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Lead Exposure in Infancy and Subsequent Growth in Beninese Children

Shukrullah Ahmadi1, Jérémie Botton2,3, Roméo Zoumenou4

  • 1Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics/CRESS, Université de Paris, INSERM, INRA, 75004 Paris, France.

Toxics
|October 26, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Elevated childhood blood lead levels (BLLs) are linked to increased stunting risk and reduced head circumference in Benin children. This highlights the critical impact of lead exposure on child development in resource-limited settings.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Growth and Development
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Elevated postnatal blood lead levels (BLLs) are associated with impaired child growth.
  • Childhood lead exposure remains a significant public health concern, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between childhood BLLs at age one year and growth outcomes at age six years.
  • To assess the impact of lead exposure on various growth parameters including height, weight, BMI, and head circumference.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 661 children in Allada, Benin, was studied.
  • Multivariable regression models were used to analyze the association between BLLs and growth outcomes, adjusting for confounders.
  • Blood lead levels were measured at approximately 12.8 months of age.

Main Results:

  • The geometric mean BLL was 59.3 μg/L, with 82% of children exceeding 35 μg/L.
  • No overall association was found between BLL quartiles and height-for-age Z-score (HAZ), weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ), BMI-for-age Z-score (BMIZ), weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ), growth velocities, wasting, or underweight.
  • Children in the highest BLL quartile showed a significantly increased odds of stunting (OR: 2.43), particularly among girls, and a lower head circumference in boys.

Conclusions:

  • Childhood blood lead exposure is associated with an increased risk of stunting and reduced head circumference in a resource-limited setting.
  • These findings underscore the need for interventions to reduce lead exposure and mitigate its adverse effects on child development.
  • Sex-specific differences in the impact of lead exposure on growth outcomes were observed.

Keywords:
cohort studygrowth outcomesheavy metalslead exposure

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