title: Growth in Inuit children exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls and lead during fetal development and childhood.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because of their geographical location and traditional lifestyle, Canadian Inuit children are highly exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and lead (Pb), environmental contaminants that are thought to affect fetal and child growth. We examined the associations of these exposures with the fetal and postnatal growth of Inuit children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective cohort study among Inuit from Nunavik (Arctic Québec). Mothers were recruited at their first prenatal visit; children (n=290) were evaluated at birth and at 8-14 years of age. Concentrations of PCB 153 and Pb were determined in umbilical cord and child blood. Weight, height and head circumference were measured at birth and during childhood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cord blood PCB 153 concentrations were not associated with anthropometric measurements at birth or school age, but child blood PCB 153 concentrations were associated with reduced weight, height and head circumference during childhood. There was no association between cord Pb levels and anthropometric outcomes at birth, but cord blood Pb was related to smaller height and shows a tendency of a smaller head circumference during childhood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that chronic exposure to PCBs during childhood is negatively associated with skeletal growth and weight, while prenatal Pb exposure is related to reduced growth during childhood. This study is the first to link prenatal Pb exposure to poorer growth in school-age children.
authors.affiliation: École de psychologie, Université Laval and Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Québec City, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Renée
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dallaire
authors.affiliation: Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval and Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Québec City, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Éric
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Dewailly
authors.affiliation: Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université Laval and Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Québec City, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ayotte
authors.affiliation: École de psychologie, Université Laval and Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Québec City, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Forget-Dubois
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Sandra W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.affiliation: École de psychologie, Université Laval and Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Québec City, QC, Canada. Electronic address: Gina.Muckle@psy.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muckle
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D004930:Inuit; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D007854:Lead; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Child growth; Fetal growth; Inuit; Lead; Polychlorinated biphenyls