Study of Blood lead level and its impact on intelligence of children below 12 years of age
Keywords:
lead level, Pica, impact on intelligence
Abstract
Introduction: The Present study is an attempt to assess the level of lead in blood in general population and it’s Impact on intelligence.
Methods: A random sample of 70 children between the ages of 1-12 year’s residing in and around Gwalior region, attending Pediatrics OPD of GRMC Gwalior, constituted the material for study. A detail history and examination was done to asses various factor affecting lead status of child. Blood lead level was assessed at DRDE Gwalior and Intelligence was also assessed simultaneously.
Results: On data analysis more than 50% off study group was found to have blood lead level above safe level (10 mcg/dl). On analysis of effect of raised lead level on intelligence, it was found that raised blood lead level was associated with decrease in IQ. At various lead levels IQ status were as following, at lead level of 0 - 5 mcg/dl; IQ 96.64%, 5 - 10 mcg/dl; IQ 94.33%, 10 - 15 mcg/dl; IQ 89.05%, 15-20 mcg/dl; IQ 79.75% and at lead level more than 20 mcg/dl; IQ 73.8%. This decrease in intelligence level with increase in blood lead level was statically significant.
Conclusion: A healthy appearing child may have silent lead poisoning affecting his intelligence without clinically apparent symptoms and signs until much later in life. High degree of suspicion, in a child with history of pica and poor nutrition status should be there for early diagnosis.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
References
1. Lead poisoning prevention in India. Available online at: www.tgfworld.org/lead.htm.
2. Kalra V, Chitralekha KT, Dua T, Pandey RM, Gupta Y. Blood lead levels and risk factors for lead toxicity in children from schools and an urban slum in Delhi. J Trop Pediatr. 2003 Apr;49(2):121-3. [PubMed]
3. Kumar RK, Kesaree N. Blood lead levels in urban and rural Indian children. Indian Pediatr. 1999 Mar;36(3):303-6. [PubMed]
4. Khan AH, Khan A, Ghari F, Khurshid M. Low lead level exposure and blood lead level in children: a cross sectional survey. Indian J Pediatr. 1999; 66(1): 27-35.
5. Deveaux P, Kibel MA, Dempster WS, Pocock F, Formenti K. Blood lead level in preschool children in cape town. Sci. Total Enviro 1991; 103 (2-3):209-14.
6. Gogte ST, Basu N, Sinclair S, Ghai OP, Bhide NK. Blood lead levels of children with pica and surma use. Indian J Pediatr. 1991 Jul-Aug;58(4):513-9. [PubMed]
7. Sathaye AU, Javadekar BB. A presumptive case of lead poisoning in a brass-worker's child. J Indian Med Assoc. 2000 Aug;98(8):457-8. [PubMed]
8. Bhatia S, Saxena SK, Khatri RL, Jain AK. Lead poisoning due to environmental pollution. Indian Pediatr. 1992 Mar;29(3):377-80. [PubMed]
9. Singhi S, Ravishanker R, Singhi P, Nath R. Low plasma zinc and iron in pica. Indian J Pediatr. 2003 Feb;70(2):139-43. [PubMed]
10. Glickman LT, Chaudry IU, Costantino J, Clack FB, Cypess RH, Winslow L. Pica patterns, toxocariasis, and elevated blood lead in children. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1981 Jan;30(1):77-80. [PubMed]
11. Laraque D, McCormick M, Norman M, Taylor A, Weller SC, Karp J. Blood lead, calcium status, and behavior in preschool children. Am J Dis Child. 1990 Feb;144(2):186-9. [PubMed]
12. Am J Dis Child. 1990 Feb;144(2):186-9. Relationship between blood lead and dietary iron intake in preschool children. A cross-sectional study. Ann Epidemiol. 1996 Jan;6(1):30-3.
13. Blake K C H, Barbezat G G, Mann M. Effect of dietary constituents on G.I. absorption of pb in Man. Environ. Res. 1983; 30: 182-187.Available online at: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/lead/ products/adultpb.pdf.
14. Rosen J F, Chesney RW, Hamstra A. Reduction of 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin-D in children with increased lead absorption. N Engl J Med. 1980 15;302(20):1128-31. [PubMed]
15. Canfield RL, Kreher DA, Cornwell C, Henderson CR Jr. Low-level lead exposure, executive functioning, and learning in early childhood. Child Neuropsychol. 2003 Mar;9(1):35-53. [PubMed]
16. Dietrich KN, Coscia JM , Ris MD, Succop PA. Cognitive Development of lead exposed from ages 6 to 15 years and application of growth curve analysis. Neuropsychol. Dev. Cogn. Sect. C Child Neuropsychol. 2003; 9(1):10-21.
17. Lü J, Zhang L, Dai Y, Liu G. [Effects of low-level lead exposure on neurobehaviour development in 1-3 year-old children and the intervention guideline]. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 2002 Feb;31(1):4-6. [PubMed]
18. Dhawan A, Saxena S. Effect of early exposure to lead on later childhood intellectual development. Natl Med J India. 1996 Nov-Dec;9(6):275-6. [PubMed]
19. de la Burdé B, Choate ML. Early asymptomatic lead exposure and development at school age. J Pediatr. 1975 Oct;87(4):638-42. [PubMed]
20. De la Burdé B, Choate MS Jr. Does asymptomatic lead exposure in children have latent sequelae? J Pediatr. 1972 Dec;81(6):1088-91. [PubMed]
21. Hansen ON, Trillingsgaard A, Beese I, Lyngbye T, Grandjean P. A neuropsychological study of children with elevated dentine lead level: assessment of the effect of lead in different socio-economic groups. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 1989 May-Jun;11(3):205-13.
22. Hansen O, Angen T, Besse I, Troles L, Phillippe G. learning disabilities in children : significance of low lead exposure and confounding factors. Acta Paediatr Scand. 1990; 79(3):352-60. 23. al-Saleh IA. The biochemical and clinical consequences of lead poisoning. Med Res Rev. 1994 Jul;14(4):415-86.
24. Wang CL, Chuang HY, Ho CK, Yang CY, Tsai JL, Wu TS, Wu TN. Relationship between blood lead concentrations and learning achievement among primary school children in Taiwan. Environ Res. 2002 May;89(1):12-8.
25. Wasserman GA, Factor-Litvak P, Liu X, Todd AC, Kline JK, Slavkovich V, Popovac D, Graziano JH. The relationship between blood lead, bone lead and child intelligence. Child Neuropsychol. 2003 Mar;9(1):22-34. [PubMed]
26. Soong WT, Chao KY, Jang CS, Wang JD. Long-term effect of increased lead absorption on intelligence of children. Arch Environ Health. 1999 Jul-Aug;54(4):297-301. [PubMed]
27. Chiodo LM, Jacobson SW, Jacobson JL. Neurodevelopmental effects of postnatal lead exposure at very low levels. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2004 May-Jun;26(3):359-71. [PubMed]
28. Chen A, Cai B, Dietrich KN, Radcliffe J, Rogan WJ. Lead exposure, IQ, and behavior in urban 5- to 7-year-olds: does lead affect behavior only by lowering IQ? Pediatrics. 2007 Mar;119(3):e650-8. [PubMed]
29. Abdel Rasoul GM, Al-Batanony MA, Mahrous OA, Abo-Salem ME, Gabr HM. Environmental lead exposure among primary school children in Shebin El-Kom District, Menoufiya Governorate, Egypt. Int J Occup Environ Med. 2012 Oct;3(4):186-94.
30. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Take-home lead exposure among children with relatives employed at a battery recycling facility - Puerto Rico, 2011. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2012 Nov 30;61(47):967-70.
2. Kalra V, Chitralekha KT, Dua T, Pandey RM, Gupta Y. Blood lead levels and risk factors for lead toxicity in children from schools and an urban slum in Delhi. J Trop Pediatr. 2003 Apr;49(2):121-3. [PubMed]
3. Kumar RK, Kesaree N. Blood lead levels in urban and rural Indian children. Indian Pediatr. 1999 Mar;36(3):303-6. [PubMed]
4. Khan AH, Khan A, Ghari F, Khurshid M. Low lead level exposure and blood lead level in children: a cross sectional survey. Indian J Pediatr. 1999; 66(1): 27-35.
5. Deveaux P, Kibel MA, Dempster WS, Pocock F, Formenti K. Blood lead level in preschool children in cape town. Sci. Total Enviro 1991; 103 (2-3):209-14.
6. Gogte ST, Basu N, Sinclair S, Ghai OP, Bhide NK. Blood lead levels of children with pica and surma use. Indian J Pediatr. 1991 Jul-Aug;58(4):513-9. [PubMed]
7. Sathaye AU, Javadekar BB. A presumptive case of lead poisoning in a brass-worker's child. J Indian Med Assoc. 2000 Aug;98(8):457-8. [PubMed]
8. Bhatia S, Saxena SK, Khatri RL, Jain AK. Lead poisoning due to environmental pollution. Indian Pediatr. 1992 Mar;29(3):377-80. [PubMed]
9. Singhi S, Ravishanker R, Singhi P, Nath R. Low plasma zinc and iron in pica. Indian J Pediatr. 2003 Feb;70(2):139-43. [PubMed]
10. Glickman LT, Chaudry IU, Costantino J, Clack FB, Cypess RH, Winslow L. Pica patterns, toxocariasis, and elevated blood lead in children. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1981 Jan;30(1):77-80. [PubMed]
11. Laraque D, McCormick M, Norman M, Taylor A, Weller SC, Karp J. Blood lead, calcium status, and behavior in preschool children. Am J Dis Child. 1990 Feb;144(2):186-9. [PubMed]
12. Am J Dis Child. 1990 Feb;144(2):186-9. Relationship between blood lead and dietary iron intake in preschool children. A cross-sectional study. Ann Epidemiol. 1996 Jan;6(1):30-3.
13. Blake K C H, Barbezat G G, Mann M. Effect of dietary constituents on G.I. absorption of pb in Man. Environ. Res. 1983; 30: 182-187.Available online at: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/lead/ products/adultpb.pdf.
14. Rosen J F, Chesney RW, Hamstra A. Reduction of 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin-D in children with increased lead absorption. N Engl J Med. 1980 15;302(20):1128-31. [PubMed]
15. Canfield RL, Kreher DA, Cornwell C, Henderson CR Jr. Low-level lead exposure, executive functioning, and learning in early childhood. Child Neuropsychol. 2003 Mar;9(1):35-53. [PubMed]
16. Dietrich KN, Coscia JM , Ris MD, Succop PA. Cognitive Development of lead exposed from ages 6 to 15 years and application of growth curve analysis. Neuropsychol. Dev. Cogn. Sect. C Child Neuropsychol. 2003; 9(1):10-21.
17. Lü J, Zhang L, Dai Y, Liu G. [Effects of low-level lead exposure on neurobehaviour development in 1-3 year-old children and the intervention guideline]. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 2002 Feb;31(1):4-6. [PubMed]
18. Dhawan A, Saxena S. Effect of early exposure to lead on later childhood intellectual development. Natl Med J India. 1996 Nov-Dec;9(6):275-6. [PubMed]
19. de la Burdé B, Choate ML. Early asymptomatic lead exposure and development at school age. J Pediatr. 1975 Oct;87(4):638-42. [PubMed]
20. De la Burdé B, Choate MS Jr. Does asymptomatic lead exposure in children have latent sequelae? J Pediatr. 1972 Dec;81(6):1088-91. [PubMed]
21. Hansen ON, Trillingsgaard A, Beese I, Lyngbye T, Grandjean P. A neuropsychological study of children with elevated dentine lead level: assessment of the effect of lead in different socio-economic groups. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 1989 May-Jun;11(3):205-13.
22. Hansen O, Angen T, Besse I, Troles L, Phillippe G. learning disabilities in children : significance of low lead exposure and confounding factors. Acta Paediatr Scand. 1990; 79(3):352-60. 23. al-Saleh IA. The biochemical and clinical consequences of lead poisoning. Med Res Rev. 1994 Jul;14(4):415-86.
24. Wang CL, Chuang HY, Ho CK, Yang CY, Tsai JL, Wu TS, Wu TN. Relationship between blood lead concentrations and learning achievement among primary school children in Taiwan. Environ Res. 2002 May;89(1):12-8.
25. Wasserman GA, Factor-Litvak P, Liu X, Todd AC, Kline JK, Slavkovich V, Popovac D, Graziano JH. The relationship between blood lead, bone lead and child intelligence. Child Neuropsychol. 2003 Mar;9(1):22-34. [PubMed]
26. Soong WT, Chao KY, Jang CS, Wang JD. Long-term effect of increased lead absorption on intelligence of children. Arch Environ Health. 1999 Jul-Aug;54(4):297-301. [PubMed]
27. Chiodo LM, Jacobson SW, Jacobson JL. Neurodevelopmental effects of postnatal lead exposure at very low levels. Neurotoxicol Teratol. 2004 May-Jun;26(3):359-71. [PubMed]
28. Chen A, Cai B, Dietrich KN, Radcliffe J, Rogan WJ. Lead exposure, IQ, and behavior in urban 5- to 7-year-olds: does lead affect behavior only by lowering IQ? Pediatrics. 2007 Mar;119(3):e650-8. [PubMed]
29. Abdel Rasoul GM, Al-Batanony MA, Mahrous OA, Abo-Salem ME, Gabr HM. Environmental lead exposure among primary school children in Shebin El-Kom District, Menoufiya Governorate, Egypt. Int J Occup Environ Med. 2012 Oct;3(4):186-94.
30. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Take-home lead exposure among children with relatives employed at a battery recycling facility - Puerto Rico, 2011. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2012 Nov 30;61(47):967-70.
CITATION
DOI: 10.17511/ijmrr.2013.i01.03
Published: 2013-03-31
How to Cite
1.
Verma J, Gaur G, Ahirwal K, Flora S. Study of Blood lead level and its impact on intelligence of children below 12 years of age. Int J Med Res Rev [Internet]. 2013Mar.31 [cited 2024Apr.26];1(1):12-9. Available from: https://ijmrr.medresearch.in/index.php/ijmrr/article/view/3
Issue
Section
Original Article
OAI - Open Archives Initiative
