TY - JOUR
T1 - Prenatal exposure to environmental contaminants and behavioural problems at age 7-8 years
AU - Sioen, Isabelle
AU - Den Hond, Elly
AU - Nelen, Vera
AU - Van De Mieroop, Els
AU - Croes, Kim
AU - Van Larebeke, N.
AU - Nawrot, Tim
AU - Schoeters, Greet
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Animal studies showed that the developing brain is particularly sensitive to chemical exposure. Human studies carried out in areas with high exposures have provenneurodevelopmental disorders in relation toe.g. lead and PCBs. Whether these chemicals are associated with behavioural problems in childhood at current environmental levels is not well known. Therefore, we assessed the association between prenatal exposure to lead, cadmium, PCBs, dioxin-like compounds, HCB and p,p'-DDE and behavioural problems in 7-8yearold children. Prenatal exposure data were obtained from the Flemish mother-new-born cohort. Lead, cadmium, PCBs, dioxin-like compounds, HCB and p,p'-DDE wereanalysed in cord blood. When the child reached 7-8 years, 270 mothers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire assessing their children's behavioural health. We found that doubling the prenatal lead exposure (cord blood lead levels) was associated with a 3.43 times higher risk for hyperactivity in both boys and girls. In addition, total difficulties were 5.08 times more likely in the highest tertile for prenatal lead exposure compared to the lowest tertile. In girls, total difficulties were 4.92 more likely when doubling cord blood p,p'-DDE, whereas no significant association was found in boys. Further, we noted in boys a 1.53times higher risk for emotional problems when doubling cord blood cadmium, whereas no significant association was found in girls.These resultsindicate that the presence of environmental contaminants influences the mental health of the next generation.
AB - Animal studies showed that the developing brain is particularly sensitive to chemical exposure. Human studies carried out in areas with high exposures have provenneurodevelopmental disorders in relation toe.g. lead and PCBs. Whether these chemicals are associated with behavioural problems in childhood at current environmental levels is not well known. Therefore, we assessed the association between prenatal exposure to lead, cadmium, PCBs, dioxin-like compounds, HCB and p,p'-DDE and behavioural problems in 7-8yearold children. Prenatal exposure data were obtained from the Flemish mother-new-born cohort. Lead, cadmium, PCBs, dioxin-like compounds, HCB and p,p'-DDE wereanalysed in cord blood. When the child reached 7-8 years, 270 mothers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire assessing their children's behavioural health. We found that doubling the prenatal lead exposure (cord blood lead levels) was associated with a 3.43 times higher risk for hyperactivity in both boys and girls. In addition, total difficulties were 5.08 times more likely in the highest tertile for prenatal lead exposure compared to the lowest tertile. In girls, total difficulties were 4.92 more likely when doubling cord blood p,p'-DDE, whereas no significant association was found in boys. Further, we noted in boys a 1.53times higher risk for emotional problems when doubling cord blood cadmium, whereas no significant association was found in girls.These resultsindicate that the presence of environmental contaminants influences the mental health of the next generation.
KW - cadmium
KW - child behaviour
KW - dioxin-like compounds
M3 - Article
VL - 59
SP - 225
EP - 231
JO - Environment International
JF - Environment International
SN - 0160-4120
ER -