2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Do Hg, Pb, and Al exposures effect development of non-cognitive and prefrontal function?

Research Project

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Project/Area Number	20H01664
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Review Section	Basic Section 09030:Childhood and nursery/pre-school education-related
Research Institution	Kokugakuin University Hokkaido Junior College
Principal Investigator	KUSANAGI Emiko 國學院大學北海道短期大学部, その他部局等, 教授 (90341718)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	星信子札幌大谷大学短期大学部, その他部局等, 教授 (20320575) 高橋義信札幌医科大学, 医療人育成センター, 准教授 (30226906) 中村光一北海道大学, 歯学研究院, 助教 (50580932) 八若保孝北海道大学, 歯学研究院, 教授 (60230603) 森口佑介京都大学, 文学研究科, 准教授 (80546581) 高橋文北海道情報大学, 医療情報学部, 教授 (50736098)
Project Period (FY)	2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
Keywords	思春期 / 金属暴露 / 気質 / 実行機能 / 運動機能 / 家庭環境 / 子どもの困難さ
Outline of Final Research Achievements	This longitudinal study measured participants' exposure to toxic and essential metals during adolescence, as well as their home environment and nutritional intake, to examine the effects on their temperament, executive function, behavioral difficulties, and motor functions. The development of effortful control (EC) during adolescence was observed to be negatively related to mercury exposure in early childhood. Emotional problems were positively related to mercury exposure during the fetal period and infancy. Adolescent selenium exposure was positively related to executive function. In boys, aluminum exposure during adolescence was negatively related to EC, and lead exposure in early childhood was negatively related to fine motor development, indicating a higher susceptibility of boys to toxic metals. Children's difficulties were more strongly related to their EC than to parenting behaviors. The intake of essential metals and nutrients was considered important for the development of EC.
Free Research Field	Developmental Psychology
Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements	有害・必須の複数金属暴露量についての研究、また長期暴露データが本邦に乏しい中、思春期の子どもの複数金属暴露量についてのデータは貴重な資料となる。また暴露量の個人差が幼児期から安定していることを示した。半数以上の子どもの水銀暴露量は、米国環境保護庁等が推奨する毛髪中水銀濃度（1.0 μg/g未満）を超えていた。さらに子どもの問題行動には養育行動よりもECが強く関係し、EC発達には必須金属や栄養素摂取が関係することを示した。各家庭の測定した水道水中有害金属濃度は水道法の基準を満たしていた。