Background

We have previously reported inverse associations of prenatal and childhood cadmium exposure with cognition in 5-year-old Bangladeshi children.

Objectives

To assess if cadmium exposure affected cognition and behavior in the Bangladeshi children at 10 years.

Methods

Cadmium exposure was assessed by urinary concentrations at 10 (n = 1498) and 5 years of age (n = 1453), and of the mothers in early pregnancy (n = 1299), measured by ICP-MS. Cognitive abilities were assessed with Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (4th edition) and behavior with the parent-rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.

Results

In multivariable-adjusted models, urinary cadmium at 10 years was inversely associated with Full scale IQ and most of the sub-scales. Associations were mainly observed in boys, in whom the difference in Full scale IQ was 7.0 scores (95% CI: –11, −2.7), corresponding to 0.21 SD, when comparing those in the highest (range: 0.30–2.6 μg/L) and lowest tertile of urinary cadmium (0.036–0.18 μg/L). Urinary cadmium at 5 years was inversely, but not significantly, associated with IQ. Children in the highest exposure tertile at 10 years also had poorer Prosocial behavior scores. The association appeared strongest in girls, in whom the corresponding OR for Prosocial scores in relation to cadmium exposure at 10 years and prenatally was 0.58 (95% CI: 0.34, 0.99) and 0.48 (95% CI: 0.25, 0.93), respectively.

Conclusion

Childhood cadmium exposure was associated with lower intelligence in boys, and there were indications of altered behavior in girls for both prenatal and childhood exposures. Findings are of concern as similar exposure levels are common world-wide.

中文翻译：

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镉暴露，10岁以下儿童的认知能力和行为：一项前瞻性队列研究

背景

我们先前曾报道过，孟加拉5岁儿童的产前和儿童时期镉暴露与认知能力呈负相关。

目标

评估接触镉是否会影响孟加拉国10岁儿童的认知和行为。

方法

 通过ICP-MS测定 10岁（n = 1498）和5岁（n  = 1453）以及早孕母亲（n = 1299）的尿液浓度来评估镉的暴露。认知能力用韦氏儿童智力量表（第4版）进行评估，行为采用父母评定的《长处和困难问卷》进行评估。

结果

在多变量调整模型中，10年时的尿镉与全智商和大部分子量级成反比。与最高的男孩（范围：0.30–2.6μg/ L）进行比较时，主要在男孩中观察到联想，男孩的全智商差异为7.0分（95％CI：–11，-2.7），对应于0.21 SD。 ）和最低的尿镉含量（0.036–0.18μg/ L）。5岁时的尿镉与智商呈反相关，但无显着性相关。在10岁时处于最高暴露三分位数的儿童的亲社会行为得分也较差。该关联在女孩中表现得最强，在10岁和产前与镉接触相关的亲社会得分的OR分别为0.58（95％CI：0.34，0.99）和0.48（95％CI：0.25，0.93）。

结论

儿童时期接触镉与男孩智力低下有关，并且有迹象表明，女孩在产前和儿童时期的行为发生了改变。由于相似的暴露水平在世界范围内很普遍，因此结果令人关注。