Ana Jiménez-Zabala

Mycotoxins are widely consumed food contaminants. Mechanistic studies support potential carcinogenic effects of mycotoxins in the human intestine, yet no studies have investigated these associations in population-based settings. This study aimed to investigate associations between dietary mycotoxin exposures and colorectal cancer risk. Dietary questionnaire data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) were combined with mycotoxin food occurrence data from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Associations between mycotoxin exposures and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk and its anatomical sub-sites were evaluated in multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models to compute hazard ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI), accounting for potential confounders. Food groups that explained the greatest variation in mycotoxin intakes were cereal-based products, vegetables, non-alcoholic beverages and fruits. For individual mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol (DON) was positively associated with CRC risk (HR top vs. bottom tertiles [T3vsT1] = 1.14; 1.04–1.24), while patulin (PAT) was positively associated with rectal cancer risk only (HR^T3vsT1 = 1.18; 1.05–1.32). Sensitivity analyses indicated differential results for men versus women with significant positive associations for DON and CRC risk found only in men. In conclusion, dietary mycotoxin exposures may be related to higher CRC risk. Further investigation in independent cohorts and through mechanistic studies is warranted.

Copper is an environmental element, essential for life, to which humans are exposed by inhalation, hand-to-mouth contamination, or ingestion of food and water. In this work, bacterial copper susceptibility (amount of copper able to inhibit bacterial growth) of aerobic bacteria from the intestinal microbiota of healthy children in Spain was explored. To establish the possible effect of children’s exposure to copper in the selection of copper-resistant organisms, the prevalence of copper-resistance among bacteria isolated in stool samples of 233 children belonging to the INMA cohort of the Spanish Project for Environment and Childhood Research was studied. Stool samples were seeded into Szybalsky-type agar plates containing specific culture media and a gradient of copper sulphate (< 0.68 - 2.05 mM). Culture media was suitable for growth of Gamma-Proteobacteria (mostly Enterobacteriaceae), Enterococcus and Staphylococcus. Colonies growing at intermediate (IR: < 0.68 - 1.36 mM) and/or higher copper concentrations (HR: 1.36 - 2.05 mM) were characterized by MaldiTOF assays. Sixty different species of copper-resistant organisms were detected. For Enterobacteriaceae, HR colonies were detected in 64.5% of seeded fecal samples, mostly corresponding to genus Escherichia (77% of positive samples); Enterobacter (15%), Citrobacter (13%), and Klebsiella (4.7%). However, Escherichia coli populations have a significantly lower proportion of high copper resistant colonies (49%) than the ensemble of Klebsiella-Enterobacter- Citrobacter colonies (77%). In HR-colonies of Firmicutes, Enterococcus genus was found in 97.3% of fecal samples, predominantly E. faecium (86%, of the positive Enterococcus samples), E. faecalis (37%), and E. hirae (6.9%). No significant correlation was found between counts of HR-colonies and the copper concentrations found in dry hair of the children studied (10 - 30 mcg/g). Copper-resistant populations in the children’s intestine might have evolved in the copper-rich external environment.

Erradiazio ez-ionizatzaileko eremu elektromagnetikoak (EEI-EEM) sortzen dituzten iturriak gero eta ohikoagoak dira gure bizimoduan, osasunean izan ditzaketen efektuen inguruko eztabaidak dirauen bitartean. Artikulu honen helburua, EEI-EEMen efektuen inguruan ikerketa esperimentalen eta epidemiologikoen bidez aztertu dena bildu eta laburbiltzea izan da. Nahiz eta ikerketa eta proiektu ugari egon gaiaren inguruan, kontu ugari daude argitzeke, batez ere muga metodologikoek sortzen dituzten arazoek ez dutelako ondorio argirik ateratzeko aukera ematen. Esposizioaren estimazio egokiagoa egitean esfortzu handiagoak egin beharko lirateke aurrerantzean.

Analysis of the association between exposure to electromagnetic fields of non-ionising radiation (EMF-NIR) and health in children and adolescents is hindered by the limited availability of data, mainly due to the difficulties on the exposure assessment. This study protocol describes the methodologies used for characterising exposure of children to EMF-NIR in the INMA (INfancia y Medio Ambiente- Environment and Childhood) Project, a prospective cohort study. Indirect (proximity to emission sources, questionnaires on sources use and geospatial propagation models) and direct methods (spot and fixed longer-term measurements and personal measurements) were conducted in order to assess exposure levels of study participants aged between 7 and 18 years old. The methodology used varies depending on the frequency of the EMF-NIR and the environment (homes, schools and parks). Questionnaires assessed the use of sources contributing both to Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) and Radiofrequency (RF) exposure levels. Geospatial propagation models (NISMap) are implemented and validated for environmental outdoor sources of RFs using spot measurements. Spot and fixed longer-term ELF and RF measurements were done in the environments where children spend most of the time. Moreover, personal measurements were taken in order to assess individual exposure to RF. The exposure data are used to explore their relationships with proximity and/or use of EMF-NIR sources. Characterisation of the EMF-NIR exposure by this combination of methods is intended to overcome problems encountered in other research. The assessment of exposure of INMA cohort children and adolescents living in different regions of Spain to the full frequency range of EMF-NIR extends the characterisation of environmental exposures in this cohort. Together with other data obtained in the project, on socioeconomic and family characteristics and development of the children and adolescents, this will enable to evaluate the complex interaction between health outcomes in children and adolescents and the various environmental factors that surround them.

Background: Population‐based data on vitamin D status in pregnancy in southern European countries are scarce. We assessed the prevalence and determinants of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in pregnancy in Spain.Methods: Plasma 25‐hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) concentration was measured at the first trimester of gestation in 2,036 pregnant women from several geographical areas of Spain (latitude 39–42°N). Uni‐ and multivariable regression models were conducted to identify predictors of circulating 25(OH)D3 concentration and vitamin D insufficiency (20–30 ng/mL) and deficiency (<20 ng/mL).Results: Thirty‐one per cent and 18% of women were vitamin D insufficient and deficient, respectively. Season at blood collection, latitude, age, social class, tobacco smoking, physical activity and use of vitamin D supplements were identified as independent determinants of 25(OH)D3 concentration. Lower risk of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency was associated with summer season at blood collection (RRfor insufficiency = 0.34, confidence intervals (CI) 0.25, 0.48; andRRfor deficiency = 0.07, 95%CI0.04, 0.12), southern latitude (RRfor insufficiency = 0.71, 95%CI0.50, 1.02;RRfor deficiency = 0.60, 95%CI0.38, 0.94); use of vitamin D supplements (RRfor insufficiency = 0.50, 95%CI0.35, 0.71;RRfor deficiency = 0.24, 95%CI0.14, 0.41); and strong physical activity (RRfor insufficiency = 0.80, 95%CI0.58, 1.09; andRRfor deficiency = 0.67, 95%CI0.46, 1.03). Higher risk of vitamin D deficiency was related to lower social class (RR = 1.94, 95%CI1.19, 3.16) and smoking (RR = 1.76, 95%CI1.23, 2.54).Conclusions: Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are highly prevalent in pregnancy. Recommendations and policies to detect and prevent hypovitaminosis D during pregnancy should be developed taking into account the associated factors.