Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants in association with offspring neuropsychological development at 4years of age: The Rhea mother-child cohort, Crete, Greece.
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are highly-resistant compounds to environmental degradation and due to fat solubility they bioaccumulate through the food chain. As they cross the placenta, in utero exposure to POPs could disrupt child neurodevelopment as they are considered to be neurotoxic.



We examined whether in utero exposure to levels of different POPs is associated with offspring cognitive and behavioral outcomes at 4years of age in a mother-child cohort in Crete, Greece (Rhea study).



We included 689 mother-child pairs. Concentrations of several polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other organochlorine compounds (dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene [DDE], hexachlorobenzene [HCB]) were determined in maternal serum collected in the first trimester of pregnancy by triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Neurodevelopment at 4years was assessed by means of the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities. Behavioral difficulties were assessed by Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Test. Linear regression analyses were used to estimate the associations between the exposures and outcomes of interest after adjustment for potential confounders.



Children with "high" HCB concentrations (≥90th percentile) in maternal serum, demonstrated decreased scores in perceptual performance (adjusted β=-6.07; 95% CI: -10.17, -1.97), general cognitive (adjusted β=-4.97; 95% CI: -8.99, -0.96), executive function (adjusted β=-6.24; 95% CI: -10.36, -2.11) and working memory (adjusted β=-4.71; 95% CI: -9.05, -0.36) scales at 4years of age. High exposure to PCBs (≥90th percentile) during pregnancy was associated with a 4.62 points reduction in working memory score at 4years of age (95% CI: -9.10, -0.14). Prenatal exposure to DDE, HCB and PCBs was not associated with child behavioral difficulties.



The findings suggest that prenatal exposure to HCB and PCBs may contribute to reduced cognitive development at preschool age. Our results raise the possibility that exposure to HCB may play a more important role in child cognition than previously considered.
Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
Andriani
A
Kyriklaki
Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece. Electronic address: m.vafeiadi@med.uoc.gr.
Marina
M
Vafeiadi
Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
Mariza
M
Kampouri
Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
Katerina
K
Koutra
Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
Theano
T
Roumeliotaki
Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
Georgia
G
Chalkiadaki
Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
Despoina
D
Anousaki
Department of Health Protection, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland.
Panu
P
Rantakokko
Department of Health Protection, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland.
Hannu
H
Kiviranta
Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
Eleni
E
Fthenou
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
Panos
P
Bitsios
National Hellenic Research Foundation, Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, Athens, Greece.
Soterios A
SA
Kyrtopoulos
Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain.
Manolis
M
Kogevinas
Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
Leda
L
Chatzi
D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003632:Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D003632:Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane
Cognition; HCB; McCarthy Scales for Children’s Abilities; Neuropsychological development; PCBs; Persistent organic pollutants