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Updated: May 20, 2026
09:36
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Association Between Lead Exposure and Anthropometric Indicators in School-aged Children: A Longitudinal Study
Xiangju Wu1, Yang Zhou1, Linhong Li1
1Environmental and Population Health Research Center, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Biological Trace Element Research
|May 19, 2026
Summary
Childhood lead exposure negatively impacts growth. Higher urinary lead levels in school-aged children correlate with lower body weight, BMI, and body fat percentage, highlighting the need for early lead reduction.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Toxicology
Background:
- Lead exposure is a significant public health concern, particularly for children.
- Anthropometric indicators are crucial for assessing child growth and development.
- Understanding the relationship between environmental toxins and child health is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between lead exposure and anthropometric indicators in school-aged children.
- To evaluate the impact of urinary lead concentrations on body weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and body fat percentage.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 699 school-aged children in Chongqing, Southwest China, was studied.
- Urinary lead levels were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
- Linear mixed-effects models were used to analyze the longitudinal data.
Main Results:
- Urinary lead levels showed a negative association with body weight, BMI, WC, HC, WtHR, and BF% in children.
- Longitudinal analysis revealed that higher urinary lead levels were linked to an accelerated increase in body fat percentage over time.
Conclusions:
- Lead exposure in school-aged children is negatively associated with key anthropometric indicators.
- Minimizing lead exposure in children is crucial for promoting healthy growth and development.
- Findings emphasize the importance of early environmental interventions to mitigate lead's adverse health effects.
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