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Effect of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Exposure on Cognitive Development in 5 Years Old Children

Barbora Blazkova1, Anna Pastorkova1, Ivo Solansky1

  • 1Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South Bohemia, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.

Brain Sciences
|September 10, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) did not significantly impact cognitive development in five-year-olds. However, higher PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy affected cognitive development in girls from Karvina.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Neurodevelopment
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common air pollutants with potential neurotoxic effects.
  • Assessing the impact of prenatal exposure to PAHs on child cognitive development is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between ambient air polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure during pregnancy and cognitive development in five-year-old children.
  • To analyze the influence of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and hydroxy-PAH (OH-PAH) exposure on cognitive test outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Two cohorts of children (Karvina, n=70; Ceske Budejovice, n=99) born in 2013-2014 were assessed at age five.
  • Cognitive development was evaluated using the Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test (BG test) and Raven Colored Progressive Matrices (RCPM test).
  • Prenatal PAH exposure was estimated via benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) concentrations and urinary OH-PAH metabolites in newborns.

Main Results:

  • Benzo[a]pyrene concentrations were significantly higher in Karvina (6.1 ng/m³) compared to Ceske Budejovice (1.19 ng/m³).
  • No significant differences in cognitive test outcomes were observed between the two locations or between genders.
  • Higher PM2.5 exposure during the third trimester was associated with cognitive development in girls from Karvina.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal exposure to PAHs, as measured, did not show a significant impact on the cognitive development of five-year-old children.
  • Specific air pollutants like PM2.5 may have differential effects on cognitive development, particularly in girls.

Keywords:
Bender Visual Motor Gestalt TestOH–PAH metabolites in urineRaven Colored Progressive Matricescognitive developmentpolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonspsychological tests

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