Background

The developing brain is susceptible to exposure to neurodevelopmental toxicants such as pesticides.

Aims

We explored associations of prenatal serum concentrations of hexachlorobenzene (HCB), beta-Hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), 2,2-Bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethene (p,p’-DDE) and 2,2-Bis(4-chlorophenyl-1,1,1-trichloroethane (p,p’-DDT) with maternal-reported measures of verbal and non-verbal communication in young girls.

Study design and methods

We studied a sample of 400 singleton girls and their mothers participating in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) using multivariable linear regression models adjusting for parity, Home Observation Measurement of the Environment (HOME) score, maternal age and education status, and maternal tobacco use during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Exposure and outcome measures

Maternal serum samples (collected at median 15 wks. gestation [IQR 10, 28]) were assessed for selected organochlorine pesticide levels. Communication was assessed at 15 and 38 months, using adapted versions of the MacArthur Bates Communicative Development Inventories for Infants and Toddlers (MCDI).

Results

At 15 months, girls born to mothers with prenatal concentrations of HCB in the highest tertile had vocabulary comprehension and production scores approximately 16% (p = 0.007) lower than girls born to mothers with concentrations in the lowest tertile. This association varied by maternal parity in that the evidence was stronger for daughters of nulliparous mothers. At 38 months, girls born to mothers with prenatal concentrations of HCB in the highest tertile had mean adjusted intelligibility scores that were 3% (p = 0.03) lower than those born to mothers with concentrations in the lowest tertile; however, results did not vary significantly by parity. Maternal concentrations of β-HCH and p,p’-DDE were not significantly associated with MCDI scores at 15 or 36 months. p,p’-DDT had an inconsistent pattern of association; a significant positive association was observed between p,p’-DDT with verbal comprehension scores at 15 months; however, at 38 months a significant inverse association was observed for p,p’-DDT with communicative scores. This inverse association for p,p’-DDT among older girls tended to be stronger among daughters of mothers who had lower depression scores.

Conclusions

Organochlorine pesticide exposure in utero may affect communication development.

中文翻译：

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英国女孩的产前接触有机氯农药和儿童早期沟通发展

背景

发育中的大脑很容易接触到杀虫剂等神经发育毒物。

目标

我们探讨了六氯苯 (HCB)、β-六氯环己烷 (β-HCH)、2,2-双(4-氯苯基)-1,1-二氯乙烯 (p,p'-DDE) 和 2,2 的产前血清浓度之间的关系- 双（4-氯苯基-1,1,1-三氯乙烷（p,p'-DDT）与母亲报告的年轻女孩语言和非语言交流的测量。

研究设计和方法

我们使用多变量线性回归模型调整了胎次、家庭环境观察测量 (HOME) 得分、母亲年龄和教育状况，研究了 400 名参与雅芳父母和儿童纵向研究 (ALSPAC) 的单身女孩及其母亲的样本，怀孕头三个月的母亲使用烟草。

暴露和结果测量

对选定的有机氯农药水平评估母体血清样本（在妊娠 15 周中位采集 [IQR 10, 28]）。在 15 个月和 38 个月时，使用改编版的 MacArthur Bates 婴幼儿交流发展清单 (MCDI) 对交流进行了评估。

结果

在 15 个月时，产前六氯苯浓度最高的母亲所生的女孩的词汇理解和生产分数比浓度最低的母亲所生的女孩低约 16%（p = 0.007）。这种关联因母体胎次而异，因为对于未生育母亲的女儿，证据更强。在 38 个月时，产前六氯苯浓度最高三分位数的母亲所生女孩的平均调整可懂度分数比浓度最低三分位数的母亲所生的女孩低 3%（p = 0.03）；然而，结果并没有因平价而有显着差异。在 15 或 36 个月时，母体 β-HCH 和 p,p'-DDE 浓度与 MCDI 评分没有显着相关性。p,p'-DDT 的关联模式不一致；在 15 个月时观察到 p,p'-DDT 与语言理解分数之间存在显着的正相关；然而，在 38 个月时，观察到 p,p'-DDT 与交际分数呈显着负相关。在抑郁评分较低的母亲的女儿中，年龄较大的女孩中 p,p'-DDT 的这种反向关联往往更强。

结论

子宫内接触有机氯农药可能会影响交流的发展。