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Biomarker-based Epidemiology Group

Exposure to Environmental Contaminants

Matthew P. Longnecker, M.D., Sc.D.
Matthew P. Longnecker, M.D., Sc.D.
Principal Investigator
Tel (919) 541-5118
Fax (919) 541-2511
longnec1@niehs.nih.gov
Curriculum Vitae (262KB)
P.O. Box 12233
Mail Drop A3-05
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
Delivery Instructions


Research Summary

The Biomarker-based Epidemiology Group is focused on health effects of early exposure to background levels of environmental contaminants. The term "background level" means exposure that occurs in the general population, usually at low levels, with no unusual or occupational exposure. To detect effects of low-level exposure, if any, the group looks at the effects that occur prior to birth, when susceptibility may be greatest. Future research plans, however, will extend the scope to include childhood exposures. To date, the specific outcomes addressed in this research have ranged from reproductive outcomes to children’s performance on neurobehavioral tests. Matthew P. Longnecker, M.D., Sc.D., is the head of the Biomarker-based Epidemiology Group.

[An image of a fetus] + [a group of chemicals (their structures for bisphenol A, chlorpyrifos as a representative organophosphate, and DDT)] = [a big question mark]


When Longnecker began work in the field, he studied persistent organic pollutants exclusively. Persistent organic pollutants are major public health concerns because they are omnipresent in the ecosystem and may cause adverse health effects at background levels of exposure via diet. Examples are DDE, the major metabolite of the insecticide DDT, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and dioxin, also known as tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin or TCDD. Epidemiologic research on potentially adverse health effects of the insecticide DDT continues to impact public health policy, and Longnecker has ongoing studies that address the topic.

Longnecker is phasing out his PCB and dioxin research and plans to work with perfluoronated compounds, a class of persistent organic pollutants that are created by the degradation or metabolism of widely used compounds. Because perfluoronated compounds occur ubiquitously in the environment, their appearance in the serum of the general population is greater than for any previously-studied persistent organic pollutant, thus warranting further investigation. Recently, Longnecker has also begun studying the effects of early, low-level exposure to nonpersistent pollutants, in particular, bisphenol A, phthalates and nonpersistent pesticides.

Longnecker received a B.S. from Antioch College, an M.D. from Dartmouth Medical School and a Sc.D. from Harvard School of Public Health. He is board certified in internal medicine. He was an assistant professor of Epidemiology in the School of Public Health at the University of California, Los Angeles before coming to NIEHS in 1995.  Longnecker is a senior investigator in the U.S. Public Health Service at NIEHS.  He also serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Studies

DDE and PCBs in the Collaborative Perinatal Project

This study explores the health effects of in utero exposure to organochlorines such as DDE and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) using biologic specimens from the Collaborative Perinatal Project (CPP).


Generation R

Generation R is a prospective study of 8,000 children—born in 2002-2006 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands—who are being be followed from early fetal life to young adulthood.  The study is spearheaded by scientists at the Erasmus Medical Center.  NIEHS supported collection of urine specimens taken at three times during pregnancy from approximately 2,000 subjects in 2004-2006.  These will be used to examine exposure to selected environmental contaminants and offspring health.


Norwegian Mother & Child Cohort Study (MoBa)

The Norwegian Mother & Child study (MoBa) is an ongoing long–term prospective cohort study of 100,000 pregnant women and their babies. In collaboration with the Norwegian National Public Health Institute, NIEHS is supporting the collection of additional biologic specimens from the pregnant women.


Tapachula Study (TAP) ("/Rhythmyx/assembler/render?sys_contentid=36355&sys_revision=1&sys_variantid=639&sys_context=0&sys_authtype=0&sys_siteid=&sys_folderid=" sys_dependentvariantid="639" sys_dependentid="36355" inlinetype="rxhyperlink" rxinlineslot="103" sys_dependentid="36355" sys_siteid="" sys_folderid="")

The goal of the Tapachula Study is to study the effects of DDT and its metabolite, the antiandrogen DDE, on a variety of anthropometric measures at birth and duration of lactation.


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Selected Publications

  1. Longnecker MP, Klebanoff MA, Zhou H, Brock JW. Association between maternal serum concentration of the DDT metabolite DDE and preterm and small-for-gestational-age babies at birth. Lancet 358:110-114, 2001. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11463412) ]
  2. Longnecker MP, Klebanoff MA, Brock JW, Zhou H, Gray KA, Needham LL, Wilcox AJ. Maternal serum level of 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene and risk of cryptorchidism, hypospadias, and polythelia among male offspring. Am J Epidemiol 155:313-322, 2002. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11836195) ] [Full Text (http://aje.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/full/155/4/313) ] [PDF (http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/155/4/313.pdf) ]
  3. Daniels JL, Longnecker MP, Klebanoff MA, Gray KA, Brock JW, Zhou H, Chen Z, Needham LL. Prenatal exposure to low level polychlorinated biphenyls in relation to mental and motor development at 8 months. Am J Epidemiol 157:485-492, 2003. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12631537) ] [Full Text (http://aje.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/full/157/6/485) ] [PDF (http://aje.oupjournals.org/cgi/reprint/157/6/485.pdf) ]
  4. Longnecker MP, Hoffman HJ, Klebanoff MA, Brock JW, Zhou H, Needham L, Adera T, Guo X, Gray KA. In utero exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and sensorineural hearing loss in 8-year old children. Neurotoxicol Teratol 26:629-637, 2004. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15315812) ] [PDF (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B6T9X-4CJXWGF-1-1&_cdi=5126&_user=10843&_orig=search&_coverDate=10%2F31%2F2004&_qd=1&_sk=999739994&view=c&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkzV&md5=2f47dcfd9ab5ec9a33cc1830535b7433&ie=/sdarticle.pdf) ]
  5. Longnecker MP, Klebanoff MA, Dunson DB, Guo X, Chen Z, Zhou H, Brock JW. Maternal serum level of the DDT metabolite DDE in relation to fetal loss in previous pregnancies. Environ Res 97:194-109, 2005. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15533328) ] [PDF (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B6WDS-497YTWR-1-G&_cdi=6774&_user=10843&_orig=search&_coverDate=02%2F28%2F2005&_qd=1&_sk=999029997&view=c&wchp=dGLbVtb-zSkWz&md5=878b53393840bab5fdf46abcfefd96ed&ie=/sdarticle.pdf) ]
  6. Elliott L, Longnecker MP, Kissling GE, London SJ. Volatile organic compounds and pulmonary function in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994. Environmental health perspectives 114(8):1210-1214, 2006. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16882527) ]
  7. Pierik FH, Klebanoff MA, Brock JW, Longnecker MP. Maternal pregnancy serum level of heptachlor epoxide, hexachlorobenzene, and ²-hexachlorocyclohexane and risk of cryptorchidism in offspring. Environmental Research 3:364-369, 2007. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=17532317) ]
  8. Fraser A, Longnecker MP, Lawlor DA. Prevalence of elevated alanine-aminotransferase amoang US adolescents and associated factors: NHANES 1999-2004. Gastroenterology 133(6):1814-1820, 2007. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18054554) ]
  9. Cupul-Uicab LA, Gladen BC, Hernández-Ávila M, Weber J-P, Longnecker MP. DDE, a degradation product of DDT, and duration of lactation in a highly exposed area of Mexico. Environmental health perspectives 116(2):179-183, 2008. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18288315) ]
  10. Ye XB, Fitzgerald EF, Gomez MI, Lambert GH, Longnecker MP. The ratio of specific polychlorinated biphenyls as a surrogate biomarker of CYP1A2 activity a pharmaco-metabonomic study in humans. Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology 17(4):1013-1015, 2008. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18398048) ]
  11. Arbuckle TE, Hauser R, Swan SH, Mao CS, Longnecker MP, Main KM, Whyatt RM, Mendola P, Legrand M, Rovet J, Till C, Wade M, Jarrell J, Matthews S, Van Vliet G, Bornehag C-G, Mieusset R. Meeting report: measuring endocrine-sensitive endpoints within the first years of life. Environmental health perspectives 116(7):948-951, 2008. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18629319) ]
  12. Longnecker MP, Smith CS, Kissling GE, Hoppin JA, Butenhoff JL, Decker E, Ehresman DJ, Ellefson ME, Flaherty J, Gardner MS, Langlois E, LeBlanc A, Lindstrom AB, Reagen WK, Strynar MJ, Studabaker WB. An interlaboratory study of perfluorinated alkyl compound levels in human plasma. Environmental Science and Technology 107(2):152-159, 2008. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18295197) ]
  13. Windham GC, Zhang L, Longnecker MP, Klebanoff M. Maternal smoking, demographic and lifestyle factors in relation to daughter's age at menarche. Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology 22(6):551-561, 2008. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=19000293) ]
  14. Ye X, Pierik FH, Hauser R, Duty S, Angerer J, Park MM, Burdorf A, Hofman A, Jaddoe VW, Mackenbach JP, Steegers EA, Tiemeier H, Longnecker MP. Urinary metabolite concentrations of organophosphorous pesticides, bisphenol A, and phthalates among pregnant women in Rotterdam, the Netherlands: The Generation R Study. Environmental research 108(2):260-267, 2008. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=18774129) ]
  15. Cupul-Uicab LA, Gladen BC, Hernández-Ávila M, Longnecker MP. Reliability of reported breastfeeding duration among reproductive-aged women from Mexico. Maternal & child nutrition 5(2):125-137, 2009. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=19292747) ]
  16. Eggesbø M, Stigum H, Longnecker MP, Polder A, Aldrin M, Basso O, Thomsen C, Skaare JU, Becher G, Magnus P. Levels of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in breast milk in relation to birth weight in a Norwegian cohort. Environmental research 109(5):559-566, 2009. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=19410245) ]
  17. Nepomnaschy PA, Baird DD, Weinberg CR, Hoppin JA, Longnecker MP, Wilcox AJ. Within-person variability in urinary bisphenol A concentrations: Measurement from specimens after long-term frozen storage. Environmental research 109(6):734-737, 2009. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=19463991) ]
  18. Longnecker MP. Human Data on Bisphenol A and Neurodevelopment. Environmental health perspectives 117(12):A531-A532, 2009. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=20049178) ]
  19. McGlynn KA, Guo X, Graubard BI, Brock JW, Klebanoff MA, Longnecker MP. Maternal pregnancy levels of polychlorinated biphenyls and risk of hypospadias and cryptorchidism in male offspring. Environmental health perspectives 117(9):1472-1476, 2009. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=19750116) ]
  20. Longnecker MP. On confounded fishy results on arsenic and diabetes. Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.) 20(6):821-823, 2009. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=19730267) ]
  21. Baird DD, Saldana TM, Nepomnaschy PA, Hoppin JA, Longnecker MP, Weinberg CR, Wilcox AJ. Within-person variability in urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations: Measurements from specimens after long-term frozen storage. Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology 20(2):169-175, 2010. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=19277068) ]
  22. Ye X, Skjaerven R, Basso O, Baird DD, Eggesbo M, Uicab LA, Haug K, Longnecker MP. In Utero Exposure to Tobacco Smoking and Subsequent Reduced Fertility in Females. Human reproduction (Oxford, England) 25(11):2901-2906, 2010. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=20817739) ]
  23. Brantaeter AL, Owe KM, Haugen M, Alexander J, Meltzer HM, Longnecker MP. Validation of self-reported recreational exercise in pregnant women in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports 20(1):e48-55, 2010. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=19486481) ]
  24. Cupul-Uicab LA, Hernández-Ávila M, Terrazas-Medina EA, Pennell ML, Longnecker MP. Prenatal exposure to the major DDT metabolite 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE) and growth in boys from Mexico. Environmental research 110(6):595-603, 2010. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=20566194) ]
  25. Cupul-Uicab LA, Baird DD, Skjaerven R, Saha-Chaudhuri P, Haug K, Longnecker MP. In utero exposure to maternal tobacco smoking and women's risk of pregnancy loss later in life in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort (MoBa). Human reproduction (Oxford, England) 26(2):458-465, 2011. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=21147823) ]
  26. Whitworth KW, Baird DD, Stene LC, Skjaerven R, Longnecker MP. Fecundability among women with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. Diabetologia 54(3):516-522, 2011. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=21170514) ]
  27. Cupul-Uicab LA, Ye X, Skjaerven R, Haug K, Longnecker MP. Reproducibility of Reported In Utero Exposure to Tobacco Smoking. Annals of epidemiology 21(1):48-52, 2011 [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=21130369) ]
  28. Trabert B, Longnecker MP, Graubard BI, Klebanoff MA, Stanczyk FZ, McGlynn KA. Placental characteristics as a proxy measure of serum hormone and protein levels during pregnancy with a male fetus. Cancer causes & control 22(5):689-695, 2011. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=21336590) ]
  29. Eggesbø M, Thomsen C, Jørgensen JV, Becher G, Oyvind Odland J, Longnecker MP. Associations between brominated flame retardants in human milk and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in neonates. Environmental research 111(6):737-743, 2011. [Abstract (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=21601188) ]


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Last Reviewed: December 23, 2011