Prenatal exposure to environmental contaminants and behavioural problems at age 7-8years.

Animal studies showed that the developing brain is particularly
sensitive to chemical exposure. Human studies carried out in areas with
high exposures have proven neurodevelopmental disorders in relation to
e.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 7-8year old children. Prenatal exposure
data were obtained from the Flemish mother-new-born cohort. Lead,
cadmium, PCBs, dioxin-like compounds, HCB and p,p'-DDE were analysed in
cord blood. When the child reached 7-8years, 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 1.53 times higher risk for emotional problems when doubling
cord blood cadmium, whereas no significant association was found in
girls. These results indicate that the presence of environmental
contaminants influences the mental health of the next generation.

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