Effects of environmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and dioxins on growth and development in young children : a prospective follow-up study of breast-fed and formula-fed infants from birth until 42 months of age

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as weli as dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and -dibenzo-furans (PCDFs) are potentially hazardous compounds in the environment. As in other industrialized countries, contamination of breast milk with PCBs and dioxins (PCDDslPCDFs) in the Netherlands has led to considerable public concern. The Dutch government launched a prospective follow-up study in 1989 to investigate the potential adverse effects of environmental exposure to PCBs and dioxins on growth and development of the human foetus and newborn. The observation period was expanded until 4 2 months of age in an EC-funded collaborative project entitled: 'Neonatal PCB exposure and neurodevelopmental deficit', financed by the ENVIRONMENTAL and CLIMATE research programme, DGXII of the European Commission, Contract-No EVSV-CT92-0207. The study was designed to look into a spectrum of PCB-related effects in order to decide if neurological and cognitive development are affected by perinatal exposure to PCBs and related compounds, and if European background concentrations represent levels of concern. In this multi center cohort study, our Dutch cohort, a German and a Danish cohort are included. The work in this thesis describes the results from the Dutch cohort. In this prospective longitudinal study, breast-fed and formula-fed infants were studied from birth until 42 months of age. Results on growth, health and development until 42 months of age are presented.

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