Journal Articles

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    Antibiotic Use In Utero and Early Life and Risk of Chronic Childhood Conditions in New Zealand: Protocol for a Data Linkage Retrospective Cohort Study
    (JMIR Publications, 2025-02-28) Ram S; Corbin M; 't Mannetje A; Eng A; Kvalsig A; Baker M; Douwes J
    Background: The incidence of many common chronic childhood conditions has increased globally in the past few decades, which has been suggested to be potentially attributed to antibiotic overuse leading to dysbiosis in the gut microbiome. Objective: This linkage study will assess the role of antibiotic use in utero and in early life in the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D), attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD), and inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: The study design involves several retrospective cohort studies using linked administrative health and social data from Statistics New Zealand’s Integrated Data Infrastructure. It uses data from all children who were born in New Zealand between October 2005 and December 2010 (N=334,204) and their mothers. Children’s antibiotic use is identified for 4 time periods (at pregnancy, at ≤1 year, at ≤2 years, and at ≤5 years), and the development of T1D, ADHD, and inflammatory bowel disease is measured from the end of the antibiotic use periods until death, emigration, or the end of the follow-up period (2021), whichever came first. Children who emigrated or died before the end of the antibiotic use period are excluded. Cox proportional hazards regression models are used while adjusting for a range of potential confounders. Results: As of September 2024, data linkage has been completed, involving the integration of antibiotic exposure and outcome variables for 315,789 children. Preliminary analyses show that both prenatal and early life antibiotic consumption is associated with T1D. Full analyses for all 3 outcomes will be completed by the end of 2025. Conclusions: This series of linked cohort studies using detailed, complete, and systematically collected antibiotic prescription data will provide critical new knowledge regarding the role of antibiotics in the development of common chronic childhood conditions. Thus, this study has the potential to contribute to the development of primary prevention strategies through, for example, targeted changes in antibiotic use.
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    Pesticide exposure in New Zealand school-aged children: Urinary concentrations of biomarkers and assessment of determinants
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2022-05) Li Y; Wang X; Feary McKenzie J; 't Mannetje A; Cheng S; He C; Leathem J; Pearce N; Sunyer J; Eskenazi B; Yeh R; Aylward LL; Donovan G; Mueller JF; Douwes J
    This study aimed to assess pesticide exposure and its determinants in children aged 5-14 years. Urine samples (n = 953) were collected from 501 participating children living in urban areas (participant n = 300), rural areas but not on a farm (n = 76), and living on a farm (n = 125). The majority provided two samples, one in the high and one in the low spraying season. Information on diet, lifestyle, and demographic factors was collected by questionnaire. Urine was analysed for 20 pesticide biomarkers by GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS. Nine analytes were detected in > 80% of samples, including six organophosphate insecticide metabolites (DMP, DMTP, DEP, DETP, TCPy, PNP), two pyrethroid insecticide metabolites (3-PBA, trans-DCCA), and one herbicide (2,4-D). The highest concentration was measured for TCPy (median 13 μg/g creatinine), a metabolite of chlorpyrifos and triclopyr, followed by DMP (11 μg/g) and DMTP (3.7 μg/g). Urine metabolite levels were generally similar or low compared to those reported for other countries, while relatively high for TCPy and pyrethroid metabolites. Living on a farm was associated with higher TCPy levels during the high spray season. Living in rural areas, dog ownership and in-home pest control were associated with higher levels of pyrethroid metabolites. Urinary concentrations of several pesticide metabolites were higher during the low spraying season, possibly due to consumption of imported fruits and vegetables. Organic fruit consumption was not associated with lower urine concentrations, but consumption of organic food other than fruit or vegetables was associated with lower concentrations of TCPy in the high spray season. In conclusion, compared to other countries such as the U.S., New Zealand children had relatively high exposures to chlorpyrifos/triclopyr and pyrethroids. Factors associated with exposure included age, season, area of residence, diet, in-home pest control, and pets.
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    Recall of mobile phone usage and laterality in young people: The multinational Mobi-Expo study.
    (Elsevier B.V., 26/04/2018) Goedhart G; van Wel L; Langer CE; de Llobet Viladoms P; Wiart J; Hours M; Kromhout H; Benke G; Bouka E; Bruchim R; Choi K-H; Eng A; Ha M; Huss A; Kiyohara K; Kojimahara N; Krewski D; Lacour B; 't Mannetje A; Maule M; Migliore E; Mohipp C; Momoli F; Petridou ET; Radon K; Remen T; Sadetzki S; Sim M; Weinmann T; Cardis E; Vrijheid M; Vermeulen R
    OBJECTIVE: To study recall of mobile phone usage, including laterality and hands-free use, in young people. METHODS: Actual mobile phone use was recorded among volunteers aged between 10 and 24 years from 12 countries by the software application XMobiSense and was compared with self-reported mobile phone use at 6 and 18 months after using the application. The application recorded number and duration of voice calls, number of text messages, amount of data transfer, laterality (% of call time the phone was near the right or left side of the head, or neither), and hands-free usage. After data cleaning, 466 participants were available for the main analyses (recorded vs. self-reported phone use after 6 months). RESULTS: Participants were on average 18.6 years old (IQR 15.2-21.8 years). The Spearman correlation coefficients between recorded and self-reported (after 6 months) number and duration of voice calls were 0.68 and 0.65, respectively. Number of calls was on average underestimated by the participants (adjusted geometric mean ratio (GMR) self-report/recorded = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.47-0.58), while duration of calls was overestimated (GMR=1.32, 95%, CI = 1.15-1.52). The ratios significantly differed by country, age, maternal educational level, and level of reported phone use, but not by time of the interview (6 vs. 18 months). Individuals who reported low mobile phone use underestimated their use, while individuals who reported the highest level of phone use were more likely to overestimate their use. Individuals who reported using the phone mainly on the right side of the head used it more on the right (71.1%) than the left (28.9%) side. Self-reported left side users, however, used the phone only slightly more on the left (53.3%) than the right (46.7%) side. Recorded percentage hands-free use (headset, speaker mode, Bluetooth) increased with increasing self-reported frequency of hands-free device usage. Frequent (≥50% of call time) reported headset or speaker mode use corresponded with 17.1% and 17.2% of total call time, respectively, that was recorded as hands-free use. DISCUSSION: These results indicate that young people can recall phone use moderately well, with recall depending on the amount of phone use and participants' characteristics. The obtained information can be used to calibrate self-reported mobile use to improve estimation of radiofrequency exposure from mobile phones.