Exposures to Environmental Toxicants and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in U.S. Children

TLDR

The study examined whether prenatal and postnatal tobacco smoke and environmental lead exposure are associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in U.S. children. Using NHANES 1999‑2002 data, the authors assessed prenatal/postnatal tobacco exposure by parent report, measured blood lead levels, and defined ADHD as current stimulant medication use plus parent‑reported diagnosis in 4,704 children aged 4‑15.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the association of exposures to tobacco smoke and environmental lead with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002. Prenatal and postnatal tobacco exposure was based on parent report; lead exposure was measured using blood lead concentration. ADHD was defined as having current stimulant medication use and parent report of ADHD diagnosed by a doctor or health professional.Of 4,704 children 4-15 years of age, 4.2% were reported to have ADHD and stimulant medication use, equivalent to 1.8 million children in the United States. In multivariable analysis, prenatal tobacco exposure [odds ratio (OR) = 2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2-5.2] and higher blood lead concentration (first vs. fifth quintile, OR = 4.1; 95% CI, 1.2-14.0) were significantly associated with ADHD. Postnatal tobacco smoke exposure was not associated with ADHD (OR = 0.6; 95% CI, 0.3-1.3; p = 0.22). If causally linked, these data suggest that prenatal tobacco exposure accounts for 270,000 excess cases of ADHD, and lead exposure accounts for 290,000 excess cases of ADHD in U.S. children.We conclude that exposure to prenatal tobacco and environmental lead are risk factors for ADHD in U.S. children.