Emile Boyer, Christine Monfort, Fabrice Lainé, Éric Gaudreau, Hélène Tillaut, Martine Bonnaure-Mallet, Sylvaine Cordier, Vincent Meuric, Cécile Chevrier, Nutrition, Métabolismes et Cancer (NuMeCan), Université de Rennes (UR)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), CHU Pontchaillou [Rennes], Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail (Irset), Université d'Angers (UA)-Université de Rennes (UR)-École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique [EHESP] (EHESP)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Structure Fédérative de Recherche en Biologie et Santé de Rennes ( Biosit : Biologie - Santé - Innovation Technologique ), École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique [EHESP] (EHESP), Centre d'Investigation Clinique [Rennes] (CIC), Université de Rennes (UR)-Hôpital Pontchaillou-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec [Canada] (INSPQ), Université de Rennes (UR), Hôpital Sud [CHU Rennes], The PELAGIE cohort has been funded by INSERM (since the beginning), the French Ministries of Health (2003–2004), Labor (2002–2003), and Research (ATC, 2003–2004), the French National Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVS, 2002–2006), the National Agency for Research (ANR, 2005–2008, 2010–2012, 2015–2019), the French Agency for Environmental Health Safety (Afsset/ANSES, 2007–2009, 2009–2012, 2019–2023), the French Agency for Drug Safety (2013–2017), the Fondation de France (2014–2017, 2015–2018, 2017–2020, 2019–2021, 2021–2024), the French Ministry of Ecology (PNRPE, 2014–2016), the Research Institute of Public Health (IResP, 2011–2014), and the following European programs: Hi-WATE (2007–2009), ENRIECO (2008–2010), OBERON (2019–2023), and REMEDIA (2020–2024)., Internationale, European Project: 39517,HI-WATE, European Project: 226285,EC:FP7:ENV,FP7-ENV-2008-1,ENRIECO(2009), and European Project: 825712,H2020-EU.3.1.1. - Understanding health, wellbeing and disease,H2020-SC1-2018-Single-Stage-RTD,OBERON(2019)
International audience; BACKGROUND: Exceptional episodes of exposure to high levels of persistent organic pollutants have already been associated with developmental defects of enamel among children, but knowledge is still scarce concerning the contribution of background levels of environmental contamination. METHODS: Children of the French PELAGIE mother-child cohort were followed from birth, with collection of medical data and cord blood samples that were used to measure polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCs), and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs). At 12 years of age, molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) and other enamel defects (EDs) were recorded for 498 children. Associations were studied using logistic regression models adjusted for potential prenatal confounders. RESULTS: An increasing log-concentration of β-HCH was associated with a reduced risk of MIH and EDs (OR = 0.55; 95% CI, 0.32-0.95, and OR = 0.65; 95% CI, 0.43-0.98, respectively). Among girls, intermediate levels of p,p’-DDE were associated with a reduced risk of MIH. Among boys, we observed an increased risk of EDs in association with intermediate levels of PCB 138, PCB 153, PCB 187, and an increased risk of MIH with intermediate levels of PFOA and PFOS. CONCLUSIONS: Two OCs were associated with a reduced risk of dental defects, whereas the associations between PCBs and PFASs and EDs or MIH were generally close to null or sex-specific, with an increased risk of dental defects in boys. These results suggest that POPs could impact amelogenesis. Replication of this study is required and the possible underlying mechanisms need to be explored.