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Early-life triclosan exposure and parent-reported behavior problems in 8-year-old children
Medina S Jackson-Browne1, George D Papandonatos2, Aimin Chen3
1Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States of America.
Insights
Early life exposure to triclosan (a common antimicrobial) was linked to increased behavioral problems in 8-year-old boys, but not girls. This suggests potential neurodevelopmental impacts of triclosan in early childhood.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Developmental Toxicology
- Neurobehavioral Science
Background:
- Triclosan exposure is a growing concern due to potential adverse effects on neurodevelopment, including thyroid hormone disruption and neuron apoptosis.
- Limited research exists on the association between early-life triclosan exposure and subsequent child behavior.
- Understanding these links is crucial for public health and developmental guidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prenatal and childhood triclosan exposure and behavioral outcomes in children at age 8.
- To quantify the relationship between urinary triclosan concentrations and specific behavior problem scores.
- To explore potential sex-specific differences in triclosan's impact on child behavior.
Main Methods:
- Urinary triclosan levels were measured in 202 mothers during pregnancy and in their children up to age 8.
- Child behavior was assessed at age 8 using the Behavioral Assessment System for Children-2 (BASC-2).
- Statistical analyses adjusted for covariates, accounted for exposure measurement error, and examined sex-specific associations.
Main Results:
- Gestational triclosan exposure was associated with higher scores for behavioral symptoms, externalizing problems, attention problems, hyperactivity, and somatization in boys.
- These associations were not significant in girls, indicating a sex-specific effect.
- Childhood triclosan exposure showed similar patterns but diminished in significance after adjusting for prenatal exposure.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal and early childhood triclosan exposure is linked to increased behavioral problems in 8-year-old boys.
- The findings highlight potential sex-specific neurodevelopmental risks associated with triclosan.
- Further research is warranted to understand the mechanisms and long-term implications of triclosan exposure on child behavior.
Background:
Triclosan exposure may decrease circulating thyroxine levels or cause neuron apoptosis, which in turn may adversely affect neurodevelopment. However, few studies have examined the association of early life triclosan exposure with child behavior.
Objective:
To quantify the association between early-life triclosan exposure and child behavior at age 8-years in 202 mother-child pairs from the HOME study (Cincinnati, OH; enrolled: 2003-2006).
Methods:
We quantified urinary triclosan concentrations up to 3 times in mothers (16-weeks, 26-weeks, and delivery) and up to 6 times in children (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 years). Parents rated children's problem behaviors at age 8-years using the Behavioral Assessment System for Children-2 (BASC-2). Adjusting for covariates and accounting for exposure measurement error, we estimated changes in behavior problem scores per 10-fold increase in mean gestational and childhood triclosan concentrations. In addition, we estimated sex-specific associations.
Results:
Child sex modified the association of gestational and childhood triclosan with several BASC-2 scales (sex × triclosan p-values < 0.2). In boys, increasing gestational triclosan was associated with higher behavioral symptom index (β: 4.5; 95% CI: 1.0, 8.1), externalizing problems (β: 5.0; 95% CI: 1.2, 9.0), attention problem (β: 6.6; 95% CI: 2.4, 11), hyperactivity (β: 6.4; 95% CI: 2.1, 11), and somatization (β: 3.8; 95% CI: 0.3, 7.3) scores. In contrast, triclosan-BASC-2 associations in girls were generally null and not statistically significant. We observed similar patterns of associations between childhood triclosan and these same behavioral scores; however, their magnitude decreased substantially after adjusting for gestational triclosan and associations were not statistically significant.
Conclusion:
In this cohort, increasing gestational and childhood urinary triclosan concentrations were associated with higher behavior problem scores in 8-year old boys, but not girls.
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