title: Neurodevelopmental retardation, as assessed clinically and with magnetoencephalography and electroencephalography, associated with perinatal dioxin exposure.
abstract: In 1980s Western Europe, human perinatal exposure to background levels of dioxins was rather high. We therefore evaluated the neurodevelopment of our cohort during the prepubertal period and in adolescence. At prepubertal age (7-12 years) 41 children were tested. Both neuromotor functioning and psychological testing were performed (Dutch version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-R) and the Dutch version of the Child Behavior Checklist for ages 4-18 years (CBCL 4-18) and the Teacher Report Form (TRF)). Neurophysiological tests were performed using magnetoencephalography and electroencephalography. In adolescence (14-18 years) the behavior of 33 children was studied again (CBCL and TRF). And the levels of dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) were measured in serum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At prepubertal age no association was found between perinatal dioxin exposure and verbal, performal and total IQ or with the Touwen's test for neuromotor development. There were behavioral problems associated with both prenatal and postnatal dioxin exposure. In adolescence there were problems associated with the current dioxin levels and dioxin-like-PCBs. Neurophysiological tests revealed clear negative dysfunction. An increase in latency time after a motion stimulus (N2b) of 13 ms (= a delay of 10%) is associated with the higher prenatal dioxin exposure. A similar delay was measured in testing cognitive ability by analyzing the odd ball measurements, N200 and P300, together with an amplitude decrease of 12 %. The delay is indicative of a defective myelinisation and the decrease in amplitude of a loss of neurons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found effects on behavior in association with the perinatal dioxin exposure and in adolescence in association with the current dioxin levels. Neurophysiological testing is instrumental in the detection of effects of perinatal background levels of chemicals on brain development in normal, healthy children. The clinical, neurological and psychological tests commonly used are not sensitive enough to detect important effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Neonatology, Westfriesgasthuis, Maelsonstraat 3, 1624 NP Hoorn, Netherlands.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Ten Tusscher
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Aachen, Department of Dermatology, 52074 Aachen, Germany; Department of Paediatrics and Neonatology, Emma Children's Hospital Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Leijs
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Neonatology, Westfriesgasthuis, Maelsonstraat 3, 1624 NP Hoorn, Netherlands.
authors.forename: L C C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: de Boer
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) VU University, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Legler
authors.affiliation: IBED/ESS, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Netherlands.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Olie
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics and Visual System Analysis, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Spekreijse
authors.affiliation: Department FMT, VU Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Neonatology, Emma Children's Hospital Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vulsma
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Psychiatry, GGZ Maelsonstraat 9, 1624 NP Hoorn, Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Briët
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Neonatology, Emma Children's Hospital Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ilsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Neonatology, Emma Children's Hospital Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands; Ecobaby Foundation, Hollandstraat 6, 3634 AT Loenersloot, Netherlands.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Koppe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D064419:Chemically-Induced Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D004147:Dioxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015225:Magnetoencephalography; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants
keywords: Adolescence; Behavioral problems; Electroencephalography; Long term follow-up; Magnetoencephalography; Neurodevelopment; Prenatal and lactational dioxin exposure in humans; Prepubertal period