Neurotoxicity

Abstract

The developing central nervous system is susceptible to exposure to many different classes of chemicals and environmental pollutants and this is also true for the PFCs. In epidemiological studies it has been seen that kids from mothers with high PFOS and PFOA concentrations show delayed motor and cognitive development and the prevalence of ADHD is higher in these children. The epidemiological findings are supported by several studies in laboratory animals, where it has been seen that PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS exposures during the gestational period increased the locomotor activity and caused an inability to habituate to new environments. These chemicals also affects molecular targets in the brain of test animals after gestational exposure and in the newborn period and the cholinergic system may be a possible target for the PFCs. Also in cell culture studies PFCs have been shown to be neurotoxic and affect different subtypes of PKC, strengthening the animal studies. All these possible effects of PFCs are similar to what earlier have been seen for PCBs and PBDEs and there may be possible problems with co-exposures from these different groups of chemicals.