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Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
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Prenatal bisphenol a exposure and child behavior in an inner-city cohort

Frederica Perera1, Julia Vishnevetsky, Julie B Herbstman

  • 1Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA. fpp1@columbia.edu

Environmental Health Perspectives
|May 1, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) is linked to distinct behavioral changes in children. Boys showed increased behavioral problems, while girls exhibited fewer, suggesting sex-specific effects of BPA on child development.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Developmental Toxicology
  • Pediatric Neurobehavior

Background:

  • Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor with suspected neurodevelopmental toxicity.
  • Previous studies on sex-specific effects of BPA on child behavior have yielded limited and inconclusive results.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between prenatal bisphenol A (BPA) exposure and child behavior.
  • To examine potential sex-specific effects of BPA on behavior, adjusting for postnatal exposure.

Main Methods:

  • Followed 198 mother-child pairs (African-American and Dominican) from pregnancy to age 5.
  • Measured BPA exposure via maternal urine during pregnancy and child urine at ages 3-4.
  • Assessed child behavior using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) at ages 3-5.

Main Results:

  • High prenatal BPA exposure was associated with increased Emotionally Reactive and Aggressive Behavior scores in boys.
  • In girls, higher prenatal BPA exposure correlated with decreased scores for Anxious/Depressed and Aggressive Behavior syndromes.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal bisphenol A (BPA) exposure appears to influence child behavior.
  • The effects of prenatal BPA exposure on behavior differ significantly between boys and girls.
Abstract

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