title: Behavioral and neurological effects of symptomatic and asymptomatic lead exposure in children.
abstract: Forty-five children 4 to 8 yr of age who had been exposed to environmental lead were studied, consisting of an acute encephalopathy group and groups with short- and long-term exposure but without encephalopathy. Control children were matched for age, sex, race, and socioeconomic status with lead-exposed subjects, but lived in post-1945 housing and had negative neurological history and blood tests. The encephalopathy group had a significantly higher incidence of neurological deficits, retarded mental development, and higher hyperactivity than control subjects. Children with short- and long-term exposure short of encephalopathy were somewhat inferior to matched control subjects, but not to a statistically significant extent.
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011581:Psychological Tests; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007854:Lead