Background: Aluminum (Al) is a well-established neurotoxicant. However, little is known about its effects on the neurodevelopment of infants.
Objectives: To examine early-life exposure to Al in relation to neurodevelopment in healthy infants.
Methods: Nail Al concentrations were measured among 747 newborn babies within 6 months of delivery in the Shanghai Birth Cohort. Neurodevelopment was assessed using Ages and stages questionnaire (third edition, ASQ-3) at ages 6 and 12 months. General linear regression models were performed to estimate the associations between Al concentrations and ASQ-3 scores.
Results: After adjustment for potential confounders, early-life exposure to Al was not associated with any neurodevelopmental performance at age 6 months. However, Al level was associated with an increased risk of having a low fine motor score (quartile 4 vs. quartile 1, mean difference (MD): -1.63; 95% confidence interval (CI): -3.22, -0.05; P-trend < 0.01) at 12 months. No association was found for communication, gross motor, problem-solving, or personal-social score at 12 months.
Significance: Early-life exposure to Al may be associated with poor fine motor skills in a dose-response manner among apparently healthy infants at age 12 months.
Keywords: Aluminum; Early-life exposure; Fine motor skills; Infants; Neurodevelopment.