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Catch‐up growth in males affected by the Union Carbide disaster of 1984 in Bhopal, India
Author(s) -
Varma Daya R,
Pal Ritesh,
Katgara Diana,
Sarangi Satinath,
Zaidi Tasneem,
Holleran Steven,
Ramakrishnan Rajashekhar,
Mulay Shree
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.1137.1
Subject(s) - anthropometry , medicine , demography , in utero , pediatrics , pregnancy , biology , fetus , sociology , genetics
Our 2001 study found that exposure of toddlers and parents in Bhopal to toxic gases in 1984 caused stunting of boys but not of girls (JAMA, 290:1856, 2003); here we report on a follow‐up study of anthropometrics in 2006. Informed consent of all subjects was obtained. Data were analyzed by two‐way ANOVA with the factors exposure (yes, no) and age (born before, in utero, born after), and their interaction, followed by pairwise contrasts of each exposed group with its control. There was a significantly greater increase from 2001 to 2006 in height (mean±SD in cm) of boys exposed to gases as toddlers (5.1± 5.3, n=25, p<0.05) vs controls (1.2±2.6, n=14), or born to exposed parents (15.5±7.8, n=6, p<0.01) vs controls (7.4±4.0, n=7), resulting in nearly complete catch‐up; also, body weight and mid‐arm circumference increased significantly more in exposed than in control males. There was a significant correlation in 2001 for height versus age in boys but not in girls, suggesting that the growth deficit found in exposed boys in 2001 was not present in girls because the girls attained their full height at a younger age. The mechanism underlying early stunting followed by a catch‐up growth is unclear. An important adverse effect of the Bhopal disaster was lasting pulmonary pathology. The catch‐up growth in these boys might be similar to that observed in asthmatic children. (Supported by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research)