Abstract
BackgroundEarly life lead exposure might be a risk factor for neurocognitive impairment in adulthood.ObjectivesWe sought to assess the relationship between early life environmental lead exposure and intellectual function in adulthood. We also attempted to identify which time period blood-lead concentrations are most predictive of adult outcome.MethodsWe recruited adults in the Boston area who had participated as newborns and young children in a prospective cohort study that examined the relationship between lead exposure and childhood intellectual function. IQ was measured using the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI). The association between lead concentrations and IQ scores was examined using linear regression.ResultsForty-three adults participated in neuropsychological testing. Childhood blood-lead concentration (mean of the blood-lead concentrations at ages 4 and 10 years) had the strongest relationship with Full-Scale IQ (β = -1.89 ± 0.70, p = 0.01). Full-scale IQ was also significantly related to blood-lead concentration at age 6 months (β = -1.66 ± 0.75, p = 0.03), 4 years (β = -0.90 ± 0.41, p = 0.03) and 10 years (β = -1.95 ± 0.80, p = 0.02). Adjusting for maternal IQ altered the significance of the regression coefficient.ConclusionsOur study suggests that lead exposure in childhood predicts intellectual functioning in young adulthood. Our results also suggest that school-age lead exposure may represent a period of increased susceptibility. Given the small sample size, however, the potentially confounding effects of maternal IQ cannot be excluded and should be evaluated in a larger study.
Highlights
Life lead exposure might be a risk factor for neurocognitive impairment in adulthood
Our study suggests that lead exposure in childhood predicts intellectual functioning in young adulthood
Blood lead concentration The mean blood lead concentration was lowest at the age of 10 years (3.0 μg/dL), and was maximal at age two years (10.0 μg/dL) (Table 1)
Summary
Life lead exposure might be a risk factor for neurocognitive impairment in adulthood. The weight of evidence supports an association between early life exposure to lead and impaired cognitive function in children [1,2,3]. The Boston prospective study was one of several crosssectional and cohort studies that were initiated in the late 1970 s and early 1980 s to study the relationship between lead and child development. Follow-up of this cohort at age 10 years showed a continued association between a child’s blood-lead concentration at age two years and cognitive function[11]. This finding was influential in experts concluding that children were especially vulnerable to peak blood-lead concentrations, which typically occur at about two years of age
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