Lifetime low-level exposure to environmental lead and children's emotional and behavioral development at ages 11-13 years: The Port Pirie cohort study

Burns, JM; Baghurst, PA; Sawyer, MG; Mcmichael, AJ; Tong, SL

HERO ID

12467

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

1999

Language

English

PMID

10206624

HERO ID 12467
In Press No
Year 1999
Title Lifetime low-level exposure to environmental lead and children's emotional and behavioral development at ages 11-13 years: The Port Pirie cohort study
Authors Burns, JM; Baghurst, PA; Sawyer, MG; Mcmichael, AJ; Tong, SL
Journal American Journal of Epidemiology
Volume 149
Issue 8
Page Numbers 740-749
Abstract The Port Pirie Cohort Study is the first study to monitor prospectively the association between lifetime blood lead exposure and the prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems experienced by children. Lead exposure data along with ratings on the Child Behavior Checklist were obtained for 322 11--13-year-old children from the lead smelting community of Port Pirie, Australia. Mean total behavior problem score (95% confidence interval (CI)) for boys whose lifetime average blood lead concentration was above 15 ug/dl was 28.7 (24.6--32.8) compared with 21.1 (17.5--24.8) in boys with lower exposure levels. The corresponding mean scores (95% CI) for girls were 29.7 (25.3--34.2) and 18.0 (14.7--21.3). After controlling for a number of confounding variables, including the quality of the child's HOME environment (assessed by Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment), maternal psychopathology, and the child's IQ, regression modeling predicted that for a hypothetical increase in lifetime blood lead exposure from 10 to 30 ug/dl, the externalizing behavior problem score would increase by 3.5 in boys (95% CI 1.6--5.4), and by 1.8 (95% CI -0.1 to 11.1) in girls. Internalizing behavior problem scores were predicted to rise by 2.1 (95% CI 0.0--4.2) in girls but by only 0.8 (95% CI -0.9 to 2.4) in boys.
Doi 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009883
Pmid 10206624
Wosid WOS:000079671500008
Url https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0033560802&doi=10.1093%2foxfordjournals.aje.a009883&partnerID=40&md5=510fff21874401d315936ff6067cc9df
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword affective symptoms; child; child behavior; lead; prospective studies
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