Environmental Co-Exposure to Lead and Manganese and Intellectual Deficit in School-Aged Children

José A. Menezes-Filho, Chrissie F. Carvalho, Juliana L. G. Rodrigues, Cecília F. S. Araújo, Nathália R. Dos Santos, Cássio S. Lima, Matheus J. Bandeira, Breno L. de S. Marques, Ana Laura S. Anjos, Homegnon A. F. Bah, Neander Abreu, Alline Philibert and Donna Mergler
Additional contact information
José A. Menezes-Filho: Laboratory of Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
Chrissie F. Carvalho: Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
Juliana L. G. Rodrigues: Laboratory of Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
Cecília F. S. Araújo: Environmental and Public Health Program, National School of Public Health, Oswald Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, Brazil
Nathália R. Dos Santos: Laboratory of Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
Cássio S. Lima: Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
Matheus J. Bandeira: Laboratory of Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
Breno L. de S. Marques: Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
Ana Laura S. Anjos: Laboratory of Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
Homegnon A. F. Bah: Laboratory of Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
Neander Abreu: Institute of Psychology, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
Alline Philibert: Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire sur la Biologie, la Santé, la Société et l’Environnement (CINBIOSE), Université du Québec a Montreal, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
Donna Mergler: Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire sur la Biologie, la Santé, la Société et l’Environnement (CINBIOSE), Université du Québec a Montreal, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: Studies have demonstrated that, for urban children, dust represents the main exposure to sources of metals like lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn). We aimed to investigate the exposure to these metals and their association with intellectual deficit in children living in an industrial region. This cross-sectional study recruited volunteers from four elementary schools in the town of Simões Filho, Brazil. We evaluated 225 school-aged children (7–12 years) for blood lead (PbB) and manganese hair (MnH) and toenails (MnTn) by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Child and maternal IQs were estimated using the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale for Intelligence (WASI). Median and range PbB were 1.2 (0.3–15.6) μg/dL. MnH and MnTn medians (ranges) were 0.74 (0.16–8.79) μg/g and 0.85 (0.15–13.30) μg/g, respectively. After adjusting for maternal IQ, age and Mn exposure, child IQ drops by 8.6 points for a 10-fold increase in PbB levels. Moreover, an effect modification of Mn co-exposure was observed. In children with low MnTn, association between Pb and child IQ was not significant (β = −6.780, p = 0.172). However, in those with high MnTn, the association was increased by 27.9% (β = −8.70, p = 0.036). Low Pb exposure is associated with intellectual deficit in children, especially in those with high MnTn.

Keywords: lead; manganese; children; intellectual function; environmental contamination (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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