Dataset Information

Childhood perfluoroalkyl substance exposure and executive function in children at 8?years.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Toxicological studies highlight the potential neurotoxicity of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during fetal development. However, few epidemiological studies have examined the impact of childhood PFAS on neurodevelopment. METHODS:We employed data from 208 children in the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment Study, a birth cohort (Cincinnati, OH), to examine associations of six serum PFAS concentrations measured at 3 and 8?years with executive function assessed at 8?years using the validated parent-completed Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function survey. We used multiple informant models to identify susceptible windows of neurotoxicity to PFAS and executive function. We investigated trajectories of PFAS concentrations and whether sex modified these associations. RESULTS:Each ln-increase in perfluorononanoate (PFNA) at 8?years was associated with a 3.4-point increase (95% CI 0.4, 6.3) in metacognition score, indicating poorer function. Children with PFNA above the median at 8?years had poorer global executive functioning compared to children with concentrations consistently below median levels (??=?6.5, 95% CI 0.2, 12.9). Higher concurrent PFNA was associated with poorer behavior regulation among males, while associations among females were null (pPFNA×sex?=?0.018). Children with higher concurrent perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) had increased odds of being at risk of having clinical impairments in metacognition (OR?=?3.18, 95% CI 1.17, 8.60). There were no associations between perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorohexane sulfonate and executive function. CONCLUSIONS:PFNA and PFOA at 8?years, but not 3?years, may be related to poorer executive function at 8?years. Results need to be confirmed in cohort studies with larger sample sizes.

SUBMITTER: Vuong AM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7442288 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Childhood perfluoroalkyl substance exposure and executive function in children at 8 years.

Vuong Ann M AM Yolton Kimberly K Wang Zhiyang Z Xie Changchun C Webster Glenys M GM Ye Xiaoyun X Calafat Antonia M AM Braun Joseph M JM Dietrich Kim N KN Lanphear Bruce P BP Chen Aimin A

Environment international 20180704

<h4>Background</h4>Toxicological studies highlight the potential neurotoxicity of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during fetal development. However, few epidemiological studies have examined the impact of childhood PFAS on neurodevelopment.<h4>Methods</h4>We employed data from 208 children in the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment Study, a birth cohort (Cincinnati, OH), to examine associations of six serum PFAS concentrations measured at 3 and 8 years with executive function assess ...[more]

PMID: 29980044

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundTraffic-related air pollution exposure may influence brain development and function and thus be related to neurobehavioral problems in children, but little is known about windows of susceptibility.AimsExamine associations of gestational and childhood exposure to traffic-related pollution with executive function and behavior problems in children.MethodsWe studied associations of pre- and postnatal pollution exposures with neurobehavioral outcomes in 1212 children in the Project Viva pre-birth cohort followed to mid-childhood (median age 7.7years). Parents and classroom teachers completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Using validated spatiotemporal models, we estimated exposure to black carbon (BC) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the third trimester of pregnancy, from birth to 3years, from birth to 6years, and in the year before behavioral ratings. We also measured residential distance to major roadways and near-residence traffic density at birth and in mid-childhood. We estimated associations of BC, PM2.5, and other traffic exposure measures with BRIEF and SDQ scores, adjusted for potential confounders.ResultsHigher childhood BC exposure was associated with higher teacher-rated BRIEF Behavioral Regulation Index (BRI) scores, indicating greater problems: 1.0 points (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0, 2.1) per interquartile range (IQR) increase in birth-age 6BC, and 1.7 points (95% CI: 0.6, 2.8) for BC in the year prior to behavioral ratings. Mid-childhood residential traffic density was also associated with BRI score (0.6, 95% CI: 0.1, 1.1). Birth-age 3BC was not associated with BRIEF or SDQ scores. Third trimester BC exposure was not associated with teacher-rated BRI scores (-0.2, 95% CI: -1.1, 0.8), and predicted lower scores (fewer problems) on the BRIEF Metacognition Index (-1.2, 95% CI: -2.2, -0.2) and SDQ total difficulties (-0.9, 95% CI: -1.4, -0.4). PM2.5 exposure was associated with teacher-rated BRIEF and SDQ scores in minimally adjusted models but associations attenuated with covariate adjustment. None of the parent-rated outcomes suggested adverse effects of greater pollution exposure at any time point.ConclusionsChildren with higher mid-childhood exposure to BC and greater near-residence traffic density in mid-childhood had greater problems with behavioral regulation as assessed by classroom teachers, but not as assessed by parents. Prenatal and early childhood exposure to traffic-related pollution did not predict greater executive function or behavior problems; third trimester BC was associated with lower scores (representing fewer problems) on measures of metacognition and behavioral problems.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Lead is an established neurotoxicant and early life exposure to lead is associated with detrimental impacts on IQ and several neurobehavioral domains. Less is known, however, about effects of prenatal lead exposure below 5??g/dL on executive function and on social, emotional and self-regulatory behaviors in childhood. OBJECTIVES:To examine the association between prenatal lead exposure and childhood executive function and social, emotional and self-regulatory behaviors. METHODS:We included 1006 mother-child pairs from the Project Viva prospective pre-birth cohort. We measured prenatal maternal lead in second-trimester erythrocytes. In mid-childhood (median 7.7?years), parents and teachers rated executive function related behaviors using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) and behavioral difficulties using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). We used multivariable linear regression models adjusted for maternal, paternal, and child characteristics and metal co-exposures. RESULTS:Mean maternal erythrocyte lead concentration was 1.2??g/dL (interquartile range [IQR] 0.8-1.5??g /dL), equivalent to approximately 0.4??g/dL in whole blood. In adjusted models, associations with parent and teacher-rated scales were largely null, although effect estimates were consistently positive, suggesting worse scores with increasing lead levels. For an IQR increase in lead, BRIEF Global Executive Composite (GEC) was 0.73 (95% CI: -0.06, 1.52) points higher for parent-rated scores and 0.42 (95% CI: -0.39, 1.23) points higher for teacher-rated scores. Associations were strongest for parent-rated BRIEF plan/organize (??=?0.85; 95% CI: 0.12, 1.59) and shift (??=?0.88; 95% CI: 0.01, 1.75) subscales, as well as the SDQ emotional problems subscale (??=?0.18; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.33). DISCUSSION:In this cohort with lead levels commonly experienced by U.S. women, there were few statistically significant associations with childhood executive function and behavior. However, there was a trend of worse neurobehavioral scores with increasing prenatal lead concentrations, in particular for childhood emotional problems and capacity to plan/organize and shift. Our results highlight the importance of continuing efforts to eliminate lead exposure in the general population.

Project description:BackgroundPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants that have become globally ubiquitous in humans and the environment. In utero PFAS exposure is associated with neurodevelopmental effects; however, the mechanism is poorly understood. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling is critical to fetal neurodevelopment during pregnancy and maintains important regulatory roles later in life. This study aims to characterize placental BDNF signaling and investigate whether PFAS exposure disrupts the signaling pathway in placental trophoblast cells.MethodsThe expression and localization of BDNF receptors-p75NTR and TrkB-in first trimester and term human placentas and trophoblast cells were investigated by immunofluorescence staining. To assess the effects of PFAS exposure on the BDNF pathway, BeWo cells were treated with PFAS mixtures that mimicked blood levels in a highly exposed population and major PFAS compounds in the mixture at 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 µM concentrations. Changes in pro-BDNF levels and phosphorylation of TrkB receptors were examined by Western blot.ResultsIn first trimester human placentas, TrkB and p75NTR receptors were primarily localized to syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast cells. At term, TrkB and p75NTR receptors were primarily observed in the placental villous stroma. TrkB receptor staining in trophoblasts was reduced at term, while p75NTR receptor staining was negative. TrkB receptors were confined to the nuclear and perinuclear spaces, and phosphorylation occurred at the Tyr816 residue in BeWo cells. Exposure to PFOS, PFOA, PFBS, and the six-PFAS mixture did not significantly affect BDNF levels or activation (phosphorylation) of TrkB. Treating cells with 1 μM and 10 μM of PFNA resulted in increased TrkB phosphorylation compared to unexposed controls, but BDNF levels were unchanged.ConclusionsBDNF receptors are present in different regions of human placental villi, indicating diverse functions of BDNF signaling in placental development. Our findings suggest that the BDNF pathway in placental trophoblast cells is not disrupted by exposures to PFOS, PFOA, PFBS, and a PFAS mixture, but may be affected by PFNA exposures. Further investigation is needed on how PFAS affects other critical signaling pathways during fetal neurodevelopment.

Dataset Information

Childhood perfluoroalkyl substance exposure and executive function in children at 8?years.

Publications

Childhood perfluoroalkyl substance exposure and executive function in children at 8 years.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets

Dataset Information

Childhood perfluoroalkyl substance exposure and executive function in children at 8?years.

Publications

Childhood perfluoroalkyl substance exposure and executive function in children at 8 years.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets

Childhood perfluoroalkyl substance exposure and executive function in children at 8 years.