Prenatal and postnatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and child size at 24 months of age

Research suggests that exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may result in decreased child growth, though the critical window(s) are unclear. We investigated the association between PCBs and child size at age 24 months (n = 44). PCBs were measured in first trimester serum, breast milk, and child serum at age 24 months, and dichotomized at the median. Age- and gender-specific z-scores were calculated for anthropometric measures. Using linear regression, we observed no significant changes in z-scores with prenatal or postnatal serum PCB concentrations. PCB-77 in breast milk was associated with a significant decrease in z-score for length. To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine child size in relation to PCBs measured early in pregnancy, as well as quantifying a far greater number of congeners. Further research is needed to clarify critical windows, congener-specific effects, and effect modification by sex in relation to PCBs and child anthropometric measures.