Low-level environmental lead exposure in childhood and adult intellectual function: A follow-up study

Mazumdar, M and Bellinger, DC and Gregas, M and Abanilla, K and Bacic, J and Needleman, HL (2011) Low-level environmental lead exposure in childhood and adult intellectual function: A follow-up study. Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source, 10 (1).

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Abstract

Background: Early life lead exposure might be a risk factor for neurocognitive impairment in adulthood. Objectives. We sought to assess the relationship between early life environmental lead exposure and intellectual function in adulthood. We also attempted to identify which time period blood-lead concentrations are most predictive of adult outcome. Methods. We recruited adults in the Boston area who had participated as newborns and young children in a prospective cohort study that examined the relationship between lead exposure and childhood intellectual function. IQ was measured using the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI). The association between lead concentrations and IQ scores was examined using linear regression. Results: Forty-three adults participated in neuropsychological testing. Childhood blood-lead concentration (mean of the blood-lead concentrations at ages 4 and 10 years) had the strongest relationship with Full-Scale IQ (β = -1.89 ± 0.70, p = 0.01). Full-scale IQ was also significantly related to blood-lead concentration at age 6 months (β = -1.66 ± 0.75, p = 0.03), 4 years (β = -0.90 0.41, p = 0.03) and 10 years (β = -1.95 ± 0.80, p = 0.02). Adjusting for maternal IQ altered the significance of the regression coefficient. Conclusions: Our study suggests that lead exposure in childhood predicts intellectual functioning in young adulthood. Our results also suggest that school-age lead exposure may represent a period of increased susceptibility. Given the small sample size, however, the potentially confounding effects of maternal IQ cannot be excluded and should be evaluated in a larger study. © 2011 Mazumdar et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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Details

Item Type:	Article
Status:	Published
Creators/Authors:	Creators Email Pitt Username ORCID Mazumdar, M Bellinger, DC Gregas, M Abanilla, K Bacic, J Needleman, HL
Date:	1 April 2011
Date Type:	Publication
Journal or Publication Title:	Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source
Volume:	10
Number:	1
DOI or Unique Handle:	10.1186/1476-069x-10-24
Schools and Programs:	School of Medicine > Psychiatry
Refereed:	Yes
Date Deposited:	31 Oct 2016 16:05
Last Modified:	04 Feb 2019 15:58
URI:	http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/30078

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