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HERO ID
1510253
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and neuropsychological status among older adults in New York
Author(s)
Fitzgerald, EF; Shrestha, S; Gomez, MI; Mccaffrey, RJ; Zimmerman, EA; Kannan, K; Hwang, SA
Year
2012
Is Peer Reviewed?
1
Journal
NeuroToxicology
ISSN:
0161-813X
EISSN:
1872-9711
Volume
33
Issue
1
Page Numbers
8-15
Language
English
PMID
22079442
DOI
10.1016/j.neuro.2011.10.011
Web of Science Id
WOS:000300519500002
Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are emerging environmental contaminants, but little is known about their possible human health effects. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between exposure to PBDEs and neuropsychological function among older adults and the possibility of effect modification with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Serum samples were analyzed for concentrations of 9 PBDE and 30 PCB congeners and 34 tests of cognitive and motor function, affective state, and olfactory function were assessed among 144 men and women of 55-74 years of age. After adjustment for relevant confounders, no overall associations were observed between the sum of the PBDE congener concentrations in serum (∑ PBDE) and scores on the neuropsychological tests. However, statistically significant interactions were found between PBDEs and PCBs for some measures of verbal learning and memory. Among persons with ∑ PCB concentrations at or above the median of 467ppb (lipid basis), an increase in ∑ PBDE concentrations from the 25th to 75th percentile was associated with decreases between 7% and 12% on scores for certain subscales of the California Verbal Learning Test. In contrast, no statistically significant associations were observed for PBDEs among persons with ∑ PCB levels below the median. The results suggest that PBDEs and PCBs may interact to affect verbal memory and learning among persons 55-74 years old. This is the first study to evaluate the neuropsychological effects of PBDEs in adults and the possibility of synergy with PCBs in humans.
Keywords
Adult; Hazardous waste; Neuropsychological tests; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers; Polychlorinated biphenyls
Tags
IRIS
•
PCBs
Supplemental
Litsearches
PubMed
WoS
ToxLine
Remaining
LitSearch August 2015
Pubmed
Toxline
WoS
Cited (Nov 2012)
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