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NEUROBEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS IN CZECH CHILDREN
Citation:
Otto, D A., H. K. Hudnell, D. E. House, I. Skalik, AND R. Sram. NEUROBEHAVIORAL EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS IN CZECH CHILDREN. Presented at Conference on Teplice Program, Prachatice, Czech, October 3-5, 2000.
Description:
Ambient levels of SO2, NOx, PAHs and heavy metals are elevated in Northern Bohemia as a result of intensive mining and combustion of brown coal. To assess the neurotoxicological effects of exposure to these chemicals, tests from the Neurobehavioral Evaluation System (NES2) were administered to four groups of children (2nd, 4th, 7th and 8th-grade) from three districts with varying levels of air pollution. Questionnaires were administered to parents and teachers to assess socioeconomic status, neonatal health history and school performance. Hair and urine samples were obtained from children to measure arsenic and mercury exposure. Children from Teplice, the heavily polluted mining district, performed more poorly and were referred more often for assessment of learning disorders than children from Prachatice, an agricultural district, or Znojmo, a district where natural gas is used for heating and power generation. District differences were most pronounced in older children (7th and 8th grades). These differences remained after controlling for possible confounders such as parental education. As and Hg levels in hair and urine were low and were not associated with any performance measures. On the other hand, SO2 levels were markedly higher in the mining district than in the other districts, particularly during the winter months. Although SO2 is not considered a neurotoxicant, it is often used as a general measure of air pollution. The results provide indirect support for the hypothesis that in utero exposure to air pollutants are associated with neurobehavioral impairment or learning disability later in development.
Disclaimer: This document has been reviewed in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy and approved for publication, although approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the agency.