The long-term effects of exposure to low doses of lead in childhood: an 11-year follow-up report

Article Abstract:

Relatively few studies have been performed on the long-term effects of exposure to low levels of lead in childhood. Exposure to lead, a heavy metal, may result in serious central nervous system damage in infants and children. The toxic effects of lead exposure in childhood had been studied previously in a group of 270 young school children from 1975 to 1978. Although the subjects did not suffer from plumbism (lead poisoning) they did have abnormally high levels of lead that were detected in their teeth (dentin lead). The results of this earlier study revealed that these children had low IQ scores, poor classroom performance, and speech, language and attention problems. A follow-up study was performed with 132 individuals from this original group. These subjects, now young adults, were re-examined in 1988 to evaluate the long-term effects of their earlier lead exposure. In general, the findings from the subjects' earlier tests, which included cognitive impairment and retarded academic progress, persisted into adolescence. Young adults who had higher dentin lead levels as children were seven times more likely to drop out of high school and had lower class standings, weaker reading skills, greater absenteeism, and more impairment of motor skills such as hand-eye coordination. The authors pointed out that there was some level of selection bias in this study; individuals who were retested tended to be those with lower lead levels in childhood. Those with the highest lead concentrations, lowest socioeconomic status, and lowest IQs could not be located for follow-up. Therefore, the estimates made concerning the extent of damage from early lead exposure are conservative and actual effects may have been even more detrimental. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Research, Case studies, Abnormalities, Physiological aspects, Central nervous system, Metals (Materials), Toxicology, Metals in the body

---

Lead-contaminated soil abatement and urban children's blood lead levels

Article Abstract:

Removing lead-contaminated soil appears to lower blood lead levels in exposed children, but implementing soil abatement would not normally be an efficient means of reducing children's exposure to lead. In older urban areas, soil containing lead from deteriorated paint, gasoline and industrial sources such as smelters may contribute to lead exposure as well as the recognized sources including contaminated house paint, dust and water. Blood lead levels over 10 micrograms per deciliter (dL) are considered potentially harmful. Of 152 children with blood lead levels ranging from 10 to 20 micrograms per dL living in areas with high lead content in the soil, 54 had loose interior paint, dust and contaminated soil removed from their homes, 51 had loose paint and dust removed from their homes and 47 had loose paint removed from their homes. After 11 months, the average declines in blood lead levels among the three groups were 2.44, 0.91 and 0.52 micrograms per dL, respectively. Removing lead-contaminated soil alone was associated with an average decline in blood lead level of 1.6 micrograms per dL.

Causes of, Soil pollution, Soils, City children

---

Bone lead levels and delinquent behavior

Article Abstract:

Lead exposure may predispose young children to antisocial behavior and delinquency. Researchers asked the parents and teachers of 301 grade-school boys to rate the child's behavior at the age of 7 and 11 using questionnaires that measure antisocial tendencies. The boys were also asked to rate themselves. X-ray fluorescence was used to measure the lead concentration in the boy's bones at the age of 11. Compared to boys with low lead levels, boys with high lead levels were rated by their parents and teachers as more aggressive and as having other problems such as health complaints, attention problems and delinquent behavior. The boys with high lead levels rated themselves as having more behavioral problems. Parents and teachers reported that behavioural problems in boys with high lead levels had gotten worse between the ages of 7 and 11. The association between high lead levels and antisocial behavior remained when the data were adjusted for other social and family factors.

Psychological aspects, Risk factors, Behavior disorders in children, Childhood mental disorders, Juvenile delinquency

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Effects of low dose corticosteroids on bone mass in rheumatoid arthritis: a longtitudinal study. Reduced bone formation in non-steroid treated patients with rheumatoid arthritis
• Abstracts: Primary intracerebral osteosarcoma. Surgical resection of pulmonary metastases from colorectal cancer: 10-year follow-up
• Abstracts: The respiratory effects of drugs used for conscious sedation and general anesthesia. Relieving patient anxiety: a new approach
• Abstracts: The multichain interleukin 2 receptor: a target for immunotherapy in lymphoma, autoimmune disorders, and organ allografts
• Abstracts: The worldwide smoking epidemic: tobacco trade, use, and control. Cigarette smoking - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 1988

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.