Contribution of social and developmental factors to lead exposure during the first year of life.

The social and developmental correlates of early lead exposure were explored in an interim analysis of data from an ongoing longitudinal investigation in Cincinnati. Regardless of the apparent net availability of lead in the infant's physical environment, parental behavior was still significantly associated with infant blood lead levels. However, this was only the case after infants in the study reached 6 months of age and beyond when prewalking progression and early walking made parental management all the more critical. Future lead screening and abatement programs should include supports for the caretaker-child relationship.