Arsenic Exposure and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children: A Cross‑Sectional Study.

This study looked at 450 children in Chile to see if arsenic exposure is linked to developmental conditions like ADHD and autism. Children with higher levels of arsenic in their urine were about 3 times more likely to have neurodevelopmental disorders and 4 times more likely to have ADHD. About 12% of children had some form of neurodevelopmental disorder, with ADHD being most common at 9.1% and autism at 5.3%.

This cross-sectional study examined the association between arsenic exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in 450 children aged 7-11 years from Arica, Chile. Using parent-reported diagnoses and urinary arsenic measurements, researchers found NDD prevalence of 12% (ADHD 9.1%, ASD 5.3%). Children with urinary arsenic levels ≥35 μg/g creatinine had nearly three times higher odds of having NDDs (OR: 2.93) and nearly four times higher odds of ADHD (OR: 3.85) after adjusting for confounders. Mean urinary arsenic concentration was 19.8 μg/g creatinine, with 7.6% of children exceeding the 35 μg/g threshold.

The study contributes to evidence linking environmental arsenic exposure to neurodevelopmental outcomes in children.

Findings suggest environmental arsenic screening may be relevant for children with NDDs, particularly ADHD. Results support public health measures to reduce arsenic exposure in affected communities. However, causal relationships cannot be established from this cross-sectional study design.

Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference. Parent self-reporting may introduce diagnostic bias. Single time-point arsenic measurement may not reflect long-term exposure patterns. Limited to one geographic region with specific environmental conditions.

Arsenic exposure has been identified as a possible risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). In Arica, research has been conducted to relate arsenic exposure to the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, highlighting the need to explore other events, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), this study aimed to evaluate the association between current urinary arsenic concentration and the prevalence of NDDs in children from Arica.A cross‑sectional study was conducted using secondary data from the FONIS project #SA22I0119. The sample consists of 450 children born between 2013 and 2016.

The outcome variable, diagnosis of NDDs, was measured through parent self‑reporting. The exposure variable corresponds to the current concentration of urinary inorganic arsenic, corrected by creatinine. A logistic regression model adjusted for confounding variables was used.According to parent self‑report, the prevalence of ADHD was 9.1%, ASD 5.3%, and NDDs 12%. The mean urinary inorganic arsenic concentration was 19.8 μg/g creatinine, and 7.6% of the children had levels ≥35 μg/g creatinine.

After adjusting for tutors' education, number of household members, sex, and indigenous origin, those children with urinary arsenic ≥ 35 μg/g creatinine were more likely to present some NDDs (OR: 2.93; 95% CI 1.11, 7.75). For ADHD, the association was also elevated (OR = 3.85; 95% CI 1.44, 10.29).The findings suggest an association between arsenic exposure and the prevalence of NDDs in children. These results contribute to the evidence of arsenic's effect on the neurodevelopment of the child population.