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. 2024 May 29;12(6):398.
doi: 10.3390/toxics12060398.

Association of Prenatal Dietary Toxicants and Inorganic Arsenic Exposure with Children's Emotional and Behavioral Problems: ECLIPSES Study

Xiruo Kou  1   2 , Josefa Canals  1   2   3   4 , Monica Bulló  2   5   6   7 , Nerea Becerra-Tomás  1   2 , Cristina Jardí  1   2 , Victoria Arija  1   2   4   8
Affiliations

Association of Prenatal Dietary Toxicants and Inorganic Arsenic Exposure with Children's Emotional and Behavioral Problems: ECLIPSES Study

Xiruo Kou et al. Toxics. .

Abstract

Prenatal exposure to dietary toxicants is linked to neurocognitive issues, but its effect on early emotional and behavioral development in children is less clear. To explore the relationship between prenatal intake of As, iAs, Cd, MeHg, Pb, PCDD/Fs, DL-PCBs, and NDL-PCBs and emotional and behavioral issues in four-year-old children. This study included 192 mother-child pairs from the ECLIPSES study, assessing prenatal dietary toxicant exposure through a food-frequency questionnaire and Catalan Food Safety Agency data. Children's emotional and behavioral scores were evaluated using the Child Behavior Checklist for ages 1.5-5 years. Multivariable regression and logistic models were used, focusing on iAs after finding significant preliminary associations. Increased prenatal dietary intake of iAs was associated with internalizing, externalizing, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity problems. Higher iAs levels (>4.16 μg/day) significantly increased the risk of total problems (OR = 2.94) and specific issues like anxious/depressed (OR = 4.88), anxiety (OR = 3.27), and oppositional defiant problems (OR = 4.30). High iAs consumption correlated with the intake of meat, eggs, cereals, tubers, fruits, and pulses Prenatal dietary iAs exposure is associated with various emotional and behavioral problems in children. Monitoring and reducing iAs levels in food are crucial for public health.

Keywords: behavioral development; food; inorganic arsenic; neurodevelopment; prenatal dietary toxicants.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Association of different tertiles of prenatal iAs intake with children’s psychological problem risk. *, Results are statistically significant.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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