title: Lead exposure and neurobehavioral development in later infancy.
abstract: A prospective methodology was used to assess the neurobehavioral effects of fetal and postnatal lead exposure during the first 2 years of life. Lead was measured in whole blood prenatally in mothers and at quarterly intervals in the infant. Prenatal blood lead levels were low (mean = 8.0 micrograms/dL). However, approximately 25% of the study infants had at least one serial blood lead level of 25 micrograms/dL or higher during the second year of life. Multiple regression and structural equation analyses revealed statistically significant relationships between prenatal and neonatal blood lead level and 3- and 6-month Bayley Mental and/or Psychomotor Development Index. However, by 2 years of age, no statistically significant effects of prenatal or postnatal lead exposure on neurobehavioral development could be detected. Data consistent with the hypothesis that a postnatal neurobehavioral growth catch-up occurred in infants exposed fetally to higher levels of lead are presented.
authors.affiliation: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Environmental Health, OH 45267-0056.
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Succop
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Bornschein
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Krafft
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Buncher
mesh_terms: D002652:Child Behavior; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D007854:Lead