"Loag Term Lead Exposure, Effectsion Intellectual Functions of Pre-School Children"

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare Blood Lead Level (BLL), its inhibitory effect on specific enzymes in the heme synthetic pathway and its toxic effect on the intellectual functions in two groups of preschool children. One group (120 children) was living in an industrial area, the other group (40 children) were living in non­ industrial area. The children of the two groups were matched as regards their age, sex, socioeconomic status and anthropometric measurements. Estimation of BLL, ALAD activity, FEP level, Hb concentration and Hct percent was done. Also, assessment of children's IQ was performed by applying WPPSI. The study revealed that: children from the industrial area were lead intoxicated (mean BLL was 17.9 ± 6.9 J.lg/dl) more than those from the non-industrial area (mean BLL was 8.4 ± 1.9 J.lg/dl). There was highly significant negative correlation between BLL and the activity of the enzyme ALAD in both areas. There was highly significant positive correlation between BLL and FEP in the industrial area only. There was highly significant negative correlation between BLL and IQ in the industrial area. On multiple regression analysis, BLL was the strongest confounding variable affecting IQ in the industrial area, while social status was the confounding variable affecting IQ in the non-industrial area.