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Lead exposure, IQ, and behavior in urban 5- to 7-year-olds: does lead affect behavior only by lowering IQ?

Aimin Chen1, Bo Cai, Kim N Dietrich

  • 1Epidemiology Branch, National Institute on Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.

Pediatrics
|March 3, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Childhood lead exposure impacts behavior, with later lead levels directly affecting behavioral issues like externalizing and school problems. This effect is independent of IQ, highlighting the importance of ongoing lead monitoring.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Neurodevelopment
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Childhood lead exposure is known to reduce IQ scores.
  • The direct impact of lead on children's behavior, independent of IQ, requires further investigation.
  • Few studies have assessed both peak and concurrent blood lead levels alongside IQ and behavioral outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To distinguish the direct behavioral effects of lead from those mediated by IQ.
  • To evaluate the association between peak blood lead concentration and concurrent blood lead concentration with behavioral outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from a clinical trial involving 780 urban children aged 12-33 months with elevated blood lead levels (20-44 microg/dL).
  • Children were followed from ages 2 to 7 years.
  • The trial data were retrospectively analyzed as a prospective observational study.

Main Results:

  • Blood lead concentration at age 2 was not significantly associated with behavioral scores at ages 5 or 7.
  • Blood lead level at age 7 showed direct associations with behavioral symptoms, externalizing behaviors, and school problems.
  • Behavioral Assessment Systems for Children (BASC) scores at age 7 were directly impacted by concurrent blood lead levels.

Conclusions:

  • Concurrent blood lead concentration at age 7 is linked to externalizing and school problems.
  • These behavioral effects are not solely explained by lead's impact on IQ.
  • Findings underscore the persistent behavioral risks associated with lead exposure in early childhood.
Abstract

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