Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: A Non-Targeted Method for Measuring Multiple Chemical Exposures Amoung a Demographically Diverse Population of Pregnant Women in Northern California
EPA Grant Number: R835643Title: 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 Amount: $900,000
RFA: New Methods in 21st Century Exposure Science (2013) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Chemical Safety for Sustainability
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
This year was spent completing chemical analyses and analyzing data from the 200 3rd trimester maternal serum samples collected for this study.
A summary of the demographics demonstrating ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of the 200 participants included in this analysis can be found in the enrollment table.
Enrollment Table (N=200) | n | % |
Ethnicity Hispanic/Latina Non-Hispanic/Latina Unknown/Missing |
76 132 1 |
38% 62% 1% |
Race |
|
|
Asian Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander | 34 4 | 17% 2% |
AA/Black | 14 | 7% |
Caucasian/White | 83 | 42% |
Other | 62 | 31% |
Unknown/Missing | 3 | 2% |
Education |
|
|
< High school | 24 | 12% |
High school/GED | 34 | 17% |
Some college/AA | 20 | 10% |
Bachelor’s degree | 42 | 21% |
Master’s degree | 41 | 21% |
Doctoral degree Unknown/Missing | 38 1 | 19% 1% |
Income |
|
|
< $20k | 33 | 17% |
$20k < $50k | 34 | 17% |
$50k < $100k | 16 | 8% |
$100k < $200k | 51 | 26% |
≥ $200k | 46 | 23% |
Don’t know/Missing | 20 | 10% |
All study personnel have undergone required trainings for Human Subjects Research, electronic medical records (APeX), Biosafety and Bloodborne Pathogens. We maintain institutional approvals for our project, including IRB/Human Subjects Approval, Biological Use Authorization, San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH) 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 analyzed all 200 3rd trimester serum samples. Preliminary findings were presented at ISEE 2017, ISES 2017, ISES-ISEE 2018, and to external scientists, published in Fertility and Sterility, and in Environmental Health Perspectives. Non-targeted and targeted analysis of six EOAs was completed in July 2018 and data cleaning and analysis has continued through 2018.
The analysis of the suspect screening was more time and computationally intensive than we had anticipated and therefore took more resources. Additionally, it was more difficult to identify chemicals for the targeted analysis and to develop methods that were sufficiently sensitive to ensure detection of confirmed chemicals. To address this problem, we modified our panel to take advantage of other chemical analyte panels that had been previously developed by Dr. Gerona.
The suspect screening was more time and computationally intensive than anticipated and therefore, took more resources. However, we compensated for the delay by modifying our panel to take advantage of other chemical analyte panels that were previously developed by Dr. Gerona.
Quality assurance:
This project leverages our NIEHS/USEPA Pregnancy Exposures to Environmental Chemicals (PEEC) study (RD83543301). A Quality Management Plan was created as part of implementation of the PEEC study. SOPs and QAPPs were created and the QMPC completed an audit in September and October of 2014. A second audit was done in February 2016 and final audit was complete in January 2018.
The QAPP audit consisted of introduction meetings, a demonstration of sample/data collection and storage, a visual inspection of training materials, standard operating procedures and certifications, and a systems audit checklist for laboratory management systems and sample collection quality, which was reviewed with the PI and staff and updated for accuracy.
Further, all biospecimen collection materials are sent to our collaborators to test for possible contamination by chemicals of interest (including BPA, PBDEs, and PFCs).
Results
We have completed the non-targeted chemical analysis using LC-QTOF for all 200 samples and continue to analyze data generated from this project.
After completing the suspect screening approach, we have successfully identified six novel chemicals that have not been previously biomonitored and may be of high priority for follow-up quantification and toxicity testing. Of the six compounds, we confirmed through LC-QTOF/MS, only one (3'-HAP) is currently included in our targeted panel. The final panel of 6 confirmed chemicals (DPHP, PFOSAA, PCP, 3'-HAP, FOEA, and Equol) have been quantified among 200 maternal serum samples collected at delivery.
Journal Articles on this Report : 5 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 23 publications | 7 publications in selected types | All 7 journal articles |
|---|
| Type | Citation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Abrahamsson D, Park J, Singh R, Sirota M, Woodruff T. Applications of Machine Learning to In Silico Quantification o Chemicals without Analytical Standards. Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling 2020;60(6):2718-2727. |
R835643 (Final) R835433 (Final) |
Exit |
|
|
Abrahamsson D, Wang A, Jian T, Wang M, Siddharth A, Morello-Frosch R, Park J, Sirota M, Woodruff T. A Comprehensive Non-targeted Analysis Study of the Prenatal Exposome. Environmental Science & Technology 2021;55. |
R835643 (Final) |
Exit Exit Exit |
|
|
Abrahamsson D, Brueck C, Prasse C, Lambropoulou D, Koronaiou L, Wang M, Park J, Woodruff T. Extracting Structural Information from Physicochemical Property Measurements Using Machine Learning-A New Approach for Structure Elucidation in Non-targeted Analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023;27(40):14827-14838 |
R835643 (Final) R835433 (Final) |
Exit |
|
|
Varshavsky J, Smith A, Wang A, Hom E, Izano M, Huang H, Padula A, Woodruff T. Heightened susceptibility:A review of how pregnancy and chemical exposures influence maternal health. Reproductive Toxicology 2020;92(SI):14-56. |
R835643 (Final) R835433 (Final) |
Exit Exit |
|
|
Vora B, Wang A, Huang H, Paranjpe I, Woodruff T, MacKenzie T, Sirota M. Meta-Analysis of Maternal and Fetal Transcriptomic Data Elucidates the Role of Adaptive and Innate Immunity in Preterm Birth. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW 2018;9(993) |
R835643 (Final) |
Exit |
Relevant Websites:
The results have been published in Environmental Health Perspectives and covered by the following media/scientific platforms:
PRHE’s blog website:
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe 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.