Vrijheid, M, Slama, R, Robinson, O et al. (32 more authors) (2014) The human early-life exposome (HELIX): project rationale and design. Environmental Health Perspectives, 122 (6). pp. 535-544. ISSN 0091-6765
Abstract
Background: Developmental periods in early life may be particularly vulnerable to impacts of environmental exposures. Human research on this topic has generally focused on single exposure–health effect relationships. The “exposome” concept encompasses the totality of exposures from conception onward, complementing the genome. Objectives: The Human Early-Life Exposome (HELIX) project is a new collaborative research project that aims to implement novel exposure assessment and biomarker methods to characterize early-life exposure to multiple environmental factors and associate these with omics biomarkers and child health outcomes, thus characterizing the “early-life exposome.” Here we describe the general design of the project. Methods: In six existing birth cohort studies in Europe, HELIX will estimate prenatal and postnatal exposure to a broad range of chemical and physical exposures. Exposure models will be developed for the full cohorts totaling 32,000 mother–child pairs, and biomarkers will be measured in a subset of 1,200 mother–child pairs. Nested repeat-sampling panel studies (n = 150) will collect data on biomarker variability, use smartphones to assess mobility and physical activity, and perform personal exposure monitoring. Omics techniques will determine molecular profiles (metabolome, proteome, transcriptome, epigenome) associated with exposures. Statistical methods for multiple exposures will provide exposure–response estimates for fetal and child growth, obesity, neurodevelopment, and respiratory outcomes. A health impact assessment exercise will evaluate risks and benefits of combined exposures. Conclusions: HELIX is one of the first attempts to describe the early-life exposome of European populations and unravel its relation to omics markers and health in childhood. As proof of concept, it will form an important first step toward the life-course exposome.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | Reproduced with permission from Environmental Health Perspectives. |
Keywords: | Biological Markers Child Child Development Child, Preschool Cohort Studies Environmental Exposure/*adverse effects/*analysis/statistics & numerical data Epigenomics Europe Female Fetal Development Humans Infant Infant, Newborn Male Maternal Exposure/adverse effects/statistics & numerical data Metabolome Obesity Pregnancy Proteome Transcriptome |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Medicine (Leeds) > Leeds Institute of Genetics, Health and Therapeutics (LIGHT) > Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 17 Aug 2016 14:20 |
Last Modified: | 17 Aug 2016 14:20 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1307204 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences |
Identification Number: | 10.1289/ehp.1307204 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:103556 |