First Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Unit of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Thivon & Levadias, 11527, Goudi, Athens, Greece.
Biochemistry Department, Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2019 Aug;26(23):23739-23753. doi: 10.1007/s11356-019-05666-1. Epub 2019 Jun 17.
Prospective studies indicate that the exposure to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) during fetal life, infancy, and early childhood may be associated with features of neurodevelopmental disorders in children. However, few studies have investigated the concentrations of serum OCPs in children with categorically diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the concentrations and detection rates of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) metabolites, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, cyclodienes, and methoxychlor in serum samples of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and specific learning disorder (SLD), all of normal intelligence, compared to typically developing controls (TD). In total, 114 schoolchildren, aged 6-13 years old, were assessed and distributed into four groups: ASD (n = 39), ADHD (n = 21), SLD (n = 32), and TD (n = 18). Each clinical group was compared to the TD group. Concentrations of serum OCPs were determined by gas chromatography and are presented as ng/g lipid. Concentrations of β-HCH, the sum of HCH isomers, and o,p'-DDD were significantly higher in ASD children: ASD vs. TD (mean ± SD): 10.5 ± 7.7 vs. 6.1 ± 4.0, (p = 0.049); 12.0 ± 10.3 vs. 6.6 ± 4.0, (p = 0.025); 7.4 ± 6.5 vs. 2.8 ± 2.3, (p = 0.0019), respectively. The detection rates of p,p'-DDT, at least one substance from DDTs detected, and the cyclodiene heptachlor epoxide, were significantly lower in the ASD group: ASD vs. TD: 12.8% vs. 38.9%, (p = 0.037); 69.2% vs. 94.4%, (p = 0.044); 10.3% vs. 38.9%, (p = 0.026), respectively. No significant differences between the ADHD or SLD groups and the TD group were observed. We demonstrated higher serum concentrations and lower detection rates of selected OCPs in ASD than TD children. Our results add to potential neurodevelopmental concerns surrounding OCPs and provide evidence of specificity in the relations between HCHs and ASD.
前瞻性研究表明，胎儿期、婴儿期和幼儿期接触有机氯农药（OCPs）可能与儿童神经发育障碍的特征有关。然而，很少有研究调查过明确诊断为神经发育障碍的儿童的血清 OCP 浓度。本研究旨在评估自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）、注意力缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）和特定学习障碍（SLD）儿童血清中二氯二苯三氯乙烷（DDT）代谢物、六氯环己烷（HCH）异构体、环二烯和甲氧氯的浓度和检出率，这些儿童均具有正常智力，与典型发育对照组（TD）相比。总共有 114 名 6-13 岁的学龄儿童被评估，并分为四组：ASD（n=39）、ADHD（n=21）、SLD（n=32）和 TD（n=18）。每个临床组均与 TD 组进行比较。血清 OCP 浓度通过气相色谱法确定，并以每克脂质的 ng 表示。ASD 儿童的β-HCH、HCH 异构体总和 o,p'-DDD 浓度显著升高：ASD 与 TD（均值±标准差）：10.5±7.7 与 6.1±4.0，（p=0.049）；12.0±10.3 与 6.6±4.0，（p=0.025）；7.4±6.5 与 2.8±2.3，（p=0.0019）。ASD 组 p,p'-DDT、至少一种 DDTs 物质和环二烯七氯环氧化物的检出率显著降低：ASD 与 TD：12.8%与 38.9%，（p=0.037）；69.2%与 94.4%，（p=0.044）；10.3%与 38.9%，（p=0.026）。ADHD 或 SLD 组与 TD 组之间无显著差异。我们发现 ASD 儿童血清中选定 OCP 的浓度较高，检出率较低。我们的结果增加了 OCP 对潜在神经发育的关注，并为 HCHs 与 ASD 之间的关系提供了特异性证据。
