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Prenatal airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and child IQ at age 5 years

Frederica P Perera1, Zhigang Li, Robin Whyatt

  • 1Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Healt, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA. fpp1@columbia.edu

Pediatrics
|July 22, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in New York City air was linked to lower child IQ scores. This environmental pollutant exposure can negatively impact cognitive development in children.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common environmental pollutants.
  • Prenatal exposure to environmental toxins is a growing concern for child development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the association between prenatal exposure to airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and cognitive development in children.
  • To determine if environmental PAH exposure affects intelligence quotient (IQ) scores in early childhood.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 249 children born to nonsmoking women in New York City was monitored from gestation to age 5.
  • Maternal exposure to PAHs during pregnancy was measured using personal air monitoring.
  • Child intelligence was assessed at age 5 using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Revised (WPPSI-R).

Main Results:

  • Higher prenatal PAH exposure levels were significantly associated with lower full-scale IQ and verbal IQ scores.
  • Children with high PAH exposure (above median) had average IQ scores 4.31 points lower for full-scale and 4.67 points lower for verbal IQ.
  • These associations remained significant after adjusting for confounding factors like maternal IQ and home environment.

Conclusions:

  • Environmental PAHs, at levels found in urban air, can adversely affect children's intelligence.
  • Findings highlight the potential neurodevelopmental risks of air pollution during critical prenatal periods.
  • Public health strategies may need to address airborne PAH reduction to protect child cognitive health.
Abstract

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