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Prenatal and postnatal PCB-153 and p,p′ -DDE exposures and behavior scores at 5–9 years of age among children in Greenland and Ukraine

Rosenquist, Aske Hess ; Høyer, Birgit Bjerre ; Julvez, Jordi ; Sunyer, Jordi ; Pedersen, Henning Sloth ; Lenters, Virissa ; Jönsson, Bo A.G. LU ; Bonde, Jens Peter and Toft, Gunnar (2017) In Environmental Health Perspectives 125(10).
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... (More)

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.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Environmental Health Perspectives
volume
125
issue
10
article number
107002
publisher
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
external identifiers
  • scopus:85031748247
  • pmid:28974479
  • wos:000413793300014
ISSN
0091-6765
DOI
10.1289/EHP553
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c18f34c7-91fd-46aa-8753-bb8004393720
date added to LUP
2017-11-20 12:37:05
date last changed
2024-04-14 21:31:59
@article{c18f34c7-91fd-46aa-8753-bb8004393720,
  abstract     = {{<p>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.</p>}},
  author       = {{Rosenquist, Aske Hess and Høyer, Birgit Bjerre and Julvez, Jordi and Sunyer, Jordi and Pedersen, Henning Sloth and Lenters, Virissa and Jönsson, Bo A.G. and Bonde, Jens Peter and Toft, Gunnar}},
  issn         = {{0091-6765}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  number       = {{10}},
  publisher    = {{National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences}},
  series       = {{Environmental Health Perspectives}},
  title        = {{Prenatal and postnatal PCB-153 and p,p′ -DDE exposures and behavior scores at 5–9 years of age among children in Greenland and Ukraine}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP553}},
  doi          = {{10.1289/EHP553}},
  volume       = {{125}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}