Long-term effect of increased lead absorption on intelligence of children

Abstract

The authors examined the reversibility of cognitive impairment caused by a mild increase in lead absorption among children. The results of our initial study revealed that air and soil outside a lead-recycling plant in Taiwan were seriously contaminated by lead, which was associated with lowered intelligence quotients of 32 children who attended a nearby kindergarten (i.e., kindergarten A). Thirty-five children-who were comparable with respect to age, sex, birth order, sibling number, and parental education level-from another kindergarten (i.e., kindergarten B) located 5 km from the plant were enrolled as the reference group. Following the initial study, kindergarten A school children moved 2 km from the lead-recycling plant. Twenty-eight children in each group were followed successfully 2.5 y later. Blood lead, intelligence quotient, and intelligence quotient-related factors were reassessed. The results showed that the average blood lead level of the exposed pupils dropped 6.9 microg/dl (standard deviation [SD] = 3.9 microg/dl) (p < .001), and the average intelligence quotient increased 11.7 points (SD = 13.2) (p < .01), compared with the results of the initial study. The average blood lead level of the reference group decreased by 1.7 microg/dl (SD = .1.3) (p < .001), whereas the average intelligence quotient increased by 4.2 points (SD = 13.8) (p = .115). There was a significant difference in intelligence quotients between the two groups during the initial study, but the difference subsequently disappeared during the follow up. The authors concluded that intelligence quotient impairment, caused by a mild subclinical elevation of blood lead (i.e., likely no more than 30 microg/dl) for a period of 1-3 y in 3- to 5-y-olds, is at least partially reversible.