title: Cognitive performance among cohorts of children exposed to a waste disposal site containing heavy metals in Chile.
abstract: Between 1984 and 1998, people living in Arica were involuntarily exposed to metal-containing waste stored in the urban area. The study aims to determine whether children who lived near the waste disposal site during early childhood experienced negative effects on their cognitive development. The cognitive performance was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. The exposure variable was defined by the year of birth in three categories: (1) Pre-remediation (born before 1999); (2) During-remediation (born between 1999 and 2003); and (3) Post-remediation (born after 2003). In the crude analysis, a difference of 10 points in the IQ average was observed between the group born in the pre- (81.9 points) and post-remediation period (91.1 points). The difference between both groups was five times higher as compared to children of similar age and socioeconomic status in other cities of Chile. This result could be related with a period of high potential for exposure to this contaminated site.
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health , University of Chile , Santiago , Chile.
authors.forename: Soledad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burgos
authors.affiliation: b School of Psychology , Universidad de Los Andes (Chile) , Santiago , Chile.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tenorio
authors.affiliation: c School of Psychology and Philosophy , University of Tarapaca , Arica , Chile.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health , University of Chile , Santiago , Chile.
authors.forename: Dante D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Cáceres
authors.affiliation: d Technological Metropolitan University , Santiago , Chile.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klarian
authors.affiliation: e Center for Psychosocial Research and Intervention (CEINPSI) , University of Tarapaca , Arica , Chile.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.affiliation: e Center for Psychosocial Research and Intervention (CEINPSI) , University of Tarapaca , Arica , Chile.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oviedo
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health , University of Chile , Santiago , Chile.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Toro-Campos
authors.affiliation: f Division of International Health , Mount Sinai School of Medicine , New York , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Luz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Claudio
authors.affiliation: a Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health , University of Chile , Santiago , Chile.
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Iglesias
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D002677:Chile; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000633:toxicity*; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy
keywords: Arsenic; children; heavy metals; intellectual quotient