Benefits of reducing prenatal exposure to coal-burning pollutants to children's neurodevelopment in China

Journal Article · Wed Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Environmental Health Perspectives

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.11480· OSTI ID:21116267

Perera, F; Li, T Y; Zhou, Z J; Yuan, T; Chen, Y H; Qu, L R; Rauh, V A; Zhang, Y G; Tang, D L ^[1]

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1. Columbia University, New York, NY (United States). Dept. of Environmental Health Science

Coal burning provides 70% of the energy for China's industry and power, but releases large quantities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other pollutants. PAHs are reproductive and developmental toxicants, mutagens, and carcinogens. We evaluated the benefit to neurobehavioral development from the closure of a coal-fired power plant that was the major local source of ambient PAHs. The research was conducted in Tongliang, Chongqing, China, where a coal-fired power plant operated seasonally before it was shut down in May 2004. Two identical prospective cohort studies enrolled nonsmoking women and their newborns in 2002 (before shutdown) and 2005 (after shutdown). Prenatal PAH exposure was measured by PAH-DNA adducts (benzo(a)pyrene-DNA) in umbilical cord blood. Child development was assessed by the Gesell Developmental Schedules at 2 years of age. Prenatal exposure to other neurotoxicants and potential confounders (including lead, mercury, and environmental tobacco smoke) was measured. We compared the cohorts regarding the association between PAH-DNA adduct levels and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Significant associations previously seen in 2002 between elevated adducts and decreased motor area developmental quotient (DQ) (p = 0.043) and average DQ (p = 0.047) were not observed in the 2005 cohort (p = 0.546 and p = 0.146). However, the direction of the relationship did not change. The findings indicate that neurobehavioral development in Tongliang children benefitedby elimination of PAH exposure from the coal-burning plant, consistent with the significant reduction in PAH-DNA adducts in cord blood of children in the 2005 cohort. The results have implications for children's environmental health in China and elsewhere.

• OSTI ID: 21116267
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives, Journal Name: Environmental Health Perspectives Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 116; ISSN 0091-6765; ISSN EVHPAZ
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
CHILDREN
CHINA
COAL
DNA ADDUCTS
EMISSION
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INFANTS
POLLUTANTS
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
PRENATAL EXPOSURE