Effect of Perinatal Dioxin Exposure Originating from Agent Orange on Gaze Behavior in 3-Year-Old Children Living in the Most Dioxin-Contaminated Areas in Vietnam

Overview

Journal Toxics

Date 2022 Apr 21

PMID 35448411

Authors

Thao Ngoc Pham

Muneko Nishijo

Tai Pham-The

Nghi Ngoc Tran

Hoa Thi Vu

Anh Hai Tran

Tien Viet Tran

Yoshikazu Nishino

Hisao Nishijo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We investigated the effect of perinatal dioxin exposure indicated by dioxins in breast milk on children’s gaze behavior. We studied 142 children aged 3 years from the 2012 Bien Hoa birth cohort in a hotspot of dioxin contamination in Vietnam. Children’s faces were viewed using the eye-tracking method. Associations between gaze behavior of faces and neurodevelopmental indices and head circumference were analyzed to determine whether poor gaze behavior indicates increased autistic traits in these children. The gaze fixation duration on facial areas when viewing 10 still images of children was calculated as the gaze behavior index. Autistic behavior was assessed using the Autism Spectrum Rating Scale, and language development was evaluated by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Ver. 3. The face fixation duration (%) significantly decreased as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) concentrations increased in a dose−effect manner in girls, which suggested atypical gaze behavior for watching human faces. Furthermore, these girls with atypical gaze behavior showed lower social communication scores and smaller head sizes, suggesting increased autistic traits in girls. In conclusion, our findings show sex-specific effects (girls > boys) of perinatal TCDD exposure on gaze behavior in young children.

Citing Articles

Impacts of dioxin exposure on brain connectivity estimated by DTI analysis of MRI images in men residing in contaminated areas of Vietnam.

Thao P, Nishijo M, Tai P, Nghi T, Yokawa T, Hoa V Front Neurosci. 2024; 18:1344653.

PMID: 38726030 PMC: 11079160. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1344653.

Impacts of perinatal dioxin exposure on gaze behavior in 2-year-old children in the largest dioxin-contaminated area in Vietnam.

Thao P, Nishijo M, Tai P, Nghi T, Hoa V, Anh T Sci Rep. 2023; 13(1):20679.

PMID: 38001134 PMC: 10673870. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47893-0.

Dioxin and Dioxin-like Compounds and Human Health.

Nishijo M Toxics. 2023; 11(6).

PMID: 37368612 PMC: 10304564. DOI: 10.3390/toxics11060512.

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