Considerable concern exists over possible effects on human physical and psychological development of endocrine disrupting environmental contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Native American communities are particularly at risk owing to subsistence systems and a cultural ethos involving greater contact with the physical environment. The proposed study follows-up 220 Mohawk adolescents aged 17-21 years, who participated in a previous study when they were 10-16 years old. All adolescents are members of the Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne which is located on the St. Lawrence River, adjacent to hazardous waste sites where PCBs have contaminated the local ecology. The investigation examines the interrelationship between Mohawk cultural identity, traditional Mohawk customs, behaviors related to toxicant exposure and current toxicant burden. Serum level of PCBs will be assessed by congener specific analysis. The study will determine 1) the relationship of congeners and their hydroxylated metabolites to thyroid function (thyroid hormone levels and anti-thyroid antibodies), and 2) psychosocial outcomes including school behavior and performance, hyperactivity, and adaptation to the community. Data gathered for the past study will be employed to assess variation in metabolism of PCBs, as well as how earlier measures of cognition and hyperactivity relate to 17 year old psychosocial outcomes. Variation in susceptibility to PCB effects will be determined by examining the effects of concurrent toxicant exposure (hexachlorobenzene, Mirex, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethene, lead), diet, and indicators of PCB metabolism, on the focal measures of adult functioning. The proposed study will clarify the causal pathways between culturally identifying behavior, PCB exposure and body burden, thyroid functioning, cognitive functioning, social behavior and school functioning while identifying activities that are important to maintain cultural identify and unrelated to exposure.
| Behforooz, Bita; Newman, Joan; Gallo, Mia V et al. (2017) PCBs and measures of attention and impulsivity on a continuous performance task of young adults. Neurotoxicol Teratol 64:29-36 |
| Gallo, Mia V; Deane, Glenn D; DeCaprio, Anthony P et al. (2015) Changes in persistent organic pollutant levels from adolescence to young adulthood. Environ Res 140:214-24 |
| Ravenscroft, Julia; Schell, Lawrence M; Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment (2014) Dietary patterns of Akwesasne Mohawk adolescents. Ann Hum Biol 41:403-14 |
| Newman, Joan; Behforooz, Bita; Khuzwayo, Amy G et al. (2014) PCBs and ADHD in Mohawk adolescents. Neurotoxicol Teratol 42:25-34 |
| Schell, Lawrence M; Gallo, Mia V; Deane, Glenn D et al. (2014) Relationships of polychlorinated biphenyls and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) with testosterone levels in adolescent males. Environ Health Perspect 122:304-9 |
| Schell, Lawrence M; Gallo, Mia V (2012) Overweight and obesity among North American Indian infants, children, and youth. Am J Hum Biol 24:302-13 |
| Schell, Lawrence M; Burnitz, Kristopher K; Gallo, Mia V (2012) Growth as a mirror: is endocrine disruption challenging Tanner's concept? Ann Hum Biol 39:361-71 |
| Schell, Lawrence M; Gallo, Mia V; Cook, Katsi (2012) What's NOT to eat--food adulteration in the context of human biology. Am J Hum Biol 24:139-48 |
| Gallo, Mia V; Schell, Lawrence M; DeCaprio, Anthony P et al. (2011) Levels of persistent organic pollutant and their predictors among young adults. Chemosphere 83:1374-82 |
| Schell, Lawrence M; Gallo, Mia V (2010) Relationships of putative endocrine disruptors to human sexual maturation and thyroid activity in youth. Physiol Behav 99:246-53 |
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