Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are chemicals used in a variety of products before they were widely banned due to toxic effects in humans and wildlife. Because of continued persistence and ubiquity of these contaminants, risk of exposure to people living in industrialized countries is still high. Experimental research show that developmental exposure to PCB may alter function of brain pleasure centers and potentially influence disinhibitory behaviors, including tobacco and alcohol use. Yet, the potential effects of developmental PCB exposure on adolescent substance use have not been studied in humans. We used the Child Health and Development Studies (CHDS), a prospective birth cohort study in the Oakland and East Bay areas of California, to investigate associations between prenatal exposure to PCB congeners (66, 74, 99, 118, 138, 153, 170, 180, 187, and 203) and later disinhibitory behaviors in adolescents, specifically alcohol consumption and smoking, in a randomly selected sample (n = 554). Total prenatal PCB exposure was not associated with disinhibitory behaviors, among adolescents. However, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for being a current smoker, was higher in subjects within the third quartile of maternal PCB 66 exposure compared to those below the median (aOR = 1.93; 95% CI 1.05, 3.55). The aOR for drinking >2 alcoholic beverages per week, were also higher for adolescents within the third (aOR = 1.46; 95% CI 0.86, 2.47) and fourth quartile of PCB 66 exposure (aOR = 1.39; 95% CI 0.83, 2.35), but the differences did not reach statistical significance. These results suggest that this specific PCB congener may play a role inducing neurodevelopmental alterations that could potentially increase the risk of becoming a long-term user of tobacco and possibly alcohol. There were no notable differences between magnitude or direction of effect between boys and girls. Future replicate analyses with larger longitudinal samples and animal experimental studies of potential underlying mechanisms are warranted.
Highlights
Disinhibitory behaviors refers to a collection of conduct problems in adolescents, including tobacco and alcohol use, substance abuse, unsafe sexual activity, and disregard for rule/ law
A large portion of our study population was White (70.9%), followed by Black (19.9%), which is consistent with the 73.6% and 22.8% distribution, respectively, of this area according to the 1960 census
In the univariable analysis of potential confounding factors (Table 2), we observed significantly higher Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) levels in mothers older than 35 years [Odds ratio (OR) = 3.17, 95% CI (1.11, 12.40), P = 0.03]
Summary
Disinhibitory behaviors refers to a collection of conduct problems in adolescents, including tobacco and alcohol use, substance abuse, unsafe sexual activity, and disregard for rule/ law The onset of these risk behaviors shapes adult behavior, and is linked with increased risk of poor educational attainment, future morbidity such as substance use disorders and premature mortality (DuRant et al, 1999; Kipping et ah, 2012; Olsson et ah, 2016). Chemicals that are classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) persist a long time after their introduction into environment This group of chemicals include polychlorinated biphenyls (PBCs), which are endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that, despite their widespread ban, remain ubiquitous environmental contaminants due to their chemical stability and lipophilic properties (Kezios et al, 2012; Axelrad et al, 2009). Epidemiologic studies have reported on PCB exposures and reduced attention and impulsivity (Behforooz et al, 2017; Rosenquist et al, 2017b), as well as mood disorders in adults (Gaum et al, 2017)
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