Abstract
Research on the neurodevelopmental effects of metal(loid)s has focused mainly on outcomes assessed at one time point, even though brain development progresses over time. We investigated biomarkers of perinatal exposure to metals and changes in child behavior over time. We followed 268 participants from the prospective New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study between birth and age 5 years. We measured arsenic (As), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) in toenails from 6-week-old infants. The Behavioral Symptoms Index (BSI), externalizing, and internalizing symptoms were assessed using the Behavior Assessment System for Children, 2nd edition (BASC-2) at ages 3 and 5 years. Multivariable linear regression was used to estimate associations of metals with behavior change, calculated as the difference in symptom raw scores between 3 and 5 years, in addition to the associations for symptom scores at 3 and 5 years separately. Sex-specific associations were also explored using stratified models and a sex-metal interaction term. Adjusted associations of metals and change in behavior varied by exposure and outcome. Each 1 µg/g increase in ln toenail Cu was associated with improved behavior between 3 and 5 years [BSI: β = − 3.88 (95%CI: − 7.12, − 0.64); Externalizing problems: β = − 2.20 (95%CI: − 4.07, − 0.33)]. Increasing Zn was associated with increased externalizing behavior over time (β = 3.42 (95%CI: 0.60, 6.25). Sex-stratified analyses suggested more pronounced associations among boys compared to girls. Perinatal exposure to metals may alter behavioral development between ages 3 and 5 years. Findings support the need for more research on associations between metals and neurodevelopment over longer time periods.
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Data Availability
Use of the data may be possible under certain conditions by contacting the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study Principal Investigator: Margaret Karagas, PhD, (margaret.r.karagas@dartmouth.edu).
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to acknowledge the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study participants and research staff for their contributions to this research.
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This work was supported in part by grants from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (P01ES022832, P20ES018175, P42ES007373), the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (P20GM104416), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (RD-83544201) and the National Cancer Institute T32CA134286.
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Bauer, J.A., Romano, M.E., Jackson, B.P. et al. Associations of Perinatal Metal and Metalloid Exposures with Early Child Behavioral Development Over Time in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. Expo Health 16, 135–148 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-023-00543-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-023-00543-2