Sex difference of pre- and post-natal exposure to six developmental neurotoxicants on intellectual abilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis of human studies
Abstract Background Early life exposure to lead, mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybromide diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organophosphate pesticides (OPPs), and phthalates have been associated with lowered IQ in children. In some studies, these neurotoxicants impact males and females differen...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Environmental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-023-01029-z |
| _version_ | 1797556693093056512 |
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| author | Carly V. Goodman Rivka Green Allya DaCosta David Flora Bruce Lanphear Christine Till |
| author_facet | Carly V. Goodman Rivka Green Allya DaCosta David Flora Bruce Lanphear Christine Till |
| author_sort | Carly V. Goodman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Early life exposure to lead, mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybromide diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organophosphate pesticides (OPPs), and phthalates have been associated with lowered IQ in children. In some studies, these neurotoxicants impact males and females differently. We aimed to examine the sex-specific effects of exposure to developmental neurotoxicants on intelligence (IQ) in a systematic review and meta-analysis. Method We screened abstracts published in PsychINFO and PubMed before December 31st, 2021, for empirical studies of six neurotoxicants (lead, mercury, PCBs, PBDEs, OPPs, and phthalates) that (1) used an individualized biomarker; (2) measured exposure during the prenatal period or before age six; and (3) provided effect estimates on general, nonverbal, and/or verbal IQ by sex. We assessed each study for risk of bias and evaluated the certainty of the evidence using Navigation Guide. We performed separate random effect meta-analyses by sex and timing of exposure with subgroup analyses by neurotoxicant. Results Fifty-one studies were included in the systematic review and 20 in the meta-analysis. Prenatal exposure to developmental neurotoxicants was associated with decreased general and nonverbal IQ in males, especially for lead. No significant effects were found for verbal IQ, or postnatal lead exposure and general IQ. Due to the limited number of studies, we were unable to analyze postnatal effects of any of the other neurotoxicants. Conclusion During fetal development, males may be more vulnerable than females to general and nonverbal intellectual deficits from neurotoxic exposures, especially from lead. More research is needed to examine the nuanced sex-specific effects found for postnatal exposure to toxic chemicals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:06:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0da634ae17ac4e81a906acdb83fb2794 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1476-069X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:06:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-0da634ae17ac4e81a906acdb83fb27942023-11-20T10:47:13ZengBMCEnvironmental Health1476-069X2023-11-0122112910.1186/s12940-023-01029-zSex difference of pre- and post-natal exposure to six developmental neurotoxicants on intellectual abilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis of human studiesCarly V. Goodman0Rivka Green1Allya DaCosta2David Flora3Bruce Lanphear4Christine Till5Faculty of Health, York UniversityFaculty of Health, York UniversityFaculty of Health, York UniversityFaculty of Health, York UniversityFaculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser UniversityFaculty of Health, York UniversityAbstract Background Early life exposure to lead, mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybromide diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organophosphate pesticides (OPPs), and phthalates have been associated with lowered IQ in children. In some studies, these neurotoxicants impact males and females differently. We aimed to examine the sex-specific effects of exposure to developmental neurotoxicants on intelligence (IQ) in a systematic review and meta-analysis. Method We screened abstracts published in PsychINFO and PubMed before December 31st, 2021, for empirical studies of six neurotoxicants (lead, mercury, PCBs, PBDEs, OPPs, and phthalates) that (1) used an individualized biomarker; (2) measured exposure during the prenatal period or before age six; and (3) provided effect estimates on general, nonverbal, and/or verbal IQ by sex. We assessed each study for risk of bias and evaluated the certainty of the evidence using Navigation Guide. We performed separate random effect meta-analyses by sex and timing of exposure with subgroup analyses by neurotoxicant. Results Fifty-one studies were included in the systematic review and 20 in the meta-analysis. Prenatal exposure to developmental neurotoxicants was associated with decreased general and nonverbal IQ in males, especially for lead. No significant effects were found for verbal IQ, or postnatal lead exposure and general IQ. Due to the limited number of studies, we were unable to analyze postnatal effects of any of the other neurotoxicants. Conclusion During fetal development, males may be more vulnerable than females to general and nonverbal intellectual deficits from neurotoxic exposures, especially from lead. More research is needed to examine the nuanced sex-specific effects found for postnatal exposure to toxic chemicals.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-023-01029-zDevelopmental NeurotoxicantIQSexPrenatalPostnatal |
| spellingShingle | Carly V. Goodman Rivka Green Allya DaCosta David Flora Bruce Lanphear Christine Till Sex difference of pre- and post-natal exposure to six developmental neurotoxicants on intellectual abilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis of human studies Environmental Health Developmental Neurotoxicant IQ Sex Prenatal Postnatal |
| title | Sex difference of pre- and post-natal exposure to six developmental neurotoxicants on intellectual abilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis of human studies |
| title_full | Sex difference of pre- and post-natal exposure to six developmental neurotoxicants on intellectual abilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis of human studies |
| title_fullStr | Sex difference of pre- and post-natal exposure to six developmental neurotoxicants on intellectual abilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis of human studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sex difference of pre- and post-natal exposure to six developmental neurotoxicants on intellectual abilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis of human studies |
| title_short | Sex difference of pre- and post-natal exposure to six developmental neurotoxicants on intellectual abilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis of human studies |
| title_sort | sex difference of pre and post natal exposure to six developmental neurotoxicants on intellectual abilities a systematic review and meta analysis of human studies |
| topic | Developmental Neurotoxicant IQ Sex Prenatal Postnatal |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-023-01029-z |
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