A 6-year follow-up of behavior and activity disorders in the Taiwan Yu-cheng children.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES. The relationship of behavior and activity levels to the interval between outbreak and year of birth and to age of children is explored in Taiwanese children exposed in utero to heat-degraded polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)--the Yu-cheng children. Additionally, the relationship of the scores to chemical, physical, and cognitive findings is described. METHODS. With Rutter's Child Behavior Scale A and a modified Werry-Weiss-Peters Activity Scale, 118 Yu-chen children and matched controls were followed biannually from 1985 to 1991. RESULTS. At each year, the Yu-cheng children scored 7% to 43% worse (mean = 23%) than control children on the Rutter scale. At any fixed age, the Yu-cheng children scored 11% to 63% (mean = 28%) worse. The effect for children born later did not differ from that for those born earlier; neither was there any improvement as the children aged. A similar but weaker picture was seen for the activity score. These behavioral findings were not related to physical or cognitive findings or to serum PCB levels. CONCLUSIONS. In utero exposure to heat-degraded PCBs appears to cause mildly disordered behavior and increased activity level; the effect persists over time and is similar in children born up to 6 years after the mothers were exposed.

ortho-Substituted Polychlorinated Biphenyls Alter Microsomal Calcium Transport by Direct Interaction with Ryanodine Receptors of Mammalian Brain

“…[ 3 H]Ryanodine (60 -90 Ci/ mmol; Ͼ 99%) and [ 3 H]inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30) Ci/mmol; Ͼ 95%) were purchased from DuPont NEN. Fluo-3 (pentammonium salt, Ն90% pure) was purchased from Molecular Probes (Eugene, OR).…”

Congener-specific levels of dioxins and dibenzofurans in U.S. food and estimated daily dioxin toxic equivalent intake.

“…Almost all PCDDs and PCDFs found in humans from the general population are believed to come from food, especially meat, milk, fish, and their by-products (3,4). A number of health studies performed on populations occupationally or environmentally exposed to PCDDs and PCDFs or closely related chemicals found a variety of health effects, similar to toxic effects reported in animal studies, either beginning soon after exposure, or in the case of cancer mortality, after a latency period (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). Since the exact level of PCDDs and PCDFs that causes various health effects in humans is unknown, it is important to identify the immediate source of these chemicals in the general population.…”

Environmental Chemical Substances in Relation to Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Systematic Literature Review

“…Although some inconsistencies in the literature exist, the overall evidence supports a concern for adverse www.intechopen.com effects of PCBs on children's neurological development. It should be noted that adverse effects on intelligence and behavior have been found in girls who were highly exposed to mixtures of PCBs, chlorinated dibenzofurans, and other pollutants prior to conception (Chen et al 1992;Chen et al 1994 Thomson et al 1989 Lead Cognition in children and very low lead exposure Minder et al 1998;Surkan et al 2007 Lead, smoke verbal memory, ADHD Bleecker et al 2005;Braun et al 2006 Lead Preschool children Bellinger et al 1987;Bellinger et al 1991;Benetou-Marantidou et al 1988;Fergusson et al 1997;Jusko et al 2008;McMichael et al 1988;Mendelsohn et al 1998;Rabinowitz et al 1992;Stokes et al 1998;(Schwartz et al 2000;Ris et al 2004;Shih et al 2006;Schwartz et al 2007;van Wijngaarden et al 2009 ;Mahmoudian et al 2009 …”