fiber coating coupled with gas chromatography and electron capture detection,” Journal of Separation Science, 2018, 41(21), 4038-4046. DOI: 10.1002/jssc.201800644.

ABSTRACT:

In this study, a covalent organic framework designated as TpPaNO2 was synthesized by a mechanochemical grinding method and then coated on stainless steel wire by a sol-gel technique to prepare a solid-phase microextraction fiber. The TpPaNO2 fiber based solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-electron capture detection was applied to determine the residues of 11 pesticides (trlfuralln, dicofol, alpha-endosulfan, 1-chloro-4-[2,2-dichloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethenyl]benzene, nitrofen, beta-endosulfan, 1-chloro-4-[2,2-dichloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]benzene, 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane, bifenthrin, permethrin and fenvalerate) in vegetable and fruit samples. The effects of extraction time, extraction temperature, sample pH, stirring rate and desorption temperature on the extraction efficiency were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, the limits of detection for the eleven pesticides were in the range of 0.04-0.25 mug/kg. The recoveries of the eleven pesticides in the vegetable and fruit samples were 81.5-111% with the relative standard deviations less than 11.2%.

Tiegs et al., 2018

Tiegs, A. W., Landis, J., Garrido, N., Scott, R., & Hotaling, J., “Total motile sperm count trend over time across two continents: evaluation of semen analyses from 119,972 infertile men,” Fertility and Sterility, 2018, 110(4). DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2018.07.093.

ABSTRACT:

OBJECTIVE: While previous reports of declining sperm counts in the fertile and unselected population are concerning, the most reliable indicator of male fertility, the total motile sperm count (TMSC), has not been previously evaluated (1,2). Furthermore, the TMSC trend in the subfertile population remains unknown. We sought to characterize the TMSC trend over time in a large sample of men from infertile couples in two large fertility centers on separate continents to determine if TMSC was declining over time.

DESIGN: Retrospective cohort

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The first semen analysis (SA) of male patients from Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey (RMANJ) and Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad (IVI) were identified; SAs from 2002-2017 and 2011-2017, respectively, were included due to robust sample size (n>2000). SAs were excluded if collected retrograde, post-vasectomy, or if TMSC not available. SAs were categorized into 3 clinically relevant groups based on treatment strategy: TMSC >15 million (M) (Group 1), TMSC 5-15M (Group 2), and TMSC 0-5M (Group 3). Linear and logistic regression were used where appropriate to assess the impact of age and estimate TMSC group as a function of collection year. RESULTS: A total of 41809 SAs from RMANJ and 78163 from IVI (129 countries of origin; 74% Spanish) were included. Analyses were performed on RMANJ and IVI data separately. In the RMANJ cohort, linear regression demonstrated TMSC decreased by 1.8% per year in Group 1 (p¼2.2e-16), and the odds of belonging to Group 1 decreased over time (OR ¼ 0.979; 95% CI ¼ 0.974 – 0.985; p¼2.8e-14). Age was associated with TMSC in Group 1: For every 1 yr increase in age, TMSC decreased by 1.1% (p¼2.2e-16), and the odds of belonging to Group 1 decreased with age (OR ¼ 0.977; 95% CI ¼ 0.973 – 0.981; p¼2.2e-16). Similar trends in groups were found in the IVI cohort.

CONCLUSIONS: Although TMSCwas found to marginally decrease over time, the clinical significance of this finding is unclear. This trend may reflect a selection bias, in that more infertile men are presenting for treatment each year, or adverse effects of environmental factors. Whatever the underlying etiology, the shift in groups over time is clinically relevant, as treatment strategies differ by categorization. Longer follow up is necessary to confirm TMSC trends in the infertile population.

Roberts et al., 2019

Roberts, J. R., Dawley, E. H., & Reigart, J. R., “Children’s low-level pesticide exposure and associations with autism and ADHD: a review,” Pediatric Research, 2019, 85(2), 234-241. DOI: 10.1038/s41390-018-0200-z.

ABSTRACT:

Pesticides are chemicals that are designed specifically for the purpose of killing or suppressing another living organism. Human toxicity is possible with any pesticide, and a growing body of literature has investigated possible associations with neurodevelopmental disorders. Attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are two of these specific disorders that have garnered particular interest. Exposure to toxic chemicals during critical windows of brain development is a biologically plausible mechanism. This review describes the basic laboratory science including controlled pesticide dosing experiments in animals that supports a mechanistic relationship in the development of ADHD and/or ASD. Epidemiological relationships are also described for low-level pesticide exposure and ADHD and/or ASD. The available evidence supports the hypothesis that pesticide exposure at levels that do not cause acute toxicity may be among the multifactorial causes of ADHD and ASD, though further study is needed, especially for some of the newer pesticides. FULL TEXT

Presutti et al., 2016

Presutti, R., Harris, S. A., Kachuri, L., Spinelli, J. J., Pahwa, M., Blair, A., Zahm, S. H., Cantor, K. P., Weisenburger, D. D., Pahwa, P., McLaughlin, J. R., Dosman, J. A., & Freeman, L. B., “Pesticide exposures and the risk of multiple myeloma in men: An analysis of the North American Pooled Project,” International Journal of Cancer, 2016, 139(8), 1703-1714. DOI: 10.1002/ijc.30218.

ABSTRACT:

Multiple myeloma (MM) has been consistently linked with agricultural activities, including farming and pesticide exposures. Three case-control studies in the United States and Canada were pooled to create the North American Pooled Project (NAPP) to investigate associations between pesticide use and haematological cancer risk. This analysis used data from 547 MM cases and 2700 controls. Pesticide use was evaluated as follows: ever/never use; duration of use (years); and cumulative lifetime-days (LD) (days/year handled x years of use). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using logistic regression adjusted for age, province/state of residence, use of proxy respondents and selected medical conditions. Increased MM risk was observed for ever use of carbaryl (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.28-3.21), captan (OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.04-3.77) and DDT (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.05-1.97). Using the Canadian subset of NAPP data, we observed a more than threefold increase in MM risk (OR = 3.18, 95% CI = 1.40-7.23) for </=10 cumulative LD of carbaryl use. The association was attenuated but remained significant for >10 LD of carbaryl use (OR = 2.44; 95% CI = 1.05-5.64; ptrend = 0.01). For captan, </=17.5 LD of exposure was also associated with a more than threefold increase in risk (OR = 3.52, 95% CI = 1.32-9.34), but this association was attenuated in the highest exposure category of >17.5 LD (OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 0.81-6.43; ptrend = 0.01). An increasing trend (ptrend = 0.04) was observed for LD of DDT use (LD > 22; OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 0.95-3.88). In this large North American study of MM and pesticide use, we observed significant increases in MM risk for use of carbaryl, captan and DDT. FULL TEXT