title: Prenatal polybrominated diphenyl ether exposures and neurodevelopment in U.S. children through 5 years of age: the HOME study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent chemicals that have been widely used as flame retardants in furniture, carpet padding, car seats, and other consumer products during the past three decades.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We examined whether in utero exposure to PBDEs is associated with child cognitive function and behavior in a U.S. study sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective birth cohort, we measured maternal serum concentrations of BDE-47 and other PBDE congeners in 309 women at 16 weeks of gestation during 2003-2006 and followed their children in Cincinnati, Ohio. We measured cognitive and motor abilities using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II at ages 1, 2, and 3 years; intelligence using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-III at age 5 years; and children's behaviors using the Behavioral Assessment System for Children-2 annually at ages 2-5 years. We used linear mixed models or generalized estimating equations with adjustment for potential confounders to estimate associations between these outcomes and log10-transformed PBDE concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The geometric mean of BDE-47 in maternal serum (20.1 ng/g lipid) was comparable with U.S. adult national reference values. Prenatal BDE-47 was not significantly associated with Bayley Mental or Psychomotor Development Indices at 1-3 years, but a 10-fold increase in prenatal BDE-47 was associated with a 4.5-point decrease (95% CI: -8.8, -0.1) in Full-Scale IQ and a 3.3-point increase (95% CI: 0.3, 6.3) in the hyperactivity score at age 5 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prenatal exposure to PBDEs was associated with lower IQ and higher hyperactivity scores in children.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Aimin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yolton
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rauch
authors.forename: Glenys M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hornung
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sjödin
authors.forename: Kim N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: Bruce P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Lanphear
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; C511295:2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether