Abstract
This poster presents findings from a recent systematic review and meta-analysis that assesses the impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure on pediatric brain function and cognition. We used PubMed, EMBASE, and ScienceDirect to search for articles. We used the QUADAS-2 to assess article quality. Statistical analysis implicated a forest plot of total scores from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) between groups using the Hedges’ g coefficient and an activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis of brain function between groups. We synthesized data with a linear regression analysis to determine the relationship between variables. Lastly, we used a funnel plot with Egger’s test to assess the risk of bias. Our initial search yielded 435 studies. Once subjected to our eligibility criteria, 23 studies remained for inclusion. The quality assessment identified no significant issues with bias or applicability. Our forest plot indicated that PAH exposure correlated robustly with decreases in total WISC-IV scores in children (g = -.60). Our ALE meta-analysis results identified numerous brain regions that exhibited aberrant activation when correlated with PAH exposure. Our synthesis reveas a robust negative correlation between variables (β = -.95, t(22) = -13.3, p <.001). Funnel plot and Egger’s test indicated no significant publication bias (p = .417).
Presenters
Zachary PierceResearch Associate, Boston College School of Social Work, Massachusetts, United States Jessica Black
Associate Professor, Social Work, Boston College, Massachusetts, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Human Impacts and Responsibility
KEYWORDS
PAH, AAP, Brain function, Cognition, Child, Adolescent, Neuroimaging
