title: Prenatal and 5-year p,p'-DDE exposures are associated with altered sensory processing in school-aged children in Nunavik: a visual evoked potential study.
abstract: Due to their geographic location and traditional diet, rich in seafood and marine mammals, the Inuit living in Arctic Quebec are exposed to high amounts of pollutants, including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). While the adverse developmental effects of these pesticides on child cognitive functions are well known, the effects of developmental exposure to OP on sensory processes have not been investigated. The aim of this longitudinal study was to assess the effects of prenatal and childhood exposure to 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (p,p'-DDT) and its major metabolite 1,1,-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p'-DDE), on visual processing in Inuit children in Nunavik (Arctic Québec). p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE concentrations were determined from umbilical cord and 5- and 11-year plasma samples. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were successfully recorded in 150 children at 4 contrast levels (95%, 30%, 12%, and 4%). Hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted to determine the association between p,p'-DDT, or p,p'-DDE, exposure and VEPs while controlling for the effects of various confounders, including fish nutrients and other contaminants. p,p'-DDE measured in umbilical cord plasma was significantly related to the amplitude of the N150 response at the lowest contrast (4%). In addition, 5-year p,p'-DDE plasma concentration was significantly associated with decreased N75 amplitude. These findings indicate that p,p'-DDE exposure, both pre- and postnatally, during early childhood is associated with visual processing impairment later in life.
authors.affiliation: Département de psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, 320 Sainte-Catherine Est Pavillon J.A. De Sève, local DS5775, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2X 1L7; INSERM U1085, Université Rennes I, 263 Avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Chloé
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cartier
authors.affiliation: École de psychologie, Université Laval, 2325, rue des Bibliothèques, Québec, Québec, Canada G1V 0A6; Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, 2875 boul. Laurier, Québec, Québec, Canada G1V 2M2.
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muckle
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, 3901 Chrysler Drive, Suite 2-C, Detroit, MI 48201, United States.
authors.forename: Sandra W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, 3901 Chrysler Drive, Suite 2-C, Detroit, MI 48201, United States.
authors.forename: Joseph L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.affiliation: Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, 2875 boul. Laurier, Québec, Québec, Canada G1V 2M2; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Faculté de Médecine, 1050, avenue de la Médecine, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada G1V 0A6.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dewailly
authors.affiliation: Axe santé des populations et pratiques optimales en santé, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, 2875 boul. Laurier, Québec, Québec, Canada G1V 2M2; Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Faculté de Médecine, 1050, avenue de la Médecine, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada G1V 0A6.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ayotte
authors.affiliation: INSERM U1085, Université Rennes I, 263 Avenue du Général Leclerc, 35042 Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chevrier
authors.affiliation: Département de psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, 320 Sainte-Catherine Est Pavillon J.A. De Sève, local DS5775, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2X 1L7; Centre de recherche et département d'ophtalmologie, CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175 Chemin de la Côte Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3T 1C5. Electronic address: saint-amour.dave@uqam.ca.
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saint-Amour
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D003634:DDT / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011792:Quebec
chemical_list: D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D003634:DDT
keywords: Neurotoxicity; Sensory processing; Visual evoked potentials; p,p′-DDE; p,p′-DDT