Effects of Environmental Exposures on Birth and Early developmental Outcomes

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

The adverse effects of environmental exposures on birth outcomes and children’s development is a significant public health concern. Children from marginalized backgrounds, including those from minority and/or from low socioeconomic (SES) families, are disproportionally exposed to environmental toxicants. Research on the scope, severity and onset of such effects in populations that are also exposed to other psychosocial risk factors associated with developmental delay can help inform implementation of appropriate early interventions. The four papers presented in this session are from different research centers and all papers consist of data representing participants from marginalized and/or low-SES populations with exposure to a myriad of psychosocial and environmental risk factors. Papers in this session examine the effects of various types of chemical exposures (i.e., phthalate, metal mixtures, and smoke) on children’s birth and developmental outcomes during early years, while considering the effects of other psychosocial and socioeconomic stressors. Collectively, these four studies highlight the importance of using advanced analytical techniques to evaluate the combined as well as interactive effects of various exposures, and demonstrate distinct empirical approaches for elucidating exposure-related effects on child development.

Sub Unit

• Solicited Content: Environmental Justice

Chair

• Sara Nozadi, University of New Mexico

Individual Presentations

• Understanding risk in complex environments underscores potential fallacy of generalizing across populations: Added value of longitudinal measurement and integrated analytical methods - Presenting Author: Johnnye Lewis; Li Luo, University of New Mexico; Debra MacKenzie

• Cumulative effects of prenatal phthalate and psychosocial stress exposure on infant neurodevelopment in an African American Maternal-Child cohort - Presenting Author: Jasmin Eatman; Patricia Brennan, Emory University; Dana Boyd Barr; Elizabeth Corwin, Columbia University; Donghai Liang; Anne Dunlop, Emory University; Stephanie M. Eick, Emory University

• Evaluating the relationship between prenatal exposures and non-nutritive suck as an early indicator of neurodevelopment - Presenting Author: Megan L Woodbury, Northeastern University; Emily Zimmerman; Andréa Aguiar; Max T. Aung; Sarah D. Geiger; Deborah Watkins; Shukhan Ng; Gerdia Huerta-Montañez; Jose Cordero; John Meeker; Susan Schantz; Akram Alshawabkeh

• Early Life Stress, Prenatal Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure, and Children’s Emotional and Behavioral Problems - Presenting Author: Mariah Deserisy; Jacob W Cohen; Jordan D. Dworkin; Jeanette Stingone; Bruce Ramphal, Columbia University; Julie Herbstman, Columbia University; David Pagliaccio, New York State Psychiatric Institute; Amy Margolis, Columbia University