Hyunjoo Joo1, Jong Hyuk Choi1, Eunae Burm2, Hyesook Park3, Yun-Chul Hong4, Yangho Kim5, Eun-Hee Ha6, Yeni Kim7, Bung-Nyun Kim8, Mina Ha9. 1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Republic of Korea. 2. Department of Nursing, Moonkyung College, Moonkyung, Republic of Korea. 3. Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 4. Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 5. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Republic of Korea. 6. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 7. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, National Center for Mental Health, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 8. Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 9. Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: minaha@dku.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although the association between lead exposure and children's neurodevelopment has been studied, gender differences remain to be investigated. We examined the effects of lead exposure on the neurobehavioral development of 5-year-old children to identify the vulnerable time window of exposure and potential gender difference. METHOD: A total of 1751 pregnant women and children participated in the prospective birth cohort study, Mothers and Children's Environmental Health study, since 2006. Lead levels were measured in the maternal blood in early and late pregnancies, in cord blood at birth, and in 2-, 3-, and 5-year-old children's blood. The behavior of 575 children aged 5years were assessed using the Korean Child Behavior Checklist. The association between the blood lead level at each time window and behavior was examined using a generalized linear model adjusted for potential confounders and covariates. RESULTS: Lead levels at late pregnancy were significantly associated with increased risk of behavioral problems in males. Lead levels in 2- and 5-year-old children's blood significantly increased behavioral risks in females: for a 1-μg/dL increase in blood lead levels, the score for total behavioral problems increased by 3.00 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56-5.45) during the late pregnancy in males, whereas it increased by 3.82 (95% CI: 1.25-6.39) at 2years and by 5.72 (95% CI: 0.44-10.99) at 5years in females with a stronger effect in attention and sleep problems. CONCLUSION: Effects of lead toxicity on children's neurobehavioral development showed gender differences. Males were more susceptible to prenatal exposure, while females were more susceptible to postnatal exposure with stronger effects in attention and sleep problems.
BACKGROUND: Although the association between lead exposure and children's neurodevelopment has been studied, gender differences remain to be investigated. We examined the effects of lead exposure on the neurobehavioral development of 5-year-old children to identify the vulnerable time window of exposure and potential gender difference. METHOD: A total of 1751 pregnant women and children participated in the prospective birth cohort study, Mothers and Children's Environmental Health study, since 2006. Lead levels were measured in the maternal blood in early and late pregnancies, in cord blood at birth, and in 2-, 3-, and 5-year-old children's blood. The behavior of 575 children aged 5years were assessed using the Korean Child Behavior Checklist. The association between the blood lead level at each time window and behavior was examined using a generalized linear model adjusted for potential confounders and covariates. RESULTS: Lead levels at late pregnancy were significantly associated with increased risk of behavioral problems in males. Lead levels in 2- and 5-year-old children's blood significantly increased behavioral risks in females: for a 1-μg/dL increase in blood lead levels, the score for total behavioral problems increased by 3.00 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56-5.45) during the late pregnancy in males, whereas it increased by 3.82 (95% CI: 1.25-6.39) at 2years and by 5.72 (95% CI: 0.44-10.99) at 5years in females with a stronger effect in attention and sleep problems. CONCLUSION: Effects of lead toxicity on children's neurobehavioral development showed gender differences. Males were more susceptible to prenatal exposure, while females were more susceptible to postnatal exposure with stronger effects in attention and sleep problems.
Authors: Lisa M Gatzke-Kopp; Siri Warkentien; Michael Willoughby; Chris Fowler; David C Folch; Clancy Blair Journal: Health Place Date: 2021-02-02 Impact factor: 4.931
Authors: Rocío Capelo; Diane S Rohlman; Rocío Jara; Tamara García; Jesús Viñas; José A Lorca; Manuel Contreras Llanes; Juan Alguacil Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-04-14 Impact factor: 4.614