The influence of age at exposure to PBBs on birth outcomes.

Full Abstract

The determination of critical windows of susceptibility to environmental chemical exposures and health has become a major public health focus. This study examined the association between early age at exposure to polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and subsequent birth weight and gestational length in offspring among females. The study population consisted of 1111 births that occurred among 560 women enrolled in the Michigan PBB Cohort from 1975 to 1994. Maternal age at exposure was categorized into three groups:<10 years (n = 64), 11-16 years (n = 149), and 17-42 years (n = 347). Overall serum PBB levels ranged from 0 to 1490 ppb, with a median of 2, 3, and 2 ppb in the three age groups, respectively. Separate mixed-effects linear regression models were used to evaluate the effect of age at exposure (years) and initial PBB level (ppb) on birth weight (grams) and gestational age (weeks), controlling for gestational age (weeks) (in the model examining effects on birth weight), BMI (kg/m(2)) and serum PCB level at enrollment (ppb), maternal age and paternal education at delivery, parity, infant gender, interval between the initial serum test and date of delivery (years), and the trimester in which prenatal care was initiated. Relative to the oldest age group, age<10 years at exposure was the most important predictor of increased birth weight (estimated regression coefficient = 225 g, P = 0.012). Infant birth weight increased approximately 16 g for every 10 ppb increase in serum PBBs (P=0.004). There was no association between initial PBB levels and gestational age, nor were initial serum PCB levels associated with either infant birth weight or gestational length. These results provide support for the hypothesis that early age at exposure may be an important determinant in subsequent health effects due to environmental chemical exposures.

Author information

Author/s: Sweeney, Anne M (AM); Symanski, Elaine (E);

Affiliation: Department of Epidemology and Biostatistics, School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, TAMU Mail Stop 1266, College Station, TX 77843-1266, USA. amsweeney(-atsign-)srph.tamhsc.edu

Grants: R01-ESO5972-01 (Agency:PHS HHS) ; U37/CCU500392 (Agency:PHS HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Environmental research (Environ Res), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Nov; vol 105 (issue 3) : pp 370-9

Dates: Created 2007/10/12; Completed 2007/12/03; Revised 2008/09/11;

PMID: 17485077, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Environ Res. 2008 Sep;108(1):117-20; discussion 121-6. (PMID: 18555987)

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