Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Prenatal molybdenum exposure and infant neurodevelopment in Mexican children
Insights
Prenatal exposure to molybdenum (Mo) may negatively impact infant psychomotor development. Higher third-trimester maternal urinary Mo levels were associated with lower psychomotor development index scores in infants, warranting further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Toxicology
Background:
- Prenatal exposure to environmental contaminants is a growing concern.
- Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential trace element, but its effects on neurodevelopment at higher exposure levels are not well understood.
- Assessing the impact of prenatal Mo exposure on early infant neurodevelopment is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prenatal exposure to molybdenum (Mo) and neurodevelopment in infants up to 30 months of age.
- To determine if maternal urinary Mo concentrations during pregnancy correlate with infant psychomotor and mental development.
- To provide initial evidence on the potential neurodevelopmental effects of prenatal Mo exposure.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study in Morelos, Mexico, with 147 children and uncomplicated pregnancies.
- Maternal urine samples collected across trimesters, with Mo levels measured using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.
- Infant neurodevelopment assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (PDI and MDI).
Main Results:
- Average urinary Mo concentrations ranged from 45.6 to 54.0 µg/g creatinine across trimesters.
- A significant inverse association was found between third-trimester maternal urinary Mo levels and infant psychomotor development index (PDI) scores (β = -0.57, P = 0.03).
- No significant association was observed between prenatal Mo exposure and infant mental development index (MDI) scores (β = 0.07, P = 0.66).
Conclusions:
- This study suggests a potential negative association between prenatal molybdenum exposure and infant psychomotor development.
- The findings highlight the need for further research to confirm the impact of prenatal Mo exposure on neurodevelopment.
- These results underscore the importance of monitoring environmental exposures during pregnancy.
Objective:
To evaluate the association between prenatal exposure to molybdenum (Mo) and infant neurodevelopment during the first 30 months of life.
Methods:
We selected a random sample of 147 children who participated in a prospective cohort study in four municipalities in the State of Morelos, Mexico. The children were the products of uncomplicated pregnancies with no perinatal asphyxia, with a weight of ≥2 kg at birth, and whose mothers had no history of chronic illnesses. These women were monitored before, during, and after the pregnancy. For each of these children a maternal urine sample was available for at least one trimester of pregnancy, and urine Mo levels were determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Neurodevelopment was evaluated using the psychomotor (PDI) and mental development indices (MDI) of the Bayley scale. Association between prenatal exposure to Mo and infant neurodevelopment was estimated using generalized mixed effect models.
Results:
The average urinary concentrations of Mo adjusted for creatinine varied between 45.6 and 54.0 µg/g of creatinine at first and third trimester, respectively. For each doubling increase of Mo (μg/g creatinine) during the third trimester of pregnancy, we observed a significant reduction on PDI (β = -0.57 points; P = 0.03), and no effect on MDI (β = 0.07 points; P = 0.66).
Discussion:
As this is the first study that suggests a potential negative association between prenatal Mo exposure and infant neurodevelopment, these results require further confirmation.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:07Teratogenicity
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota