Journal article
Postnatal arsenic exposure and attention impairment in school children
Cortex, Vol.74, pp.370-382
01/2016
DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2014.12.018
PMID: 25682472
Abstract
Over the last few decades there has been an increased concern about the health risks from exposure to metallic trace elements, including arsenic, because of their potential neurotoxic effects on the developing brain. This study assessed whether urinary arsenic (UA) levels are associated with attention performance and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children living in an area with high industrial and mining activities in Southwestern Spain. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 261 children aged 6–9 years. Arsenic levels were determined in urine samples. Attention was measured by using 4 independent tools: a) tests from the Behavioral Assessment and Research System (BARS) designed to measure attention function: Simple Reaction Time Test (RTT), Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and Selective Attention Test (SAT); b) AULA Test, a virtual reality (VR)-based test that evaluates children's response to several stimuli in an environment simulating a classroom; c) Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), administered to parents; and d) Teacher's Report Form (TRF), administered to teachers. Multivariate linear and logistic regression models, adjusted for potential confounders, were used to estimate the magnitude of the association between UA levels and attention performance scores. Higher UA levels were associated with an increased latency of response in RTT (β = 12.3; 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.5–21.1) and SAT (β = 3.6; 95% CI: .4–6.8) as well as with worse performance on selective and focalized attention in the AULA test (β for impulsivity = .6; 95% CI: .1–1.1; β for inattention = .5; 95% CI: .03–1.0). A dose–response relationship was observed between UA levels and inattention and impulsivity scores. In contrast, results from the CBCL and TRF tests failed to show a significant association with UA levels. In conclusion, UA levels were associated with impaired attention/cognitive function, even at levels considered safe. These results provide additional evidence that postnatal arsenic exposure impairs neurological function in children.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Postnatal arsenic exposure and attention impairment in school children
- Creators
- Miguel Rodríguez-Barranco - Andalusian School of Public Health (EASP), Granada, SpainFernando Gil - Department of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, University of Granada School of Medicine, Granada, SpainAntonio F Hernández - Department of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, University of Granada School of Medicine, Granada, SpainJuan Alguacil - Research Center on Health and Environment (CYSMA), University of Huelva, Huelva, SpainAndres Lorca - Department of Clinical, Experimental and Social Psychology, University of Huelva, Huelva, SpainRamón Mendoza - Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, University of Huelva, Huelva, SpainInmaculada Gómez - Department of Psychology, University of Almería, Almería, SpainIsabel Molina-Villalba - Department of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, University of Granada School of Medicine, Granada, SpainBeatriz González-Alzaga - Andalusian School of Public Health (EASP), Granada, SpainClemente Aguilar-Garduño - Center for Public Health Research (CSISP-FISABIO), Valencia, SpainDiane S Rohlman - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USAMarina Lacasaña - Andalusian School of Public Health (EASP), Granada, Spain
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Cortex, Vol.74, pp.370-382
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.cortex.2014.12.018
- PMID
- 25682472
- NLM abbreviation
- Cortex
- ISSN
- 0010-9452
- eISSN
- 1973-8102
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Grant note
- name: Andalusian Health Department, award: PI0755/2010
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/2016
- Academic Unit
- Occupational and Environmental Health; International Programs; Injury Prevention Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9983997451202771
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