The Developmental Neurotoxicity of Arsenic: Cognitive and Behavioral Consequences of Early Life Exposure
Background: More than 200 million people worldwide are chronically exposed to arsenic. Arsenic is a known human <a title="Learn more about Carcinogens" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/carcinogens">carcinogen</a>, and its carcinogenic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Ubiquity Press
2014-11-01
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| Series: | Annals of Global Health |
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| Online Access: | https://annalsofglobalhealth.org/articles/2061 |
| _version_ | 1819129912142856192 |
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| author | Molly Tolins Mathuros Ruchirawat Philip Landrigan |
| author_facet | Molly Tolins Mathuros Ruchirawat Philip Landrigan |
| author_sort | Molly Tolins |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: More than 200 million people worldwide are chronically exposed to arsenic. Arsenic is a known human <a title="Learn more about Carcinogens" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/carcinogens">carcinogen</a>, and its carcinogenic and systemic toxicity have been extensively studied. By contrast, the developmental <a title="Learn more about Neurotoxicity" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/neurotoxicity">neurotoxicity</a> of arsenic has been less well described. The aim of this review was to provide a comprehensive review of the developmental neurotoxicity of arsenic. Methods: We reviewed the published epidemiological and toxicological literature on the developmental neurotoxicity of arsenic. Results: Arsenic is able to gain access to the developing brain and cause neurotoxic effects. Animal models link prenatal and early postnatal exposure to reduction in brain weight, reductions in numbers of <a title="Learn more about Glia" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/glia">glia</a> and neurons, and alterations in <a title="Learn more about Neurotransmitter" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/neurotransmitter">neurotransmitter systems</a>. Animal and <a title="Learn more about In vitro" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/in-vitro">in vitro</a> studies both suggest that <a title="Learn more about Oxidative stress" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/oxidative-stress">oxidative stress</a> may be a mechanism of arsenic neurotoxicity. Fifteen epidemiological studies indicate that early life exposure is associated with deficits in intelligence and memory. These effects may occur at levels of exposure below current safety guidelines, and some neurocognitive consequences may become manifest only later in life. Sex, concomitant exposures, and timing of exposure appear to modify the developmental neurotoxicity of arsenic. Four epidemiological studies failed to show behavioral outcomes of arsenic exposure. Conclusions: The published literature indicates that arsenic is a human developmental neurotoxicant. Ongoing and future prospective birth <a title="Learn more about Cohort Study" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/cohort-study">cohort studies</a> will allow more precise definition of the developmental consequences of arsenic exposure in early life. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:51:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2ed0a75f341342c7b4f75a00089e087b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-9996 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:51:15Z |
| publishDate | 2014-11-01 |
| publisher | Ubiquity Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Global Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-2ed0a75f341342c7b4f75a00089e087b2022-12-21T18:31:57ZengUbiquity PressAnnals of Global Health2214-99962014-11-0180430331410.1016/j.aogh.2014.09.0051959The Developmental Neurotoxicity of Arsenic: Cognitive and Behavioral Consequences of Early Life ExposureMolly Tolins0Mathuros Ruchirawat1Philip Landrigan2Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Laksi, Bangkok, Thailand; Departments of Preventive Medicine and Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NYLaboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Laksi, Bangkok, ThailandDepartments of Preventive Medicine and Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NYBackground: More than 200 million people worldwide are chronically exposed to arsenic. Arsenic is a known human <a title="Learn more about Carcinogens" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/carcinogens">carcinogen</a>, and its carcinogenic and systemic toxicity have been extensively studied. By contrast, the developmental <a title="Learn more about Neurotoxicity" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/neurotoxicity">neurotoxicity</a> of arsenic has been less well described. The aim of this review was to provide a comprehensive review of the developmental neurotoxicity of arsenic. Methods: We reviewed the published epidemiological and toxicological literature on the developmental neurotoxicity of arsenic. Results: Arsenic is able to gain access to the developing brain and cause neurotoxic effects. Animal models link prenatal and early postnatal exposure to reduction in brain weight, reductions in numbers of <a title="Learn more about Glia" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/glia">glia</a> and neurons, and alterations in <a title="Learn more about Neurotransmitter" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/neurotransmitter">neurotransmitter systems</a>. Animal and <a title="Learn more about In vitro" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/in-vitro">in vitro</a> studies both suggest that <a title="Learn more about Oxidative stress" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/oxidative-stress">oxidative stress</a> may be a mechanism of arsenic neurotoxicity. Fifteen epidemiological studies indicate that early life exposure is associated with deficits in intelligence and memory. These effects may occur at levels of exposure below current safety guidelines, and some neurocognitive consequences may become manifest only later in life. Sex, concomitant exposures, and timing of exposure appear to modify the developmental neurotoxicity of arsenic. Four epidemiological studies failed to show behavioral outcomes of arsenic exposure. Conclusions: The published literature indicates that arsenic is a human developmental neurotoxicant. Ongoing and future prospective birth <a title="Learn more about Cohort Study" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/cohort-study">cohort studies</a> will allow more precise definition of the developmental consequences of arsenic exposure in early life.https://annalsofglobalhealth.org/articles/2061arsenicbehavioral effectschildren’s environmental healthcognitiondevelopmental neurotoxicitydevelopmental origins of adult disease |
| spellingShingle | Molly Tolins Mathuros Ruchirawat Philip Landrigan The Developmental Neurotoxicity of Arsenic: Cognitive and Behavioral Consequences of Early Life Exposure Annals of Global Health arsenic behavioral effects children’s environmental health cognition developmental neurotoxicity developmental origins of adult disease |
| title | The Developmental Neurotoxicity of Arsenic: Cognitive and Behavioral Consequences of Early Life Exposure |
| title_full | The Developmental Neurotoxicity of Arsenic: Cognitive and Behavioral Consequences of Early Life Exposure |
| title_fullStr | The Developmental Neurotoxicity of Arsenic: Cognitive and Behavioral Consequences of Early Life Exposure |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Developmental Neurotoxicity of Arsenic: Cognitive and Behavioral Consequences of Early Life Exposure |
| title_short | The Developmental Neurotoxicity of Arsenic: Cognitive and Behavioral Consequences of Early Life Exposure |
| title_sort | developmental neurotoxicity of arsenic cognitive and behavioral consequences of early life exposure |
| topic | arsenic behavioral effects children’s environmental health cognition developmental neurotoxicity developmental origins of adult disease |
| url | https://annalsofglobalhealth.org/articles/2061 |
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