Impact of Arsenic Exposure during Pregnancy on Infant Development
Author Information
Author(s): Tofail Fahmida, Vahter Marie, Hamadani Jena D., Nermell Barbro, Huda Syed N., Yunus Mohammad, Rahman Mahfuzar, Grantham-McGregor Sally M.
Primary Institution: International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Hypothesis
Arsenic exposure during pregnancy would be neurotoxic to the developing brain and would lead to behavioral changes in the offspring.
Conclusion
We detected no significant effect of arsenic exposure during pregnancy on infant development.
Supporting Evidence
- Arsenic concentrations in maternal urine were high, with a median of 81 μg/L at 8 weeks of gestation.
- Multiple regressions showed no significant effect of urinary arsenic concentration on any developmental outcome.
- The study involved 1,799 infants and controlled for various socioeconomic background variables.
Takeaway
The study looked at whether arsenic in drinking water during pregnancy affects how babies develop. It found that it doesn't seem to have a big impact on their growth or thinking skills at 7 months old.
Methodology
A large population-based study measuring arsenic concentration in urine of pregnant women and assessing infant development at 7 months.
Potential Biases
Potential socioeconomic confounding factors were present.
Limitations
The study only assessed infants at one age, and other cognitive functions may not have been measured.
Participant Demographics
Pregnant women and their infants from rural Matlab, Bangladesh.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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