Prenatal and childhood polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) exposure and attention and executive function at 9-12 years of age.
OBJECTIVE
California children's exposures to polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants (PBDEs) are among the highest measured worldwide. We previously reported associations for prenatal and childhood PBDE exposures with decrements in attention, processing speed, fine motor coordination, and cognition in children at ages 5 and 7 years. Here, we investigate associations of PBDEs with attention and executive function at ages 9 to 12 years in the expanded CHAMACOS cohort.


METHODS
We measured PBDEs in prenatal and child age 9 year serum samples for families enrolled in the study since pregnancy ("CHAM1", N=321). In a subsequent cohort for which families were enrolled at child age 9 ("CHAM2", N=301), we measured PBDEs in maternal and child samples collected at child age 9, and used predictive modeling to estimate prenatal exposure levels. We examined associations of measured and estimated PBDE concentrations on children's attention and executive functioning at ages 9, 10½, and 12 years.


RESULTS
Geometric means for prenatal and childhood ΣPBDE levels (sum of PBDE-47, -99, -100, -153) for the expanded CHAMACOS cohort were 26.3 and 63.2 ng/g lipid, respectively, and did not differ significantly between CHAM1 and CHAM2 families. We found consistent associations of prenatal exposure to PBDEs with poorer attention and executive function, measured with parent report and direct neuropsychological testing of the child. For example, using GEE models of repeated outcome measures at ages 9 and 12, a 10-fold increase in prenatal ΣPBDE was associated with poorer response consistency on the Conners' Continuous Performance Test II (β=2.9; 95% CI: 0.9, 4.8) and poorer working memory on the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function (β=2.5; 95% CI: 0.5, 4.4). Child age 9 ΣPBDE levels were associated with poorer parent-reported attention and executive function for girls but not boys.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that the prefrontal cortex may be a potential target for PBDE exposure and add to a growing literature showing that these ubiquitous toxicants may adversely affect neurodevelopment.
Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States. Electronic address: sagiv@berkeley.edu.
Sharon K
SK
Sagiv
Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States.
Katherine
K
Kogut
Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States.
Fraser W
FW
Gaspar
Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States.
Robert B
RB
Gunier
Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States.
Kim G
KG
Harley
Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States; Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas (CSVS), Salinas, CA, United States.
Kimberly
K
Parra
Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States; Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas (CSVS), Salinas, CA, United States.
Diana
D
Villaseñor
Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States.
Asa
A
Bradman
Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States.
Nina
N
Holland
Center for Environmental Research and Children's Health (CERCH), School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States.
Brenda
B
Eskenazi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000633:toxicity*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
ADHD; Attention; Biomarkers; Children; Executive function; Flame retardants; Flammability; Flammability standard; Human blood serum; Human exposure; Mexican; Motor skills; Neurodevelopment; Prenatal