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This study examined the associations between PM (2.5 and 10) and global DNA methylation among 100 e-waste workers and 51 non-e-waste workers serving as controls. Long interspersed nucleotide repetitive elements-1 (LINE-1) was measured by pyrosequencing. Personal PM2.5 and PM10 were measured over a 4-hour work-shift using real-time particulate monitors incorporated into a backpack. Linear regression models were used to assess the association between PM and LINE-1 DNA methylation. The concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 were significantly higher among the e-waste workers than the controls (77.32 vs 34.88, p < 0.001 and 210.21 vs 121.92, p < 0.001, respectively). PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased LINE-1 CpG2 DNA methylation (β = 0.003; 95% CI; 0.001, 0.006; p = 0.022) but not with the average of all 4 CpG sites of LINE-1. In summary, high levels of PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased levels of global DNA methylation in a site-specific manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of chronic arsenic exposure mode on DNA methylation and skin lesion type are unclear. These relationships were investigated in an arsenic-contaminated area of southern Thailand. Cases with arsenical skin lesions (n = 131) and lesion-free controls (n = 163) were selected from an arsenic-contaminated sub-district, as well as 105 controls from a non-contaminated area. Type and severity of skin lesions and salivary global DNA methylation (LINE-1) were determined. Arsenic exposure was characterized as occupational, domestic and current (toe-nail arsenic). Associations were explored using logistic regression. Cases and controls had lower LINE-1 methylation and higher toenail arsenic than external controls (74.65% and 74.61% vs 76.05%, p < 0.001 for each). Cases were more likely to have been exposed domestically (ORtotal 1.76, 95% ci 1.00, 3.11; and 2.22, 95% ci 1.22, 4.03; Ptrend = 0.005 for exposure <36 and ≥36 years). More severe spotty hyperpigmentation was related to higher LINE-1 methylation (PtrendD0.006). LINE-1 methylation was positively associated with toenail arsenic only among non-symptomatic exposed subjects (OR 1.31, 95% ci 1.06, 1.64; p = 0.014). Exposure to an arseniccontaminated environment results in global DNA hypomethylation. However, among symptomatic subjects, increased global DNA methylation was associated with increased severity of spotty hyperpigmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Telomere length is a biomarker of cumulative stress and inflammation related to chronic disease risk. We examined the associations of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) with sociodemographic and anthropometric variables and estimated LTL family aggregation in Central America, a region with a high burden of chronic disease where LTL has not been studied. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of 174 school age children and their parents in the capital cities of Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and the city of Tuxtla-Gutierrez in Mexico. We measured LTL by quantitative PCR in DNA extracted from whole blood. We compared the distribution of LTL by categories of sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics using linear regression. Family aggregation was estimated with correlation coefficients and intraclass correlations. Results In mothers, LTL was inversely associated with age ( P, trend < .0001) and positively associated with height ( P = .0002). Among fathers, LTL was inversely associated with food insecurity ( P, trend = .0004). In children, boys had 0.10 log units shorter LTL than girls (95% CI: −0.17, −0.03; P = .004). LTL was inversely associated with parental education ( P, trend = .01) and positively associated with paternal age at birth ( P, trend < .0001), maternal LTL ( P, trend = .007), and paternal LTL ( P, trend = .02). LTL varied significantly by country of origin among all family members. Aggregation was greatest between children and their mothers, and mostly occurred at the country, rather than family, level. Conclusion LTL is associated with age and height in women; food insecurity in men; and sex, parental education, parental LTL, and paternal age at birth among children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]