Pre- and Postnatal PCB Concentrations and Child Behavior at Age 45 Months

Abstract

ISEE-0883 Background and Objective: While data have been published concerning children’s cognitive development in relation to developmental polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure, less is known about the impact of PCBs on infant and child behavioral development. The current study assesses child behavior through maternal report using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) in a cohort of families living in eastern Slovakia environmentally-exposed to PCBs. Methods: Pregnant women were enrolled into the study at the time they came to the local hospital to deliver. Maternal and cord blood samples were collected for PCB determination, as well as 6-, 16-, and 45-month samples from the infant/child. A “total” PCB measure was calculated as the sum of six congeners (118, 138, 153, 156+171, 170, 180) for maternal concentrations, and as the sum of four congeners (138, 153, 170, 180) for cord and infant/child concentrations. After delivery, women completed questionnaires concerning lifestyle and sociodemographic characteristics, and were administered the Raven’s Progressive Matrices. In addition, the Home Observation for Measurement of Environment Inventory (HOME) was completed at the 16-month follow-up. At the child’s 45-month follow-up visit, mothers completed the Child Behavior Checklist 1.5-5. Subscale scores were calculated for the seven syndromes (emotionally reactive, anxious/depressed, etc.) as well as for internalizing and externalizing behaviors. The association between (natural log) total PCB concentrations and the various CBCL scores was estimated and tested using linear regression. Results: Complete data were available for 398 children. After adjustment for HOME Scores, maternal Raven score, and Romani ethnicity, neither maternal nor postnatal (natural log) total PCB concentrations were associated with any of the seven syndrome scores, or internalizing or externalizing behavior scores. Conclusion: Data from this cohort do not provide support for the hypothesis that developmental PCB exposure plays a role in early childhood behavioral development.