Rui Ma1, Kefeng Yang2,3,4, Cheng Chen5,6, Xuanxia Mao2,3,4, Xiuhua Shen2,7, Linlei Jiang8, Fengxiu Ouyang1, Ying Tian1,9, Jun Zhang1, Ka Kahe10,11. 1. Ministry of Education and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. 2. Department of Nutrition, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. 3. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Shanghai, China. 4. Shanghai Institute of Pediatric Research, Shanghai, China. 5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vagelos College of Physician and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. 6. Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. 7. Department of Clinical Nutrition, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. 8. Instrumental Analysis Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong Univeristy School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai, China. 9. Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. 10. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vagelos College of Physician and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. kk3399@columbia.edu. 11. Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. kk3399@columbia.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Aluminum (Al) is a well-established neurotoxicant. However, little is known about its effects on the neurodevelopment of infants. OBJECTIVES: To examine early-life exposure to Al in relation to neurodevelopment in healthy infants. METHODS: Nail Al concentrations were measured among 747 newborn babies within 6 months of delivery in the Shanghai Birth Cohort. Neurodevelopment was assessed using Ages and stages questionnaire (third edition, ASQ-3) at ages 6 and 12 months. General linear regression models were performed to estimate the associations between Al concentrations and ASQ-3 scores. RESULTS: After adjustment for potential confounders, early-life exposure to Al was not associated with any neurodevelopmental performance at age 6 months. However, Al level was associated with an increased risk of having a low fine motor score (quartile 4 vs. quartile 1, mean difference (MD): -1.63; 95% confidence interval (CI): -3.22, -0.05; P-trend < 0.01) at 12 months. No association was found for communication, gross motor, problem-solving, or personal-social score at 12 months. SIGNIFICANCE: Early-life exposure to Al may be associated with poor fine motor skills in a dose-response manner among apparently healthy infants at age 12 months.
BACKGROUND:Aluminum (Al) is a well-established neurotoxicant. However, little is known about its effects on the neurodevelopment of infants. OBJECTIVES: To examine early-life exposure to Al in relation to neurodevelopment in healthy infants. METHODS: Nail Al concentrations were measured among 747 newborn babies within 6 months of delivery in the Shanghai Birth Cohort. Neurodevelopment was assessed using Ages and stages questionnaire (third edition, ASQ-3) at ages 6 and 12 months. General linear regression models were performed to estimate the associations between Al concentrations and ASQ-3 scores. RESULTS: After adjustment for potential confounders, early-life exposure to Al was not associated with any neurodevelopmental performance at age 6 months. However, Al level was associated with an increased risk of having a low fine motor score (quartile 4 vs. quartile 1, mean difference (MD): -1.63; 95% confidence interval (CI): -3.22, -0.05; P-trend < 0.01) at 12 months. No association was found for communication, gross motor, problem-solving, or personal-social score at 12 months. SIGNIFICANCE: Early-life exposure to Al may be associated with poor fine motor skills in a dose-response manner among apparently healthy infants at age 12 months.
Entities:
Keywords:
Aluminum; Early-life exposure; Fine motor skills; Infants; Neurodevelopment
Authors: Daniel Krewski; Robert A Yokel; Evert Nieboer; David Borchelt; Joshua Cohen; Jean Harry; Sam Kacew; Joan Lindsay; Amal M Mahfouz; Virginie Rondeau Journal: J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev Date: 2007 Impact factor: 6.393