1. Gestational exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers and social skills and problem behaviors in adolescents: The HOME study
- Author
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Hartley, Kim, MacDougall, Melinda C., Terrizzi, Brandon, Xu, Yingying, Cecil, Kim M., Chen, Aimin, Braun, Joseph M., Lanphear, Bruce P., Newman, Nicholas C., Vuong, Ann M., Sjödin, Andreas, and Yolton, Kimberly
- Subjects
Male ,Problem Behavior ,Pediatric ,Problem behaviors ,Adolescent ,Environmental exposure ,Article ,Environmental sciences ,Maternal Exposure ,Pregnancy ,Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers ,Polybrominated diphenyl ethers ,Humans ,Prenatal ,Environmental Pollutants ,Female ,GE1-350 ,Social skills ,Child ,Flame Retardants ,General Environmental Science - Abstract
BACKGROUND: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent environmental pollutants used as flame retardants. Gestational PBDE exposure has been associated with a variety of behavior problems in children, but little is known about its impact into adolescence, particularly on social skills, which are important for achieving social competence, establishing identity, and forming lasting relationships. OBJECTIVE: We investigated associations between gestational exposure to PBDEs and social skills and problem behaviors in early adolescence in a longitudinal pregnancy and birth cohort in Cincinnati, Ohio (recruited 2003–2006). METHODS: We measured maternal serum concentrations of five PBDE congeners during gestation. At age 12, we collected social skills and problem behaviors scores from 243 adolescents and their caregivers using the Social Skills Improvement System (SSiS). We used multivariable linear regression models to estimate associations between maternal PBDE concentrations and SSiS outcomes, controlling for potential covariates. We report associations for the five congeners and a summary exposure variable (∑(5)BDE: the sum of BDE- 28, 47, 99, 100, and 153, n=197). RESULTS: We found sex-specific associations of ∑(5)BDE concentrations with adolescent-reported Problem Behaviors (∑(5)BDE × sex p(int)=0.02) and caregiver-reported Social Skills (∑(5)BDE × sex p(int)=0.02) despite higher ∑(5)BDE exposure among females (Male GM=35.30 ng/g lipid, GSE=1.09; Female GM=40.15 ng/g lipid, GSE=1.10). In sex-stratified models, log(10) transformed data revealed increased maternal ∑(5)BDE concentration among males was associated with decreased caregiver-reported Social Skills composite score (β=−10.2, 95% CI: −19.5, −1.0), increased adolescent-reported Problem Behaviors composite score (β=12.1, 95% CI: 5.4, 18.8), and increased caregiver-reported Problem Behaviors composite score (β=6.2, 95% CI: 0.7, 11.7). Further analysis on SSiS subscales revealed similar patterns in significant associations among males. There were no statistically significant associations in stratified models among females. DISCUSSION: We found gestational PBDE exposure in males was associated with poorer behavioral outcomes, extending previous findings among this cohort into early adolescence.
- Published
- 2022