Developmental neurotoxicity of persistent organic pollutants: an update on childhood outcome

Abstract

Organohalogens are persistent organic pollutants that have a wide range of chemical application. There is growing evidence that several of these chemical compounds interfere with human development in various ways. The aim of this review is to provide an update on the relationship between various persistent organic pollutants and childhood neurodevelopmental outcome from studies from the past 10 years. This review focuses on exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hydroxylated PCBs (OH-PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), and in addition on exposure to phthalates, bisphenol A, and perfluorinated compounds and their associations with neurodevelopmental outcome in childhood, up to 18 years of age. This review shows that exposure to environmental chemicals affects neurodevelopmental outcome in children. Regarding exposure to PCBs and OH-PCBs, most studies report no or inverse associations with neurodevelopmental outcomes. Regarding exposure to PBDEs, lower mental development, psychomotor development and IQ were found at preschool age, and poorer attention at school age. Regarding exposure to DDE, most studies reported inverse associations with outcome, while others found no associations. Significant relations were particularly found at early infancy on psychomotor development, on attention and ADHD, whereas at school age, no adverse relationships were described. Additionally, several studies report gender-related vulnerability. Future research should focus on the long-term effects of prenatal and childhood exposure to these environmental chemicals, on sex-specific and combined exposure effects of environmental chemicals, and on possible mechanisms by which these chemicals have their effects on neurodevelopmental and behavioral outcomes.

Developmental neurotoxicants and the vulnerable male brain: a systematic review of suspected neurotoxicants that disproportionally affect males

“…However, decreases in the levels of both pre-and postsynaptic dopaminergic proteins were predominantly seen in the male rats. Berghuis et al (2015) reviewed the scientific literature on the relationship between PCB exposure and childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes in studies from the past ten years. The authors concluded that, as a whole, the studies reviewed found that boys were more affected than girls by exposures to PCBs.…”

Enantioselectivity of 2,2′,3,5′,6-Pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 95) Atropisomers toward Ryanodine Receptors (RyRs) and Their Influences on Hippocampal Neuronal Networks

“…5 Importantly, pre- and/or postnatal PCB exposures have been linked to a number of cognitive, behavioral, psychomotor, and metabolic deficits in humans and animal models. 6−13 Mechanistic links between cancer promotion and neurological disorders has not been established.…”

A Mixture of Persistent Organic Pollutants and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid Induces Similar Behavioural Responses, but Different Gene Expression Profiles in Zebrafish Larvae

“…Of particular concern is the lipophilic property of POPs that makes them capable of passing through biological barriers such as the placenta [10]. Indeed, several POPs are known to be neurotoxic [11,12,13] and have been associated with neurological diseases in children [14]. The complicated processes taking place during development make the brain and neural tissue sensitive to a variety of environmental contaminants [15,16].…”