Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 26, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Prenatal exposure to PCBs and infant performance on the fagan test of infant intelligence

T Darvill1, E Lonky, J Reihman

  • 1Center for Neurobehavioral Effects of Environmental Toxics, Oswego State University, NY 13126, USA. darvill@oswego.edu

Neurotoxicology
|March 10, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Higher prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is linked to lower infant cognitive performance, as measured by the Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence (FTII). No significant effects were found for DDE or methylmercury.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Prenatal exposure to environmental toxicants can impact infant neurodevelopment.
  • Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants with known neurotoxic effects.
  • Previous research suggests a link between prenatal PCB exposure and cognitive deficits in infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the dose-dependent relationship between prenatal exposure to PCBs, DDE, and methylmercury (MeHg) and cognitive performance in infants.
  • To assess the impact of specific PCB congeners associated with fish consumption on infant intelligence.
  • To replicate and extend previous findings on prenatal toxicant exposure and infant cognitive development.

Main Methods:

  • Infants were tested at 67 weeks (6 months) and 92 weeks (12 months) conceptual age using the Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence (FTII).
  • Umbilical cord blood samples were analyzed for total PCB levels, specific PCB congeners, and DDE.
  • Maternal hair samples were analyzed for methylmercury (MeHg) levels.

Main Results:

  • A dose-dependent relationship was observed between total umbilical cord-blood PCB levels and poorer FTII performance at both 6 and 12 months.
  • Specific persistent and heavily chlorinated PCB congeners were associated with poorer FTII performance at 12 months, but not at 6 months.
  • No significant associations were found between FTII performance and cord-blood DDE or maternal hair methylmercury levels.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal PCB exposure is associated with impaired cognitive development in infants, demonstrating a dose-dependent effect.
  • The findings support previous research linking prenatal PCB exposure to neurodevelopmental deficits.
  • DDE and methylmercury did not show significant associations with infant cognitive performance in this cohort.

More Related Videos

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants07:08

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants

Published on: March 6, 2018

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development08:50

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development

Published on: June 24, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Binet's Contribution to Measures of Intelligence01:23

Binet's Contribution to Measures of Intelligence

Alfred Binet, along with his student Théophile Simon, was tasked by the French Ministry of Education in 1904 to create a method for identifying students who struggled to learn through conventional classroom instruction. This initiative aimed to address overcrowding by placing such students in specialized schools. Binet and Simon developed an intelligence test comprising 30 tasks, ranging from simple commands, like touching one's nose or ear, to more complex tasks, such as drawing designs from...
Biological Influences on Intelligence01:30

Biological Influences on Intelligence

Intelligence is often thought to be linked to brain size, but the relationship is more complex than that. While brain size does correlate modestly with some abilities, like verbal skills, the connection is weaker for others, such as spatial reasoning. Other factors, like brain structure, also play crucial roles. For instance, despite Einstein's smaller-than-average brain, his parietal cortex, which is involved in spatial reasoning, was 15% wider, suggesting that neural density might matter more...
Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children from...