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The relationship of hyperactivity to moderately elevated lead levels
Insights
Moderately elevated lead levels may be toxic for children with hyperactivity. Lead chelation treatment significantly improved behavior, suggesting a toxic link between lead exposure and hyperactivity in children.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Neurology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Debate continues regarding the neurotoxicity of moderately elevated lead levels in children with central nervous system (CNS) dysfunctions.
- Assessing lead toxicity often involves observing symptom improvement after lead removal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential toxicity of moderately elevated lead levels in children diagnosed with hyperactivity.
- To evaluate the efficacy of lead chelation therapy in ameliorating hyperactivity symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, randomized treatment regimen was employed.
- Children with defined hyperactivity and moderately elevated lead levels received a lead chelating agent.
- Behavioral improvements were assessed by parents, teachers, and physicians.
Main Results:
- Statistically significant behavioral improvements were observed in children treated with the lead chelating agent.
- Improvements were consistently reported across all three evaluator groups (parents, teachers, physicians).
Conclusions:
- The findings support the hypothesis that moderately elevated lead levels are toxic in children with hyperactivity.
- Lead chelation therapy demonstrated efficacy in improving behavioral symptoms associated with lead exposure.
Abstract:
Controversy exists with respect to whether moderately elevated lead levels are toxic in certain children with various central nervous system dysfunctions. One way of addressing this controversy is to remove the lead; if the condition is ameliorated a presumption of toxicity becomes reasonable. Such a strategy is reported herein. Children with an operationally defined central nervous system dysfunction (hyperactivity) and moderately elevated lead levels were treated with a lead chelating agent in a random allocation double blind treatment regimen. The finding of statistically significant and obvious behavioral improvement reported by three separate evaluators (i.e., parent, teacher, and treating physician) of the child suggests that the presumption of a toxic relationship between moderately elevated lead levels and hyperactivity is supported.