title: Impact of perinatal dioxin exposure on infant growth: a cross-sectional and longitudinal studies in dioxin-contaminated areas in Vietnam.
abstract: Dioxin exposure levels remain elevated in residents living around former US Air Force bases in Vietnam, indicating potential adverse impacts on infant growth. In this study, 210 mother-infant pairs in dioxin-contaminated areas in Vietnam were recruited at the infants' birth and followed up for 4 months. Perinatal dioxin exposure levels were estimated by measurement of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans toxic equivalent (PCDDs/Fs-TEQ) in breast milk. The infants' size was measured at birth and 1 and 4 months after birth, and neurodevelopment was evaluated using the Bayley Scales III at 4 months of age. Among 4 dioxin groups (<25, 25-50, 50-75, ≥75 percentile of PCDDs/Fs-TEQ), cross-sectional comparisons of body size and neurodevelopment scales and comparisons of longitudinally assessed body size were performed respectively. At birth, head circumference of girls in the ≥75 percentile group was significantly larger than those in the <25 and 50-75 percentile groups. At 4 months of age, the weight and body mass index (BMI) of boys in the ≥75 percentile group were significantly lower than those in the other groups. Increase in weight was significantly lower in the ≥75 percentile group in both sexes from birth to 1 month but only in boys at 1-4 months of age. Estimated marginal mean values in a mixed model of weight and BMI during the first 4 months of life were significantly lower in the ≥75 percentile group in boys. In girls, marginal mean values for head circumference were increased with increase in dioxin levels. Only in boys, cognitive, language, and fine motor scores in the ≥75 percentile group were significantly lower than those in the other groups. These results suggested a considerable impact of perinatal dioxin exposure on infant growth, particularly in boys exposed to dioxins at high level of PCDDs/Fs-TEQ.
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan. ni-koei@kanazawa-med.ac.jp
authors: Muneko
authors: M
authors: Nishijo
authors: Pham The
authors: PT
authors: Tai
authors: Hideaki
authors: H
authors: Nakagawa
authors: Shoko
authors: S
authors: Maruzeni
authors: Nguyen Thi Nguyet
authors: NT
authors: Anh
authors: Hoang Van
authors: HV
authors: Luong
authors: Tran Hai
authors: TH
authors: Anh
authors: Ryumon
authors: R
authors: Honda
authors: Yuko
authors: Y
authors: Morikawa
authors: Teruhiko
authors: T
authors: Kido
authors: Hisao
authors: H
authors: Nishijo
mesh_terms: D049628:Body Size / Q000187:drug effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004147:Dioxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D048788:Growth and Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D036801:Parturition; D011247:Pregnancy; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants