Abstract:
Exposure to pollutants continues to be a hot
topic as the introduction and use of chemicals is
continuously increasing with society modernization.
Although this affects the entire human population,
increased vulnerability towards in utero carcinogenic
exposures has been proposed due to a high rate of
cell proliferation, relatively high numbers of target
cells at risk, altered ability to repair DNA damage,
immaturity of metabolism, endocrine immunological systems and longer life span ahead in which to
develop chronic disease as compared with adults.
In this context, the analysis of transplacental
exposure to different chemicals using either cord
blood or placenta has captured the attention of
researchers in the last decade culminating in the
study of the possible effects of environmental pollutants on infants and mothers’ health using DNA
adducts micronuclei, DNA damage and epigenetic
alterations.
The main goal of this study was to analyze
the effect of exposure to tobacco smoke during
pregnancy in the levels of DNA damage evaluated
in cord blood samples using the alkaline comet
assay. The influence of other environmental pollutants, namely, mercury was also considered as the
population enrolled in the study was resident in
Aveiro district (previously studied for
its mercury levels). A total of 53 women
were enrolled in the study at the time
of hospital admission for delivery. Smoking status was established on the basis
of cotinine concentrations analyzed in
maternal plasma by ELISA. Exposure to
Hg was assessed by analysis of umbilical
cord samples using atomic absorption
after thermal decomposition (direct
combustion).
Results obtained showed that there
was no statistically significant association
between observed DNA damage and
tobacco smoke exposure or Hg levels.
However, the median cotinine value
was below 1 ng/mL indicating low exposure to this environmental pollutant.
After data discretization, an increase in
DNA damage levels was associated to
cotinine increases but as the number
of individuals included in each class is
very low, further studies on this matter
are needed.
To the public health sector, these
data constitutes a significant contribution to improve knowledge on the effects
of tobacco smoke exposure and to support the implementation of measures
that may reduce the negative health
impact of tobacco smoke, particularly
during pregnancy.
Description:
University of Aveiro, Portugal, Portuguese National Institute of Health, Porto, Portugal, National Center of Public Health, Chisinau,
Republic of Moldova, University of Porto, Portugal, Prima Conferință științifico-practică națională cu participare internațională ”Siguranţa chimică și toxicologia la confluenţa dintre domenii” 24-25 noiembrie 2016 Chișinău, Republica Moldova
