Child Neurodevelopmental Outcome and Maternal Occupational Exposure to Solvents

Abstract

In utero exposure to organic solvents is associated with poorer performance on some specific subtle measures of neurocognitive function, language, and behavior. Reducing exposure in pregnancy is merited until more refined risk assessment is possible. Further studies that address exposure to specific solvents, dose, and gestational timing of exposure are needed.

Reproductive Toxicology and Teratology of Abused Toluene

“…Attainment of early developmental milestones is delayed by prenatal exposure to toluene as typically assessed by performance on a battery of physical, motor, and other neurobehavioral outcomes. There were no significant differences in age to reach developmental milestones up to 4 years of age (e.g., first sit, crawl, walk, etc) in children of 32 women exposed to one or more of two dozen different solvents at work -of which toluene was the most common [Laslo-Baker et al 2004]. In clinical studies of toluene ''abuse'', developmental delay was reported in 80% of infants born to tolueneabusing mothers [Hersh et al 1985;Hersh 1989;Wilkins-Haug and Gabow 1991;Arnold et al 1994;Pearson et al 1994;Arai et al 1997;Wilkins-Haug 1997].…”

Neurodevelopmental Toxicity Risks Due to Occupational Exposure to Industrial Chemicals during Pregnancy

“…For each article, the following information was abstracted: location, type of study, study period, population, child age, type of exposure, exposure measurements, covariates, outcome scales, and effects studied. Through this systematic search, a total of 15 papers 23,[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] were identified that fit the above criteria (Table 1). Each of these studies is reviewed below.…”

“…They are lipophilic and are mostly known to be neurotoxic from acute poisoning cases and occupational studies in adults with chronic exposure 2) . Seven epidemiological studies have assessed the neurodevelopmental consequences in children of workers with solvent exposures during pregnancy (Table 1) 23,[25][26][27][28][29][30] .…”

“…Among the latter, most studies addressed organophosphate insecticides, while two population-based birth cohort studies examined the effects of DDT [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] . Studies on solvents often concerned mixed exposures 23,[25][26][27][28][29][30] . We were unable to identify any recent occupational studies relating prenatal exposures to mercury, lead, arsenic and PCBs to neurodevelopment outcomes as parallel to the substantial evidence from environmental epidemiology 2) .…”

“…We were unable to identify any recent occupational studies relating prenatal exposures to mercury, lead, arsenic and PCBs to neurodevelopment outcomes as parallel to the substantial evidence from environmental epidemiology 2) . The occupational studies identified show negative consequences of prenatal exposures to the industrial chemicals studied (Table 1) 23,[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] .…”