Project Leader, Ann Aschengrau (Boston University School of Public Health)
Studying effects on neurodevelopment of a population exposed to perchloroethylene (PCE, a peroxisome proliferator) in drinking water.
Tetrachloroethylene (also called perchlorethylene or PCE) is a commonly used industrial solvent and has become a frequent drinking water contaminant. While studies of adult PCE exposure have demonstrated numerous neurotoxic effects, little is known about the long-term nervous system effects of gestational and childhood exposures. The proposed epidemiologic study will test the hypothesis that prenatal and childhood exposure to PCE-contaminated drinking water is associated with the following neurotoxic effects: increased prevalence of indicators related to learning, attention and vision disorders; impaired performance on neuropsychological and vision tests; and increased prevalence of cerebral pathology and dysfunction as seen in structural and functional neuroimaging studies. The proposed population-based retrospective cohort study, an extension of our ongoing SRP project, will include approximately 3,000 individuals with developmental exposure to PCE-contaminated drinking water and a comparable group of 3,000 unexposed individuals. The exposed group will include individuals with prenatal and childhood PCE exposure combined, and older siblings with only childhood exposure. Exposure to contaminated drinking water occurred from 1969 through 1983 when PCE leached from the vinyl lining of asbestos-cement water distribution pipes. Cohort members, who are now adults, will be identified, traced, and sent self-administered questionnaires to obtain information on the outcomes and confounding variables. Neuropsychological and vision tests, and neuroimaging studies will be conducted in subsets of highly exposed and unexposed subjects. Exposure to PCE-contaminated drinking water will be estimated using a previously developed model and geographic information system (GIS). Each outcome will be examined in relation to the timing of developmental PCE exposure while controlling for confounding variables. We will also examine the interaction between PCE exposure and alcohol consumption.
Principal Investigator: Ann Aschengrau, Boston University SPH
SRP Research Brief No. 125: Epidemiologic Research on Environmental Pollution and the Risk of Disease
External Advisory Committee Presentation: A PDF of the presentation Dr. Aschengrau gave to the BU SRP External Advisory Committee on March 20, 2007.
