Association of Low Lead Levels with Behavioral Problems and Executive Function Deficits in Schoolers from Montevideo, Uruguay

Gabriel Barg, Mónica Daleiro, Elena I. Queirolo, Julia Ravenscroft, Nelly Mañay, Fabiana Peregalli and Katarzyna Kordas
Additional contact information
Gabriel Barg: Department of Neurocognition, Catholic University of Uruguay, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay
Mónica Daleiro: Department of Neurocognition, Catholic University of Uruguay, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay
Elena I. Queirolo: Department of Neurocognition, Catholic University of Uruguay, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay
Julia Ravenscroft: School of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
Nelly Mañay: Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Republic of Uruguay, 11800 Montevideo, Uruguay
Fabiana Peregalli: Department of Neurocognition, Catholic University of Uruguay, 11600 Montevideo, Uruguay
Katarzyna Kordas: School of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: The negative effect of lead exposure on children’s intelligence is well-documented. Less is known about the impact of lead on the use of executive functions to self-regulate behavior. We measured blood lead level (BLL) in a sample of first grade children from Montevideo, Uruguay (n = 206, age 6.7 ± 0.5 years, 59.7% boys). Behavior was assessed with teacher versions of the Conners Rating Scale (CRS) and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functions (BRIEF). Mean BLL was 4.2 ± 2.1 μg/dL; 10% had mild-to-severe ratings of Attentional Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (T score > 65). In negative binomial regression, BLL was not associated with CRS sub-scales, but was associated with a poorer ability to inhibit inappropriate behaviors, prevalence ratio (PR) [95% CI]: 1.01 [1.00, 1.03] as measured by the BRIEF. In covariate-adjusted models, the association with BLL was attenuated. When stratified by sex, the covariate-adjusted association between BLL, hyperactivity, poorer inhitibion, emotional control, and behavioral regulation was marginally significant for girls but not boys. In summary, among children with low lead-exposure, we found some, but nonetheless modest, evidence of a relationship between higher BLL and child behavior. If confirmed by larger studies and other objective measures of behavior, such links could have implications for learning and social interaction, particularly among girls.

Keywords: lead exposure; child’s behavior; ADHD; executive functions (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 (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/12/2735/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/12/2735/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:12:p:2735-:d:187743

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().