Neurological condition in 42-month-old children in relation to pre- and postnatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins

Early Hum Dev. 1998 Feb 27;50(3):283-92. doi: 10.1016/s0378-3782(97)00066-2.

Abstract

Adverse neurological effects of exposure to PCBs have been found up to 18 months of age. Now we report on the effect of pre- and postnatal exposure to PCBs and dioxins on the neurological condition at 42 months of age. For this purpose, PCB levels were determined in cord and maternal plasma, and used as a measure of prenatal exposure. Breast milk was analyzed for PCBs and dioxins. In addition, PCBs were determined in plasma sampled from the child at 42 months of age. We evaluated the neurological condition of 394 children using the Touwen/Hempel method. After adjustment for covariates, neither prenatal PCB exposure nor postnatal exposure to PCBs and dioxins was found to be related to the neurological condition at 42 months of age.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Dioxins / analysis*
  • Dioxins / blood
  • Environmental Exposure*
  • Female
  • Fetal Blood / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Milk, Human / chemistry
  • Nervous System / embryology
  • Nervous System / growth & development*
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls / analysis*
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls / blood
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
  • Regression Analysis

Substances

  • Dioxins
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls