US EPA

2182962 

Journal Article 

Abstract 

Prenatal polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure and measures of behavior in childhood 

Sagiv, S; Bellinger, D; Tolbert, P; Altshul, L; Korrick, S 

2006 

Yes 

American Journal of Epidemiology
ISSN: 0002-9262
EISSN: 1476-6256 

163 

suppl 11 

S156-S156 

English 

WOS:000238132901102 

http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/163/suppl_11.toc
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Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are environmentally persistent contaminants that concentrate in adipose tissue and readily cross the placenta, posing a potential risk to the developing fetus. Evidence for neurodevelopmental effects at low levels of these compounds is growing, though few studies focus on behavioral outcomes. We investigated the association between cord serum PCB levels and measures of behavior among a cohort of children born between 1993 and 1998 to mothers residing near a PCBcontaminated Superfund site in Massachusetts. Inattention and hyperactivity were assessed among 449 children 7 to 12 years of age (median = 8.2) with the Conners and #146; Teachers Rating Scale (CRS-T). The median level of the sum of the 4 most prevalent PCB congeners (118, 138, 153, and 180) was 0.27, range 0.01 and #150;4.41 ng/g serum. We found twice the risk for a high CRS-TADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) index with a Risk Ratio = 2.03 (95% CI: 1.19 and #150;3.46) for the highest (median = 0.44 ng/g) vs. lowest (median = 0.08 ng/g) PCB quartile (p for trend = 0.001), adjusting for child and #146;s age and gender as well as maternal age, race, education, IQ, marital status, depression, smoking during pregnancy, breastfeeding and household income. Risk was also increased for CRS-T DSM-IV inattention (RR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.11 and #150;3.28 for highest vs. lowest quartile, p for trend = 0.01), though weaker for CRS-T DSM-IV hyperactivity (RR = 1.51, CI: 0.74 and #150;3.09 for highest vs. lowest quartile, p for trend = 0.17). Similar results were found for toxic equivalency factor (TEF)-weighted mono-ortho PCBs. These results support an association between low-level prenatal PCB exposure and poorer attention skills among children. 

2006 Congress of Epidemiology. A Joint Meeting of the American College of Epidemiology American Public Health Association (Epidemiology Section) Society for Epidemiologic Research 

Seattle, WA 

June 21-24, 2006