Developmental neurotoxicity of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBS): cognitiveand psychomotor functions in 7-month old children

Neurobehavioral effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at environmenta l levels of exposure have been reported in cross-sectional and prospective studies in infants and children. However, observations differ for effect sp ectrum, persistence and effective matrix (cord plasma, maternal plasma or m ilk). In order to improve risk assessment by clarifying some of these uncer tainties, a European multicentric study was set up. Results from the German (Dusseldorf) cohort covering 171 healthy mother-infant pairs are given. Th e sum of PCB congeners 138, 153 and 180 (Sigma PCB) in cord plasma and mate rnal milk was used to describe neonatal PCB exposure. Mean Sigma PCB-concen trations were 0.55 ng/ml in cord plasma and 427 ng/g fat in breastmilk. Thi s report covers the Bayley II mental (MDI) and psychomotor development inde x (PDI) as well as the Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence (Visual Recognitio n Memory) taken at 7 months of age in relation to neonatal Sigma PCB. After confounder-adjustment significant negative associations were found between Sigma PCB in milk and MDI (P<0.05), whereas the other associations proved insignificant. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.