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Childhood exposures to environmental chemicals and neurodevelopmental outcomes in congenital heart disease.

Authors :
Gaynor JW
Burnham NB
Ittenbach RF
Gerdes M
Bernbaum JC
Zackai E
Licht DJ
Russell WW
Zullo EE
Miller T
Hakonarson H
Clarke KA
Jarvik GP
Calafat AM
Bradman A
Bellinger DC
Henretig FM
Coker ES
Source :
PloS one [PLoS One] 2022 Nov 17; Vol. 17 (11), pp. e0277611. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Nov 17 (Print Publication: 2022).
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

Background: Children with congenital heart defects have an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disability. The impact of environmental chemical exposures during daily life on neurodevelopmental outcomes in toddlers with congenital heart defects is unknown.<br />Methods: This prospective study investigated the impacts of early childhood exposure to mixtures of environmental chemicals on neurodevelopmental outcomes after cardiac surgery. Outcomes were assessed at 18 months of age using The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III. Urinary concentrations of exposure biomarkers of pesticides, phenols, parabens, and phthalates, and blood levels of lead, mercury, and nicotine were measured at the same time point. Bayesian profile regression and weighted quantile sum regression were utilized to assess associations between mixtures of biomarkers and neurodevelopmental scores.<br />Results: One-hundred and forty infants were enrolled, and 110 (79%) returned at 18 months of age. Six biomarker exposure clusters were identified from the Bayesian profile regression analysis; and the pattern was driven by 15 of the 30 biomarkers, most notably 13 phthalate biomarkers. Children in the highest exposure cluster had significantly lower adjusted language scores by -9.41 points (95%CI: -17.2, -1.7) and adjusted motor scores by -4.9 points (-9.5, -0.4) compared to the lowest exposure. Weighted quantile sum regression modeling for the overall exposure-response relationship showed a significantly lower adjusted motor score (β = -2.8 points [2.5th and 97.5th percentile: -6.0, -0.6]). The weighted quantile sum regression index weights for several phthalates, one paraben, and one phenol suggest their relevance for poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes.<br />Conclusions: Like other children, infants with congenital heart defects are exposed to complex mixtures of environmental chemicals in daily life. Higher exposure biomarker concentrations were associated with significantly worse performance for language and motor skills in this population.<br />Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.<br /> (Copyright: This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1932-6203
Volume :
17
Issue :
11
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
PloS one
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
36395323
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277611