A cohort study of behavioral problems and intelligence in children with high prenatal polychlorinated biphenyl exposure.
BACKGROUND
In 1978, about 2000 persons in Taiwan were poisoned when their cooking oil was contaminated during manufacture with heat-degraded polychlorinated biphenyls, which are toxic, very widespread pollutant chemicals. The chemicals cannot be metabolized or excreted, and 8 of the first 39 children born to affected women died. When examined in 1985, 117 surviving children were found to have ectodermal defects, developmental delay, and disordered behavior. We have continued to observe the children.


METHODS
From 1992 through 1995, 118 children born between 1978 and 1985 (during or after their mothers' exposure) and 118 matched neighborhood control children had cognitive function measured yearly with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised and behavioral problems measured with the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist and the Rutter Child Behavior Scale A.


RESULTS
The exposed children scored 3 points (P =.05) lower than control children for IQ; 3 points (P =.002) higher on the Child Behavior Checklist (an effect size similar to the sex difference); and 6 points (P<.001) higher on the Rutter scale (3 times the sex difference). Birth year x exposure interactions, testing whether children born long after the exposure were as affected as those born soon after, were small and not significant. Age x exposure interactions, testing whether the children improved relative to control children as they got older, were significant only for the Rutter scale.


CONCLUSIONS
Prenatal exposure to these compounds produces long-lasting cognitive and behavioral damage, but there is some evidence of recovery.
Lai
Te-Jen
TJ
Department of Psychiatry, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Liu
Xianchen
X
Guo
Yueliang Leon
YL
Guo
Nai-Wen
NW
Yu
Mei-Lin
ML
Hsu
Chen-Chin
CC
Rogan
Walter J
WJ
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007360:Intelligence / Q000187:drug effects*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000506:poisoning*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000506:poisoning*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan; D014888:Wechsler Scales
D010938:Plant Oils; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls