Grantee Research Project Results

2015 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, 2014 through September 30,2015
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 are applying 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 socioeconomic 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 will 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 will assess differences in EOA exposures by race/ethnicity and socio-economic status. 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 1 (FY1) was spent recruiting participants and collecting biospecimens at San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH), Moffitt‐Long Hospital (MLH) and the new Betty Irene Moore Women’s Health Hospital at Mission Bay (MB). In January of 2015, women’s health services, including the prenatal clinic and labor and delivery, moved from MLH to MB. Currently, recruitment and births take place at SFGH or MB. During FY1, we enrolled 93 participants. As of the date of this report, we have enrolled 170 participants. During the reporting period (10/1/2014 – 9/30/2015), we collected 75 third trimester maternal serum samples. Our rate of third trimester maternal serum collection is 72%.

A summary of the demographics demonstrating ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of our population can be found in Table 1 of the report. Our enrollment rate is lower than anticipated due to the hospital move and personnel changes. We should enroll at a faster rate in FY2 because research operations at the new hospital (MB) have become more efficient, we are concentrating staff time and resources on recruitment, and a replacement clinical research coordinator has been hired. Also, we have modified our recruitment protocol, improved staffing configurations, and leveraged assistance with nursing staff to increase enrollment rates and improve the efficiency of sample collection and sample collection rates.

Table 1 (N = 174)	n	%
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic/Latina	27	29%
Hispanic/Latina	63	68%
Race
Asian/PI	17	18%
AA/Black	10	11%
Caucasian/White	37	40%
Native American	1	1%
Other	26	28%
Missing	2	2%
Education
< High school	14	15%
High school/GED	15	16%
Some college/AA	10	11%
Bachelor’s degree	17	18%
Master’s degree	18	19%
Doctoral degree	18	19%
Income
< $20k	23	25%
$20k < $50k	12	13%
$50k < $100k	8	9%
$100k < $200k	24	26%
≥ $200k	20	22%
Don’t know	6	6%

All study personnel have undergone required trainings for Human Subjects Research, electronic medical records (APeX), and 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, has developed methods for EOA analysis in maternal serum. Dr. Gerona will begin analysis on maternal serum samples in early 2016 and continue through FY2 and FY3.

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 FY2. We will start chemical analysis of maternal serum in January 2016, and we will continue with analysis throughout FY2 and FY3.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 23 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

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

Relevant Websites:

Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment | University of California - San Francisco Exit

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.