Possible associations between prenatal exposure to environmental pollutants and neurodevelopmental outcome in children

• Published in: Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2024-09, Vol.128, p.108658, Article 108658
• Main Authors: Berezovsky, Elena, Kohn, Elkana, Britzi, Malka, Efreim, Solomon, Berlin, Maya, Oppenheimer, Sabrina, Avitsur, Ronit, Agajany, Netanel, Berkovitch, Matitiahu, Sheinberg, Revital
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Child Development - drug effects; Child, Preschool; Cognition - drug effects; Cognitive function; Environmental pollutants; Environmental Pollutants - blood; Environmental Pollutants - toxicity; Environmental Pollutants - urine; Female; Humans; Male; Maternal Exposure - adverse effects; Neurodevelopmental Disorders - chemically induced; Neurologic development; Phthalates; Phthalic Acids - toxicity; Phthalic Acids - urine; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - blood; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - toxicity; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - urine; Pregnancy; Prenatal exposure; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
• ISSN: 0890-6238; 1873-1708; 1873-1708
• DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2024.108658

This study aimed to evaluate associations between prenatal and childhood exposure to phthalates and prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and the development of 4-year-old children. Urinary metabolites of five phthalates were measured in women upon delivery, as well as serum concentrations of four PCB congeners. Postnatal phthalate metabolites were measured from children's urine obtained at the time of developmental assessment. The primary outcome was cognitive function as evaluated by the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III) administered at 4 years. Secondary outcomes were motor function and response to sensory stimuli as evaluated by the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ) and Short Sensory Profile (SSP) that the mothers filled out, respectively. The study included 57 mother-child pairs. Higher maternal phthalate metabolite concentrations were inversely associated with WPPSI-III scores among boys and not among girls. After using linear regression models and controlling for confounding variables, we found that higher levels of monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) were the ones associated with lower WPPSI-III scores (p=0.004, 95 %CI [-14.18; −3.16]), lower DCDQ scores (p=0.007, 95 %CI [-6.08; −1.17] and lower SSP scores (p=0.004, 95 %CI [-7.47; −1.79]). No association was found between child urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations or maternal PCB blood concentrations and developmental function. These findings indicate that higher prenatal phthalate metabolite levels may be associated with deficits in neurologic development of young boys. •Higher prenatal phthalate exposure was associated with lower developmental scores.•Male sex was more susceptible to negative effects of prenatal phthalate exposure.•Higher prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls did not affect development.•Higher childhood exposure to phthalates did not affect development.