Author:
|
Rosenquist, Aske Hess; Hoyer, Birgit Bjerre; Julvez, Jordi; Sunyer Deu, Jordi; Pedersen, Henning Sloth; Lenters, Virissa; Jonsson, Bo A. G.; Bonde, Jens Peter; Toft, Gunnar
|
Abstract:
|
BACKGROUND: Studies have reported some evidence of adverse
effects of organochlorine exposures on child development, but
the results have been inconsistent, and few studies have
evaluated associations with child behavior. OBJECTIVE: We
investigated the association between prenatal and early-life
exposures to 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB-153) and
1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-ethylene (p,p'-DDE) and
behaviors in children between 5 and 9 y of age. METHODS: In the
Biopersistent organochlorines in diet and human fertility:
Epidemiologic studies of time to pregnancy and semen quality in
Inuit and European populations (INUENDO) cohort, consisting of
mother-child pairs from Greenland and Ukraine (n=1,018),
maternal serum PCB-153 and p,p'-DDE concentrations were measured
during pregnancy, and cumulative postnatal exposures during the
first 12 months after delivery were estimated using a
pharmacokinetic model. Parents completed the Strengths and
Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and children's behaviors were
dichotomized as abnormal (high) versus normal/borderline for
five SDQ subscales and the total difficulties score. RESULTS:
The total difficulties score, an overall measure of abnormal
behavior, was not clearly associated with pre- or postnatal
exposures to PCB-153 or to p,p'-DDE. However, pooled adjusted
odds ratios (ORs) for high conduct problem scores with a
doubling of exposure were 1.19 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.42) and 1.16
(95% CI: 0.96, 1.41) for pre- and postnatal PCB-153,
respectively, and 1.25 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.51) and 1.24 (95% CI:
1.01, 1.51) for pre- and postnatal p,p'-DDE, respectively.
Corresponding ORs for high hyperactivity scores were 1.24 (95%
CI: 0.94, 1.62) and 1.08 (95% CI: 0.81, 1.45) for pre- and
postnatal PCB-153, respectively, and 1.43 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.92)
and 1.27 (95% CI: 0.93, 1.73) for pre- and postnatal p,p'-DDE,
respectively. CONCLUSION: Prenatal and early postnatal exposures
to p,p'-DDE and PCB-153 were associated with a higher prevalence
of abnormal scores for conduct and hyperactivity at 5-9 y of age
in our study population. These findings provide further support
for the importance of minimizing organochlorine exposures to
young children and to women of childbearing age.
https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP553. |