Prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and their hydroxylated metabolites is associated with motor development of three-month-old infants

Berghuis, Sietske A.; Soechitram, Shalini D.; Hitzert, Marrit M.; Sauer, Pieter; Bos, Arend F.

doi:10.1016/j.neuro.2013.07.003

Cited by 44 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…in rats, exposure to low levels of PCBs and TCDD facilitated spatial learning [113] whereas higher doses exhibit opposite effects [114]. Beneficial effects of PCBs were also found with regard to motor development in three-month-old infants [115] and attention and visual perception in five-year-old children [116]. Thus, low levels of POPs might alter autistic traits in a manner different from higher levels explaining the contradictory results found so far.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Low-Level Prenatal Exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs on Empathizing, Systemizing and Autistic Traits: Results from the Duisburg Birth Cohort Study

et al. 2015

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BackgroundPolychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are assumed to act as endocrine disruptor chemicals. Prenatal exposure to these pollutants might influence fetal steroid hormone levels, which are thought to be related to sex-typical development and autistic traits.ObjectivesWe examined associations of prenatal levels of PCDD/Fs and PCBs with autism traits and sex-typical behaviour in childhood.MethodsWe measured levels of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in maternal blood samples during pregnancy using gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry. Sex-typical behaviour was assessed at 9 years of age (n = 96) and autistic traits at 10 years of age using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS; n = 100). Multiple regression analyses were conducted to estimate the associations between prenatal exposure and outcome variables.ResultsBlood concentrations (WHO2005-TEq) of ƩPCDD/Fs ranged from 2.93–46.45 pg/g lipid base (median = 12.91 pg/g lipid base) and concentrations of ƩPCBs were in the range of 1.24–25.47 pg/g lipid base (median = 6.85 pg/g lipid base) which is within the range of German background exposure. We found significant negative associations between PCDD/F levels in maternal blood and SRS scores in the whole group (β = -6.66, p < .05), in girls (β = -10.98, p < .05) and, in one SRS subscale, in boys (β = -6.86, p < .05). For PCB levels, associations with one SRS subscale were significant for the whole study group as were associations with two subscales in girls. We did not find significant associations between PCDD/F or PCB levels and sex-typical behaviour for either sex.ConclusionsIn an earlier part of this study, prenatal exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs was found to be associated with lower testosterone levels, therefore, our findings are consistent with the idea that autism spectrum conditions are related to fetal androgen levels. Several possible mechanisms, through which PCDD/Fs and PCBs might influence autistic behaviour, are discussed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Low-Level Prenatal Exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs on Empathizing, Systemizing and Autistic Traits: Results from the Duisburg Birth Cohort Study

et al. 2015

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“…The scoring list has been successfully used to predict the severity of cerebral palsy [16], [17], or to identify an increased risk for minor neurological dysfunction [13], [18] and suboptimal cognitive development [19], [20] in infants born preterm. It has also been used to demonstrate that, e.g., prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls [21] or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [22] have an impact on the developing nervous system.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Very low birth weight infants in China: the predictive value of the motor repertoire at 3 to 5months for the motor performance at 12months

Zang

Yang

Han³

et al. 2016

Early Human Development

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BackgroundStudies on motor performance and its early markers are rare in China, especially in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.ObjectiveApart from the assessment of the inter-scorer agreement, we aimed to analyze to what extent the motor repertoire at 10 to 18 weeks postterm was related to neonatal complications, and gross and fine motor performance at 12 months after term.Study designExploratory prospective study.SubjectsSeventy-four VLBW infants (58 males; mean gestational age = 29 weeks; mean birth weight = 1252 g).MethodFive-minute video recordings were performed at 10 to 18 weeks after term; fidgety movements and the concurrent motor patterns (resulting in a motor optimality score) were assessed according to the Prechtl general movements assessment (GMA). The gross and fine motor performance was assessed by means of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, second edition, at 12 months.ResultsReliability was excellent. Pneumonia was associated with absent fidgety movements; the motor optimality score was lower in infants with pneumonia and/or bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Both absent fidgety movements and a lower motor optimality score were associated with a poor or very poor gross and fine motor performance at the 12-month-assessment.ConclusionBoth the assessment of fidgety movements and the evaluation of the concurrent motor repertoire contribute significantly to an identification of VLBW children with a poor gross and fine motor outcome at 12 months. The results of this study document the need for an early identification of infants at high risk for a poor motor performance.

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“…Chronic exposure during development via maternal consumption of contaminated lake fish or at “background” levels has long been tied to reduced fetal growth and neurodevelopmental problems in infants and young children [28-33]. Similar effects have been found in more recent studies that measured specific congeners in maternal blood or placental tissue in humans, including shorter gestational length with mono-chlorinated NDL congener [34], reduced IQ with heavily chlorinated NDL congener [35], reduced motor development with DL and NDL congeners [36]. A thorough analysis of these neurodevelopmental effects can be found elsewhere [37] and is beyond the scope of the current review.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 74%

Endocrine-disrupting actions of PCBs on brain development and social and reproductive behaviors

Bell

2014

Current Opinion in Pharmacology

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Polychlorinated biphenyls are among the most well-studied endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) for their neurobehavioral effects, especially neurodevelopment and cognitive performance. In addition, past research has demonstrated effects of PCBs on circulating hormones and associated changes in reproductive behaviors. This article will focus on recent advances that have been made in characterizing developmental PCB effects on reproductive function, broader social and affective behaviors, and the neuroendocrine mechanisms behind such changes. In general, PCBs seem to inhibit reproductive function by suppressing multiple aspects of the associated hypothalamic circuitry. Additionally, PCBs may also reduce motivation for social behaviors and induce depressive-like symptoms via overall reductions in dopaminergic and glutamatergic functions in the limbic system. However, more work with human-relevant exposure paradigms is needed to fully support these conclusions.

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Prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and their hydroxylated metabolites is associated with motor development of three-month-old infants

Cited by 44 publications

References 18 publications

Influence of Low-Level Prenatal Exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs on Empathizing, Systemizing and Autistic Traits: Results from the Duisburg Birth Cohort Study

Influence of Low-Level Prenatal Exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs on Empathizing, Systemizing and Autistic Traits: Results from the Duisburg Birth Cohort Study

Very low birth weight infants in China: the predictive value of the motor repertoire at 3 to 5months for the motor performance at 12months

Endocrine-disrupting actions of PCBs on brain development and social and reproductive behaviors

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