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Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
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Sex differences in the effects of lead exposure on growth and development in young children

Can-Can Zhou1, Yu-Qiong He2, Zhen-Yan Gao3

  • 1MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Chemosphere
|March 1, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Lead exposure negatively impacts young children's physical growth, particularly in boys. Even low blood lead levels may adversely affect height-for-age Z-scores (HAZ), indicating potential developmental risks.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Lead exposure poses significant risks to children's health.
  • Physical growth is a critical indicator of child development.
  • Previous research on lead exposure and child growth remains inconclusive.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between lead exposure and physical growth in young children.
  • To examine potential sex-specific differences in these effects.
  • To assess the impact of low-level lead exposure on growth parameters.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional survey of 1678 young children.
  • Measurement of blood lead levels using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
  • Calculation of weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ), height-for-age Z-score (HAZ), and BMI-for-age Z-score (BMIZ) using WHO standards.
  • Analysis using multivariable linear models with confounder adjustment and sex stratification.

Main Results:

  • Median blood lead levels were 46.44 μg/L overall.
  • Negative associations were found between blood lead levels and WAZ and HAZ after adjusting for confounders.
  • These negative associations were significant in boys but not in girls.
  • Evidence suggests adverse effects on HAZ even at blood lead levels below 50 μg/L.

Conclusions:

  • Lead exposure can have sex-specific adverse effects on the physical growth of young children.
  • Low-level lead exposure may negatively impact children's growth and development, particularly HAZ.
  • Findings highlight the need for continued monitoring and prevention of lead exposure in early childhood.

Keywords:
ChildrenLeadPhysical growthSex

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