Prenatal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure, antioxidant levels and behavioral development of children ages 6-9.

Prospective birth cohort in Krakow, Poland. Participants: non-smoking pregnant women aged 18–35 with singleton pregnancies, living near air monitoring stations. Final analytic sample: 151 mother–child pairs with cord blood micronutrient data and CBCL assessment at age 6–9 years.

Higher prenatal airborne PAH exposure was associated with more adverse CBCL scores across multiple domains (withdrawn/depressed, social problems, attention problems, aggressive behavior, internalizing, externalizing). Dietary PAH exposure showed limited associations (attention problems). Cord blood levels of alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, and carotenoids were linked to fewer behavioral problems, and low cord micronutrient levels modified the PAH–CBCL associations in several domains, suggesting potential protective effects of these micronutrients against PAH-related neurodevelopmental risks. However, the pattern of interactions was not consistent across domains and power was limited; replication is needed. The authors suggest that micronutrients may help protect neurodevelopment from PAH toxicity, but no dosing or supplementation recommendations are provided.

Small analytic sample (n=151) with covariate data; potential residual confounding; multiple statistical tests increasing risk of chance findings; exposure and micronutrient measurements based on single time points; lack of dietary intake data; vitamin A measured in serum only (not hepatic); no cholesterol adjustment for vitamin E; generalizability limited to Krakow cohort.