Postnatal exposure to mercury and neuropsychological development among preschooler children
- 13 March 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in European Journal of Epidemiology
- Vol. 35 (3), 259-271
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-020-00620-9
Abstract
The objective of this study was to describe the postnatal exposure to Hg and to evaluate its association with neuropsychological development among preschool children. The study population are 4–5 years old children (n = 1252) participant in the Spanish INMA Project. Total Hg was measured in cord blood and in hair samples taken at 4 years of age (2008–2012). Neuropsychological development was assessed using the McCarthy Scales of Children’s Abilities (MSCA). Information on covariates and possible confounders was obtained by questionnaires during pregnancy and childhood. Generalized additive and linear regression models were built in order to assess the relationship between MSCA scores and Hg exposure. We also evaluated the magnitude of the possible bias generated from measurement error in seafood intake estimate from questionnaire and Hg determination. The geometric mean of hair Hg was 0.98 µg/g [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94, 1.03]. In the regression analysis, the association between Hg and the MSCA scores was positive for all the scales and statistically significant for the verbal (β = 0.89; 95%CI 0.38, 1.39), memory (β = 0.42; 95%CI 0.09, 0.76) and general cognitive scales (β = 1.35; 95%CI 0.45, 2.25). However, these associations were clearly attenuated when we adjusted by the children’s fish intake variables or when took into account theoretical scenarios of low precision in fish intake and Hg measurements. Hg levels in this Spanish population were high in comparison with other European countries; however, we did not observe adverse effects on child neuropsychological development associated with this postnatal exposure to Hg.Keywords
Funding Information
- European Union (FP7-ENV-2011 cod 282957, HEALTH.2010.2.4.5-1)
- Instituto Carlos III (Red INMA G03/176, CB06/02/0041, FIS-FEDER: PI03/1615, PI04/1509, PI04/1436, PI04/1112, PI04/1931, PI05/1079, PI05/1052, PI06/0867, PI06/1213, PI07/0314, PI081151, PI09/00090, PI09/02647, PI11/01007, PI11/02591, PI11/02038, PI12/00610, PI13/02187, PI13/1944, PI13/2032, PI14/00108, PI14/00891, PI14/01687, PI16/00261, PI16/1288, PI17/00663, PI19/1338, Miguel Servet-FSE: MS11/0178, MS15/0025, MSII16/0051, MSII19/00015, Miguel Servet-FEDER: CP11/0178, CP15/0025)
- Generalitat de Catalunya (CIRIT 1999SGR 00241, AGAUR 2009 SGR 501)
- CIBERESP
- Fundació la Marató de TV3 (090430)
- EU Commission (261357)
- Generalitat Valenciana
- FISABIO (UGP 15-230, UGP-15-244, UGP-15-249)
- Department of Health of the Basque Government (2005111093, 2009111069, 2013111089, 2015111065)
- The Provincial Government of Gipuzkoa (DFG06/002, DFG08/001, DFG15/221)
- annual agreements with the municipalities of the study area (Zumarraga, Urretxu, Legazpi, Azkoitia, Azpeitia, Beasain)
- Alicia Koplowitz Foundation (2017)
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