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Stunting is associated with blood lead concentration among Bangladeshi children aged 2-3 years

Kelsey M Gleason1, Linda Valeri2,3, A H Shankar4

  • 1Department of Environmental Health - EOME Program, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Landmark Center, 401 Park Drive, 3rd Floor East, Boston, MA, 02215, USA. kgleason@mail.harvard.edu.

Environmental Health : a Global Access Science Source
|November 5, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Childhood lead exposure is linked to stunting, a critical public health issue. Higher blood lead levels in toddlers significantly increase stunting risk, highlighting the need for early intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Global Health

Background:

  • Lead toxicity is a significant public health concern due to its widespread presence and neurotoxic effects.
  • Early childhood stunting, affecting 34% of young children globally, also impairs neurodevelopment.
  • The interplay between lead exposure and stunting, particularly during critical developmental windows, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between lead exposure and childhood stunting in rural Bangladeshi children.
  • To identify potential susceptibility windows for lead exposure concerning stunting.

Main Methods:

  • Whole blood lead levels were measured in 204 children at birth (umbilical cord) and 20-40 months (fingerstick).
  • Stunting was defined as height-for-age below -2 z-scores using World Health Organization growth standards.
  • Adjusted multivariable regression models were used to analyze the relationship between blood lead levels and stunting.

Main Results:

  • Median blood lead levels were 3.1 μg/dl at birth and 4.2 μg/dl at 20-40 months.
  • A 1.12 increased odds of stunting were observed for every 1 μg/dl increase in blood lead level at 20-40 months (OR=1.12, 95% CI: 1.02-1.22).
  • No significant association was found between cord blood lead levels and stunting risk (OR=0.97, 95% CI: 0.94-1.00).

Conclusions:

  • Concurrent lead exposure at 20-40 months is significantly associated with childhood stunting.
  • The association between lead exposure and stunting warrants further research to pinpoint precise exposure timings.
  • Findings underscore the importance of mitigating lead exposure during early childhood to prevent stunting and support neurodevelopment.
Abstract

Keywords:
BangladeshChildrenEnvironmental toxinsHeavy metalsLead exposureNeurodevelopmentStunting

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