The relationship between prenatal lead, cadmium, and arsenic exposure and their neurological effects at three years old in Taiwan

摘要

Lead, cadmium, and arsenic are well-known neurotoxins in children, with particular impact on neuro-development and intellectual performance. Fetus exposure to neurontoxins may have adverse developmental outcome. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between neurological effects and lead, cadmium, and arsenic concentration in meconium. In this study, we recruited mother-infant pairs between August 2008 and December 2009, and a second follow-up study of these children was completed after 3 years. We collected meconium after delivery as biomarkers for examine lead, cadmium, and arsenic exposure. The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-Ⅲ) for evaluating the cognitive, language, and motor development of 3 years old children are calculated and validated. There were total 53 mother-child pairs in this study. The mean of lead, cadmium, and arsenic concentration in meconium was 253±180 ng/g, 60.7±14.8, and 52.0±13.6 ng/g, respectively. There were no significant negative correlation between lead, cadmium, or arsenic levels and the cognitive, language or motor development of Bayley-Ⅲ scores. The score of expressive of language were higher in father s of higher levels of education and in mothers who consumed traditional Chinese herbs before pregnancy. The score of motor development were higher in fathers and mothers of higher levels of education, and girls. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that prenatal exposure lead, cadmium, and arsenic were not associated with early neurological development.