Maternal serum persistent organic pollutants in the Finnish Prenatal Study of Autism: A pilot study

Cheslack-Postava, K; Rantakokko, PV; Hinkka-Yli-Salomäki, S; Surcel, HM; McKeague, IW; Kiviranta, HA; Sourander, A; Brown, AS

HERO ID

2149953

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2013

Language

English

PMID

23591055

HERO ID 2149953
In Press No
Year 2013
Title Maternal serum persistent organic pollutants in the Finnish Prenatal Study of Autism: A pilot study
Authors Cheslack-Postava, K; Rantakokko, PV; Hinkka-Yli-Salomäki, S; Surcel, HM; McKeague, IW; Kiviranta, HA; Sourander, A; Brown, AS
Journal Neurotoxicology and Teratology
Volume 38
Page Numbers 1-5
Abstract Recent research emphasizes the contribution of environmental as well as genetic factors to the etiology of autism but studies testing associations between chemical exposures and autism have been limited. Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has previously been associated with decrements in cognitive and developmental performance. We conducted a pilot study in the Finnish Prenatal Study of Autism (FiPS-A). Seventy-five cases with autism and 75 controls matched on sex, birth year, urbanization and maternal age were sampled from first-born children in the Finnish Maternity Cohort, which includes over 1million births. The study sample included births occurring from 1991 to 2000. Subjects were followed up for autism through 2007. DDT, DDE, PCB-118, PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB-156, PCB-170, PCB-180, hexachlorobenzene, and BDE-47 were measured in archived maternal serum samples taken during pregnancy using gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. Correlations between pollutant measures were assessed and mechanistically-related weighting schemes for summarizing PCB levels were compared. Case and control differences were assessed using graphical and statistical methods. All analytes, with the exception of DDT and BDE-47, were detected above the limit of quantification in all samples. The correlation between levels of individual PCB congeners and weighted summary measures was high (0.71-1.00). Paired t-tests revealed no significant differences between cases and controls for log-transformed mean values of any analyte; however, in an adjusted model the odds ratios for autism were 1.91 (p=0.29) and 1.79 (p=0.36) respectively, for subjects with total PCBs and DDE above the 90th percentile of control values. Levels of prenatal PCB exposure in FIPS-A were similar to the levels which previously correlated with poorer neurodevelopmental measures in other populations. Further study in a larger sample will be required to fully determine whether exposure to high POP levels is associated with autism diagnosis in the population.
Doi 10.1016/j.ntt.2013.04.001
Pmid 23591055
Wosid WOS:000326433700001
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword Autism; Persistent organic pollutants; PCBs; DDE; Prenatal