Grant: Project Grant

Early human life is a critical time for brain development. During this time, fetuses and children are exposed to many environmental chemicals such as nicotine, bisphenol A, and metals. Our understanding of the effects of these chemicals on children's neurodevelopment is limited. We think that prenatal and early childhood exposure to all of these chemicals is associated with poorer cognitive, language, executive function, motor, and behavioural development in children. Also, these chemicals may have different effects on neurodevelopment in girls and boys because they can influence hormones, which in turn can affect the brains of girls and boys differently. Most studies have looked at the effects of single chemicals on children's development. Very few studies have examined the influence of many different chemicals and their combinations on children's neurodevelopment. We will use blood obtained from mothers during pregnancy and from their children at 3 to 5 years of age to measure chemical exposures. The Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) Neurotox study was developed to investigate pathways through which the prenatal and early childhood chemical exposures affect children's neurodevelopment. In this study, we will examine prenatal and childhood exposure to 77 common chemicals found in human blood such as caffeine. To do this, we will analyze 250 blood samples from mothers that were collected during the second trimester of pregnancy and 250 blood samples collected from children when they were 3-5 years of age. We have already assessed children's cognitive, language, executive function, motor, and behavioural development at 3-5 and 5-7 year of age. Using statistical analyses techniques, we will see if exposure to particular combinations of chemicals during pregnancy and childhood is associated with neurodevelopment in children. We will also see if the effects of exposure are different in girls and boys.