Frederica P Perera1, Kylie Wheelock2, Ya Wang3, Deliang Tang4, Amy E Margolis5, Gladys Badia6, Whitney Cowell7, Rachel L Miller8, Virginia Rauh9, Shuang Wang10, Julie B Herbstman11. 1. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA; Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address: fpp1@columbia.edu. 2. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA; Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address: kmw2189@cumc.columbia.edu. 3. Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address: yw2453@cumc.columbia.edu. 4. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA; Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address: dt14@cumc.columbia.edu. 5. Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA; The Heilbrunn Center for Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address: aem30@columbia.edu. 6. Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address: gtb2101@cumc.columbia.edu. 7. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address: wc2449@cumc.columbia.edu. 8. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA; Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA; Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and the Center for Developmental Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, the New York State Psychiatric Institute and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care of Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address: rlm14@cumc.columbia.edu. 9. Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA; Division of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, New York 10032, USA. Electronic address: var1@cumc.columbia.edu. 10. Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address: sw2206@cumc.columbia.edu. 11. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA; Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address: jh2678@cumc.columbia.edu.
Abstract
IMPORTANCE: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are carcinogenic and neurotoxic combustion by-products commonly found in urban air. Exposure to PAH is disproportionately high in low income communities of color who also experience chronic economic stress. OBJECTIVE: In a prospective cohort study in New York City (NYC) we previously found a significant association between prenatal PAH exposure and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) behavior problems at age 9. Here, we have evaluated the joint effects of prenatal exposure to PAH and prenatal/childhood material hardship on ADHD behavior problems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled nonsmoking African-American and Dominican pregnant women in New York City between 1998 and 2006 and followed their children through 9 years of age. As a biomarker of prenatal PAH exposure, PAH-DNA adducts were measured in maternal blood at delivery and were dichotomized at the limit of detection (to indicate high vs. low exposure). Maternal material hardship (lack of adequate food, housing, utilities, and clothing) was self-reported prenatally and at multiple time points through child age 9. Latent variable analysis identified four distinct patterns of hardship. ADHD behavior problems were assessed using the Conners Parent Rating Scale- Revised. Analyses adjusted for relevant covariates. RESULTS: Among 351 children in our sample, across all hardship groups, children with high prenatal PAH exposure (high adducts) generally had more symptoms of ADHD (higher scores) compared to those with low PAH exposure. The greatest difference was seen among the children with hardship persisting from pregnancy through childhood. Although the interactions between high PAH exposure and hardship experienced at either period ("persistent" hardship or "any" hardship) were not significant, we observed significant differences in the number of ADHD symptoms between children with high prenatal PAH exposure and either persistent hardship or any hardship compared to the others. These differences were most significant for combined high PAH and persistent hardship: ADHD Index (p < 0.008), DSM-IV Inattentive (p = 0.006), DSM-IV Hyperactive Impulsive problems (p = 0.033), and DSM-IV Index Total (p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: The present findings add to existing evidence that co-exposure to socioeconomic disadvantage and air pollution in early life significantly increases the risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. They suggest the need for multifaceted interventions to protect pregnant mothers and their children.
IMPORTANCE: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are carcinogenic and neurotoxic combustion by-products commonly found in urban air. Exposure to PAH is disproportionately high in low income communities of color who also experience chronic economic stress. OBJECTIVE: In a prospective cohort study in New York City (NYC) we previously found a significant association between prenatal PAH exposure and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) behavior problems at age 9. Here, we have evaluated the joint effects of prenatal exposure to PAH and prenatal/childhood material hardship on ADHD behavior problems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled nonsmoking African-American and Dominican pregnant women in New York City between 1998 and 2006 and followed their children through 9 years of age. As a biomarker of prenatal PAH exposure, PAH-DNA adducts were measured in maternal blood at delivery and were dichotomized at the limit of detection (to indicate high vs. low exposure). Maternal material hardship (lack of adequate food, housing, utilities, and clothing) was self-reported prenatally and at multiple time points through child age 9. Latent variable analysis identified four distinct patterns of hardship. ADHD behavior problems were assessed using the Conners Parent Rating Scale- Revised. Analyses adjusted for relevant covariates. RESULTS: Among 351 children in our sample, across all hardship groups, children with high prenatal PAH exposure (high adducts) generally had more symptoms of ADHD (higher scores) compared to those with low PAH exposure. The greatest difference was seen among the children with hardship persisting from pregnancy through childhood. Although the interactions between high PAH exposure and hardship experienced at either period ("persistent" hardship or "any" hardship) were not significant, we observed significant differences in the number of ADHD symptoms between children with high prenatal PAH exposure and either persistent hardship or any hardship compared to the others. These differences were most significant for combined high PAH and persistent hardship: ADHD Index (p < 0.008), DSM-IV Inattentive (p = 0.006), DSM-IV Hyperactive Impulsive problems (p = 0.033), and DSM-IV Index Total (p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: The present findings add to existing evidence that co-exposure to socioeconomic disadvantage and air pollution in early life significantly increases the risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. They suggest the need for multifaceted interventions to protect pregnant mothers and their children.
Authors: Bruce P Lanphear; Richard Hornung; Jane Khoury; Kimberly Yolton; Peter Baghurst; David C Bellinger; Richard L Canfield; Kim N Dietrich; Robert Bornschein; Tom Greene; Stephen J Rothenberg; Herbert L Needleman; Lourdes Schnaas; Gail Wasserman; Joseph Graziano; Russell Roberts Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2005-07 Impact factor: 9.031
Authors: Frederica P Perera; Virginia Rauh; Robin M Whyatt; Wei-Yann Tsai; Deliang Tang; Diurka Diaz; Lori Hoepner; Dana Barr; Yi-Hsuan Tu; David Camann; Patrick Kinney Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2006-08 Impact factor: 9.031
Authors: Kylie Wheelock; Junfeng Jim Zhang; Rob McConnell; Deliang Tang; Heather E Volk; Ya Wang; Julie B Herbstman; Shuang Wang; David H Phillips; David Camann; Jicheng Gong; Frederica Perera Journal: Environ Sci Process Impacts Date: 2018-03-21 Impact factor: 4.238
Authors: David Pagliaccio; Julie B Herbstman; Frederica Perera; Deliang Tang; Jeff Goldsmith; Bradley S Peterson; Virginia Rauh; Amy E Margolis Journal: J Child Psychol Psychiatry Date: 2020-01-07 Impact factor: 8.982