Early-Life Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Child Language and Communication Development: A Systematic Review

Charlotte Stübner (), Christel Nielsen, Kristina Jakobsson, Christopher Gillberg and Carmela Miniscalco
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Charlotte Stübner: Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden
Christel Nielsen: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, 223 81 Lund, Sweden
Kristina Jakobsson: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden
Christopher Gillberg: Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden
Carmela Miniscalco: Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 24, 1-20

Abstract: Language development starts during the fetal period when the brain is sensitive to endocrine disruptions from environmental contaminants. This systematic review aims to systematically summarize the existing literature on early-life exposure to PFAS and children’s language and communication development, which is an indicator of neurocognitive development. A structured literature search was conducted using three databases, PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL, last updated in April 2023. The population was defined as children and young adults. PFAS exposure was assessed pre- or postnatally. The outcome was defined as a language and communication ability assessed with validated instruments, parental self-reports, or clinical language disorder diagnoses. In total, 15 studies were identified for subsequent analyses. Thirteen were performed in background-exposed populations and two in highly exposed populations. There were some indications of potential adverse effects; however, these were not consistent across child sex, age of assessment, or PFAS exposure levels. No systematic effect of early-life PFAS exposure on language and communication development was found. These inconclusive findings may partly be explained by the use of general test instruments with limited validity as to children’s language and communication development. Further studies over a wider exposure range using specific language test instruments are needed.

Keywords: child language development; developmental language disorder; environmental contaminants; perfluoroalkyl substances; prenatal exposure; postnatal exposure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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