Neurological Effect of Lead Exposure in Children

Authors

  • MS Hassan Medical Officer, National Institute of Neurosciences, Dhaka
  • MKK Patwary Medical Officer, National Institute of Neurosciences, Dhaka
  • MM Rahman Medical Officer, Shahid Zia Medical College, Bogra
  • SF Sonia Bangladesh Institute of Child Health, Dhaka
  • M Kabiruzzaman Medical Officer, National Institute of Neurosciences, Dhaka
  • MA Alim Medical Officer, National Institute of Neurosciences, Dhaka
  • AJM Salahuddin Registrar, National Institute of Neurosciences, Dhaka
  • RI Zahid Medical Officer, National Institute of Neurosciences, Dhaka
  • F Ara Assistant Registrar, National Institute of Neurosciences, Dhaka
  • NM Eusuf Medical Officer, National Institute of Neurosciences, Dhaka
  • S Sultana Resident, Department of Paediatrics, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka
  • A Haque Professor, Department of Neurology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/medtoday.v25i1.15899

Keywords:

IQ, neuropathy, lead exposure, children

Abstract

Lead poisoning is one of the burning issues in Bangladesh. This study assessed the relation of blood lead level with IQ and peripheral nerve function in environmental lead exposed primary school children in Dhaka.

Blood lead level (BLL) was measured in 84 primary school children in an urban industrial area of Dhaka. IQ was measured with Wechsler Intelligence Scales- Revised for children. Electrophysiological evaluation was done in 31 children.

Verbal, Performance and Full scale IQ had a negative correlation with blood lead level (p<0.001). Decrement in Verbal, Performance and Full scale IQ associated with 1 microgram per deciliter increase in blood lead level were 0.99, 0.86 and 0.95 respectively (p<0.001). None had clinical features of neuropathy. Statistical analysis also did not show any significant difference in NCS between children with normal and elevated BLL (p value >0.05).

It was found that IQ of children decreased in a linear trend with increasing blood lead level. This study did not find any clinical or electrophysiological evidence of peripheral nerve dysfunction in the environmental lead exposed children.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/medtoday.v25i1.15899

Medicine Today 2013 Vol.25(1): 1-5

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Published

2013-07-28

How to Cite

Hassan, M., Patwary, M., Rahman, M., Sonia, S., Kabiruzzaman, M., Alim, M., Salahuddin, A., Zahid, R., Ara, F., Eusuf, N., Sultana, S., & Haque, A. (2013). Neurological Effect of Lead Exposure in Children. Medicine Today, 25(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.3329/medtoday.v25i1.15899

Issue

Vol. 25 No. 1 (2013)

Section

Original Articles