Prenatal TVOCs exposure negatively influences postnatal neurobehavioral development

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  • Moonhee Chang
  • Dongheon Lee
  • Hyesook Park
  • Mina Ha
  • Yun-Chul Hong
  • Yangho Kim
  • Boong-Nyun Kim
  • Yeni Kim
  • Lim, Youn-Hee
  • Eun-Hee Ha

Prenatal exposure to volatile organic compounds may restrict fetal development and adversely influence infants' life. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between prenatal exposure to total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) and postnatal neurobehavioral development. A subsample of 383 pregnant participants was chosen from the prospective birth cohort study of Mother and Children's Environmental Health Study; MOCEH (N=1,751) from three regions of the Republic of Korea (Seoul, Cheon-an, and Ulsan). Participants were enrolled during their first trimester with informed consent. We investigated maternal characteristics including socio-economic and obstetrical history using questionnaires. An environmental hygienist measured participating mothers' personal TVOC exposure using passive samplers during pregnancy. Participants visited the research center at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. At each visit, questionnaires about infantile environment and health conditions were answered and a neurobehavioral test (BSID-II) was conducted by certified investigators. We conducted multiple general linear and mixed model analyses to investigate the relationship between TVOC and infantile neurobehavioral development (SAS 9.3). Mean prenatal TVOC exposure was 284.2μg/m3. In longitudinal analyses on infantile neurobehavioral development, adjusted mean psychomotor development index and mental developmental index scores in high TVOC exposure group (cut off at Q3: 374.0 ug/m3) were 3 points lower than the low exposure group. Results suggested exposure to higher TVOC during the fetal period may adversely influence neurobehavioral development in the early life stage.

Original languageEnglish
JournalThe Science of the Total Environment
Volume618
Pages (from-to)977-981
Number of pages5
ISSN0048-9697
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

    Research areas

  • Adult, Child Development/drug effects, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Infant, Maternal Exposure/adverse effects, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects/physiopathology, Prospective Studies, Republic of Korea, Seoul, Volatile Organic Compounds/adverse effects

ID: 230068454