title: Perfluorooctanoate exposure in a highly exposed community and parent and teacher reports of behaviour in 6-12-year-old children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In toxicology studies, perfluorinated compounds affect fetal growth, development, viability, and postnatal growth. There are limited epidemiologic studies on child development.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited and evaluated 321 children who participated in the C8 Health Project, a 2005-06 survey in a mid-Ohio Valley community highly exposed to perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) through contaminated drinking water. We examined associations between measured childhood PFOA serum concentration and mother and teacher reports of executive function (Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-like behaviour (Conner's ADHD Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV Scales), and behavioural problems (Behaviour Assessment System for Children) assessed 3 to 4 years later at ages 6-12 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, neither reports from mothers nor teachers provided clear associations between exposure and child behaviour. Mother reports, however, did suggest favourable associations between exposure and behaviour among boys and adverse associations among girls. On the composite scale from the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function (n = 318), PFOA exposure had a favourable association among boys (highest vs. lowest quartile β = -6.39; 95% confidence interval [CI] -11.43, -1.35) and an adverse association among girls (highest vs. lowest quartile β = 4.42; 95% CI -0.03, 8.87; interaction P = 0.01). Teacher reports (n = 189) replicated some, but not all of the sex interactions observed in mothers' reports.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aggregate results did not suggest adverse effects of PFOA on behaviour, but sex-specific results raise the possibility of differing patterns by sex. Results are not consistent between mothers' and teachers' reports. Effect modification by sex may warrant further investigation.
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY.
authors: Cheryl R
authors: CR
authors: Stein
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Savitz
authors: David C
authors: DC
authors: Bellinger
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002210:Caprylates / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010290:Parents; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D002210:Caprylates; D060766:Drinking Water; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C023036:perfluorooctanoic acid
keywords: attention deficit disorders; child behaviour; epidemiology; fluorocarbons; perfluorooctanoic acid