Early-life exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and ADHD behavior problems.
OBJECTIVE
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are widespread urban air pollutants from combustion of fossil fuel and other organic material shown previously to be neurotoxic.


OBJECTIVE
In a prospective cohort study, we evaluated the relationship between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder behavior problems and prenatal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure, adjusting for postnatal exposure.


METHODS
Children of nonsmoking African-American and Dominican women in New York City were followed from in utero to 9 years. Prenatal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure was estimated by levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon- DNA adducts in maternal and cord blood collected at delivery. Postnatal exposure was estimated by the concentration of urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites at ages 3 or 5. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder behavior problems were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist and the Conners Parent Rating Scale- Revised.


RESULTS
High prenatal adduct exposure, measured by elevated maternal adducts was significantly associated with all Conners Parent Rating Scale-Revised subscales when the raw scores were analyzed continuously (N = 233). After dichotomizing at the threshold for moderately to markedly atypical symptoms, high maternal adducts were significantly associated with the Conners Parent Rating Scale-Revised DSM-IV Inattentive (OR = 5.06, 95% CI [1.43, 17.93]) and DSM-IV Total (OR = 3.37, 95% CI [1.10, 10.34]) subscales. High maternal adducts were positivity associated with the DSM-oriented Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Problems scale on the Child Behavior Checklist, albeit not significant. In the smaller sample with cord adducts, the associations between outcomes and high cord adduct exposure were not statistically significant (N = 162).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons encountered in New York City air may play a role in childhood Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder behavior problems.
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Frederica P
FP
Perera
Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Hsin-wen
HW
Chang
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Deliang
D
Tang
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Emily L
EL
Roen
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Julie
J
Herbstman
Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and the Center for Developmental Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, the New York State Psychiatric Institute and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Amy
A
Margolis
Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Tzu-Jung
TJ
Huang
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care of Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Rachel L
RL
Miller
Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Shuang
S
Wang
Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; The Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
Virginia
V
Rauh
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D055815:Young Adult
D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons