Exposure to hexachlorobenzene during pregnancy increases the risk of overweight in children aged 6 years.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether prenatal exposure to hexachlorobenzene (HCB) has potential adverse effects on child's weight and body mass index (BMI) in a general population with no local pollution sources.


METHODS
Starting from mid 1997, all mothers presenting for antenatal exposure in Menorca were recruited. Subsequently, 482 children were enrolled. HCB was measured in cord blood. Weight and height were measured at birth and at age 6.5 years.


RESULTS
Children with HCB levels higher than 1.03 ng/mL in cord blood were 1.14 kg (0.38) heavier and had a higher BMI (beta= 0.80 (0.34)) than children with HCB levels lower than 0.46 ng/mL. No statistically significant associations were found in height. Children in the higher exposure group of HCB had an increased risk of 2.5 and 3.0 of being overweight and obese. Children from normal weight mothers also presented an increased risk of having higher BMI with increasing concentrations of HCB in cord serum.


CONCLUSIONS
Prenatal exposure to HCB is associated with an increase in BMI and weight at age 6.5 years. Further studies with larger samples and longer follow-up are needed to confirm these results.
Smink
Agnes
A
Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Institut Municipal Investigació Mèdica, Barcelona, Spain. nribas@imim.es
Ribas-Fito
Nuria
N
Garcia
Raquel
R
Torrent
Maties
M
Mendez
Michelle A
MA
Grimalt
Joan O
JO
Sunyer
Jordi
J
D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000633:toxicity*; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene