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Prenatal Exposure to Metals and Neurodevelopment in Infants at Six Months: Rio Birth Cohort Study of Environmental

Mônica Seefelder de Assis Araujo1, Carmen Ildes Rodrigues Froes-Asmus2, Nataly Damasceno de Figueiredo2

  • 1Public Health Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-592, Brazil.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|April 12, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal exposure to arsenic in Rio de Janeiro was linked to infant neurodevelopmental delays. Higher maternal arsenic levels correlated with lower scores on the Denver Developmental Screening Test II, indicating potential toxic effects.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • The PIPA Project is a prospective birth cohort study in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
  • Pilot study conducted from October 2017 to August 2018.
  • Assessed prenatal exposure to arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between prenatal metal exposure and infant neurodevelopment.
  • To evaluate metal concentrations in maternal and umbilical cord blood.
  • To assess neurodevelopmental outcomes using the Denver Developmental Screening Test II (DDST-II).

Main Methods:

  • Collected maternal and umbilical cord blood samples (n=49 and n=46, respectively).
  • Measured As, Cd, Pb, and Hg concentrations using standard analytical techniques.
  • Administered the DDST-II to 50 six-month-old infants to assess neurodevelopmental status.

Main Results:

  • Metals were detected in 100% of maternal and newborn samples.
  • Maternal blood lead levels were higher in premature newborns (p=0.05).
  • Maternal blood arsenic concentrations were significantly higher in infants with neurodevelopmental delays (fail group) (p=0.03).

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal exposure to arsenic may negatively impact infant neurodevelopment.
  • Higher maternal arsenic levels were associated with neurodevelopmental deficits in infants.
  • Further research is needed to understand the toxic effects of prenatal metal exposure on child development.

Keywords:
children’s healthheavy metalsneurodevelopmentneurodevelopmental screeningprenatal exposuresumbilical cord blood

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