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Children's exposure to chemical contaminants: Demographic disparities and associations with the developing basal ganglia.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Fowler, CH; Reuben, A; Stapleton, HM; Hoffman, K; Herkert, N; Barakat, L; Gaffrey, MS
Published in: Environmental research
December 2024

Children are regularly exposed to chemical contaminants that may influence brain development. However, relatively little is known about how these contaminants impact the developing human brain. Here, we combined silicone wristband exposure assessments with neuroimaging for the first time to examine how chemical contaminant mixtures are associated with the developing basal ganglia-a brain region key for the healthy development of emotion, reward, and motor processing, and which may be particularly susceptible to contaminant harm. Further, we examined demographic disparities in exposures to clarify which children were at highest risk for any contaminant-associated neurobiological changes. Participants included 62 community children (average age 7.00 years, 53% female, 66% White) who underwent structural neuroimaging to provide data on their basal ganglia structure and wore a silicone wristband for seven days to track their chemical contaminant exposure. 45 chemical contaminants-including phthalates and their alternatives, brominated flame retardants, organophosphate esters, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls-were detected in over 75% of wristbands. Notable demographic disparities in exposure were present, such that Non-White and lower-income children were more exposed to several contaminants. Exposure to chemical contaminant mixtures was not associated with overall basal ganglia volume; however, two organophosphate esters (2IPPDPP and 4IPPDPP) were both associated with a larger globus pallidus, a basal ganglia sub-region. Results highlight demographic disparities in exposure and suggest possible risks to a brain region key for healthy emotional development.

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Published In

Environmental research

DOI

EISSN

1096-0953

ISSN

0013-9351

Publication Date

December 2024

Volume

263

Issue

Pt 1

Start / End Page

119990

Related Subject Headings

  • Toxicology
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Environmental Exposure
  • Child, Preschool
  • Child
  • Basal Ganglia
  • 41 Environmental sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Fowler, C. H., Reuben, A., Stapleton, H. M., Hoffman, K., Herkert, N., Barakat, L., & Gaffrey, M. S. (2024). Children's exposure to chemical contaminants: Demographic disparities and associations with the developing basal ganglia. Environmental Research, 263(Pt 1), 119990. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.119990
Fowler, Carina H., Aaron Reuben, Heather M. Stapleton, Kate Hoffman, Nicholas Herkert, Lubna Barakat, and Michael S. Gaffrey. “Children's exposure to chemical contaminants: Demographic disparities and associations with the developing basal ganglia.Environmental Research 263, no. Pt 1 (December 2024): 119990. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.119990.
Fowler CH, Reuben A, Stapleton HM, Hoffman K, Herkert N, Barakat L, et al. Children's exposure to chemical contaminants: Demographic disparities and associations with the developing basal ganglia. Environmental research. 2024 Dec;263(Pt 1):119990.
Fowler, Carina H., et al. “Children's exposure to chemical contaminants: Demographic disparities and associations with the developing basal ganglia.Environmental Research, vol. 263, no. Pt 1, Dec. 2024, p. 119990. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.envres.2024.119990.
Fowler CH, Reuben A, Stapleton HM, Hoffman K, Herkert N, Barakat L, Gaffrey MS. Children's exposure to chemical contaminants: Demographic disparities and associations with the developing basal ganglia. Environmental research. 2024 Dec;263(Pt 1):119990.
Journal cover image

Published In

Environmental research

DOI

EISSN

1096-0953

ISSN

0013-9351

Publication Date

December 2024

Volume

263

Issue

Pt 1

Start / End Page

119990

Related Subject Headings

  • Toxicology
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Environmental Exposure
  • Child, Preschool
  • Child
  • Basal Ganglia
  • 41 Environmental sciences