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Iron deficiency and cognitive impairment in children with low blood lead levels

Sana Maidoumi1, Charif Radouan Ouaziz1, Mariam Ouisselsat1

  • 1Laboratory of Water, Biodiversity and Climate Change, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences - Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Bd: Moulay Abdellah BP, 2390-40001 Marrakech, Morocco.

Toxicology Reports
|December 15, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Iron deficiency (ID) did not impact children's neurocognitive skills in a mining area. However, elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) above 5 µg/dL negatively affected working memory (WM) regardless of iron status.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Neurodevelopment
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Investigating the link between iron deficiency (ID) and neurocognitive function in children.
  • Focusing on children residing in lead-contaminated mining areas.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the association between ID and neurocognitive performance in school children from a mining area (CMA) compared to a control group (CG).

Main Methods:

  • Assessed 90 school children (6-10 years) using cognitive tests (BDT, DST).
  • Measured iron status (serum iron, ferritin, transferrin, CBC) and blood lead levels (BLLs).

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in ID prevalence between CMA (23.3%) and CG (21.7%).
  • CMA group had significantly higher BLLs (3.5 ± 1.21 µg/dL) than CG (2.31 ± 0.95 µg/dL).
  • Low-level lead exposure did not affect visual attention (VA); however, BLLs > 5 µg/dL negatively impacted working memory (WM), irrespective of iron status.

Conclusions:

  • Low-level lead exposure did not impair children's visual attention.
  • Blood lead levels exceeding 5 µg/dL may adversely affect working memory in children, independent of iron status.
Abstract

Keywords:
BDT, bell dam testBLLs, blood lead levelsBMI, body mass indexBlood lead levelCBC, blood countCG, control groupCMA, children in a mining areaChildrenCognitive impairmentDST, digit span testID, Iron deficiencyIS, iron statusIron deficiencySAA-FG, graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometerVA, visual attentionWM, working memory

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