Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; Municipal Institute of Medical Research (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain.
Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2013 Nov;216(6):690-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2012.12.013. Epub 2013 Jan 26.
Exposure to biocontaminants is associated with behavioural problems and poorer cognitive function. Our study assesses the associations between early life exposure to home dampness, pets and farm animal contact and cognitive function and social competences in 4-year old children, and the associations between these indoor factors and microbial compounds (bacterial endotoxin and fungal extracellular polysaccharides). A Spanish population-based birth-cohort enrolled 482 children, and 424 of them underwent psychometric testing at 4 years of age, including the McCarthy Scales of Child Abilities (MSCA) and the California Preschool Social Competence Scale (CPSCS). Information on pet ownership, farm animal contact and home dampness was periodically reported by the parents through questionnaires. Microbial compounds were measured in living room sofa dust collected at the age of 3 months. Persistent home dampness during early life significantly decreased the general score of MSCA by 4.9 points (95% CI: -8.9; -0.8), and it decreased the CPSCS by 6.5 points (95% CI: -12.2; -0.9) in the child's bedroom. Cat or dog ownership were not associated with the outcomes, but occasional farm animal contact increased the general cognitive score of MSCA by 5.6 points (95% CI: 1.8; 9.3). Cat and dog ownership were associated with higher levels of endotoxins in home dust. None of the measured microbial compounds were related with the psychometric tests scores. In conclusion, damp housing in early life may have adverse effects on neuropsychological development at 4 years old. More research is needed to explore the possible involvement of mycotoxins in the observed results.
儿童早期接触生物污染物与行为问题和认知功能下降有关。本研究评估了 4 岁儿童早期生活中家庭潮湿、宠物和农场动物接触与认知功能和社会能力之间的关系，以及这些室内因素与微生物化合物（细菌内毒素和真菌胞外多糖）之间的关系。一个基于西班牙人群的出生队列纳入了 482 名儿童，其中 424 名儿童在 4 岁时接受了心理测试，包括麦卡锡儿童能力量表（MSCA）和加利福尼亚学前社会能力量表（CPSCS）。宠物拥有情况、农场动物接触和家庭潮湿情况的信息通过问卷定期由父母报告。在 3 个月大时收集客厅沙发灰尘，测量微生物化合物。儿童早期持续的家庭潮湿显著降低了 MSCA 的一般评分 4.9 分（95%CI：-8.9；-0.8），并降低了儿童卧室的 CPSCS 评分 6.5 分（95%CI：-12.2；-0.9）。猫或狗的拥有情况与结果无关，但偶尔接触农场动物会使 MSCA 的一般认知评分提高 5.6 分（95%CI：1.8；9.3）。猫和狗的拥有与家庭灰尘中内毒素水平升高有关。未发现任何测量的微生物化合物与心理测试评分相关。总之，儿童早期潮湿的住房可能对 4 岁时的神经心理发育有不良影响。需要更多的研究来探索观察结果中可能涉及的霉菌毒素。
