Hippocampal and Amygdala Volumes Vary With Residential Proximity to Toxicants at Birmingham, Alabama's 35th Avenue Superfund Site

Exposure to environmental toxicants have serious implications for the general health and well-being of children, particularly during pivotal neurodevelopmental stages. The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Superfund program has identified several areas (Superfund sites) across the United States with high levels of environmental toxicants, which affect the health of many residents in nearby communities. Exposure to these environmental toxicants has been linked to changes in the structure and function of the brain. However, limited research has investigated the relationship between the proximity of childhood homes to a Superfund site and the development of subcortical structures like the hippocampus and amygdala. The present study investigated the hippocampal and amygdala volumes of young adults in relation to the proximity of their childhood homes to Birmingham, Alabama's 35th Avenue Superfund site. Forty participants who either lived within or adjacent to the Superfund site (Proximal group; n = 20) or who lived elsewhere in the greater Birmingham metropolitan area (Distal group; n = 20) were included in this study. Both groups were matched on age, sex, race, and years of education. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to compare the gray matter volume of the hippocampus and amygdala between groups. Differences in bilateral hippocampal and left amygdala volumes were observed. Specifically, hippocampal and amygdala volumes were greater in the Proximal than Distal group. These findings suggest that the proximity of children's homes to environmental toxicants may impact the development of the hippocampus and amygdala.

Automated summary

Exposure to environmental toxicants, especially during crucial neurodevelopmental stages, has significant implications for children's overall health. The EPA's Superfund program has identified certain areas in the US with high levels of toxicants that affect the nearby communities. Limited research has explored the relationship between the proximity of childhood homes to Superfund sites and the development of subcortical structures like the hippocampus and amygdala. This study found that young adults living near a Superfund site had larger hippocampal and amygdala volumes compared to those living elsewhere in the same metropolitan area, suggesting that proximity to toxicants may impact brain development.