About

Years: 2020 – 2021

Training Site: Paramaribo Scientific Research Center, Academic Hospital

Country: Suriname

Mentors: Maureen Lichveld, MD, MPH; Cornelius Zijlmans, MD, PhD

Title: “The Role of Nutritional Mitigation on Neurodevelopment of Children Exposed to Lead and Mercury in Suriname’s Rural Amazonian Interior”

Program Objectives:

Aim 1: Assess the impacts on neurodevelopment using the BSID in children 12-27 months of age living in Suriname’s interior associated with the combined effect of prenatal exposure to Pb and Hg.

Hypothesis 1: The combined prenatal exposure to Pb and Hg negatively influences neurodevelopment in children 12-27 months of age living in Suriname’s interior

Aim 2: Assess the relationship between neurodevelopment using the BSID in children 12-27 months of age living in Suriname’s interior and prenatal, maternal blood levels of Se.

Hypothesis 2: Prenatal exposure to selenium positively influences neurodevelopment in children 12-27 months of age living in Suriname’s interior and mitigates the adverse effect of Hg on neurodevelopment.

NIH Support: NINDS or NIEHS