Exposure to heavy metals and neuropsychological performance in children with and without attention deficit
Sharanpreet Kaur1,2, Josefa Canals-Sans3,4,5,6, Paula Morales-Hidalgo1,2
1Nutrition and Mental Health Research Group (NUTRISAM), Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Tarragona, Spain.
Insights
Heavy metal exposure, including copper, lead, and mercury, negatively impacts children's neuropsychological development and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Reducing environmental heavy metal exposure is crucial for promoting healthy cognitive function in children.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Heavy metal exposure is a significant environmental concern impacting child development.
- Previous research suggests a link between heavy metal exposure and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
- Understanding the specific neuropsychological effects of various heavy metals in children with and without ADHD is critical.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between exposure to specific heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, As, Hg) and neuropsychological functions in children.
- To compare these associations in children with and without ADHD.
- To inform public health strategies for mitigating heavy metal exposure in children.
Main Methods:
- Urine samples analyzed for heavy metal concentrations (Pb, Cd, Cu, As, Hg) from 205 children (aged 6-16).
- Neuropsychological assessments performed using WISC-IV/V and CPT-2/3.
- Multiple linear regression analyses used to determine associations between heavy metals and cognitive outcomes.
Main Results:
- Copper (Cu) exposure negatively correlated with processing speed, especially in children with ADHD.
- Lead (Pb) exposure was linked to slower processing speed and increased commission errors in ADHD children.
- Mercury (Hg) exposure was associated with inattentiveness indicators and slower reaction times in both overall and ADHD samples.
Conclusions:
- Copper, lead, and mercury exposure adversely affect children's neuropsychological performance, particularly processing speed and attention.
- These negative impacts are more pronounced in children diagnosed with ADHD.
- Public health interventions are needed to reduce children's environmental exposure to heavy metals for optimal neurodevelopment.
Abstract:
Heavy metal exposure can negatively impact the neuropsychological development of children and has been linked to ADHD. We investigated the association between heavy metal exposure and neuropsychological functions in children with and without ADHD. Urine samples were collected from 205 children aged 6-16 years (66 without ADHD, 139 with ADHD). Neuropsychological assessments were conducted using WISC-IV/V and CPT-2/3. Associations between Pb, Cd, Cu, As, Hg and neuropsychological outcomes were analysed using multiple linear regressions. In the overall sample, Cu was negatively associated with processing speed (β=-6.75, 95% CI:-13.42-(-0.08)), with this effect being more pronounced in ADHD children (β=-11.54 and - 12.52, 95% CI:-21.53-(-3.51)). In ADHD children, Pb (β=-11.23, 95% CI:-21.24-(-1.23)) was negatively associated with processing speed. Hg exposure was linked to CPT indicators of inattentiveness, both in overall and ADHD samples (higher detectability, commission error, omission error and slower reaction times scores). In ADHD children, Pb exposure was associated with increased commission errors (β = 5.41, 95% CI:0.89-9.39) and Cu with omission errors (β = 8.44, 95% CI:-0.02-16.89) and faster reaction time (β = 7.43, 95% CI:1.21-13.65). Our findings highlight the potentially harmful effects of Cu, Pb, and Hg on neuropsychological performance in children, with these associations being particularly pronounced among ADHD children. The findings call for public health strategies aimed at reducing environmental exposure to heavy metals in children to promote optimal neuropsychological development.
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