[Application of Conners Rating Scales in the study of lead exposure and behavioral effects in children].
OBJECTIVE
To seek specific indices reflecting individual level of long-term exposure to lead and its behavioral effects.


METHODS
Ninety-eight children of grades one to four in primary schools in the areas polluted by lead were chosen as exposed group and 100 children from areas without lead pollution as control group. Levels of blood lead, hair lead and blood zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) in both groups were determined to evaluate their exposure to lead. Their urinary homovanillic acid (HVA) and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) were determined by a method combined high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electric chemistry (EC) technique. Behavioral effects in children exposed to lead were assessed by Conners' Rating Scales for Teachers and Parents.


RESULTS
Levels of blood lead, hair lead and blood ZPP in the exposed group increased to 2.39-2.42 mumol/L, 81.81-83.77 mumol/kg and 0.55-0.65 mumol/L in average, respectively, and levels of HVA and VMA decreased to 0.53 mmol/mol creatinine and 0.68 mmol/mol creatinine in average, respectively, both with a very significant difference as compared with those in the control group. There were significant differences in the scores of behavioral factors between the two groups. Factors I, IV and VI in Conners' Parents' Rating Scales correlated positively with levels of hair lead, while factors I, II, IV and VI correlated positively with blood ZPP levels in girls.


CONCLUSIONS
Conners' Rating Scales for Teachers and Parents can be used to assess their behavioral effects in children, and levels of hair lead and blood lead can be used as good markers to reflect level of exposure to lead in children.
He
Y
Y
Department of Occupational Medicine, Public Health School, Sun Yet-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510089, China.
Yang
X
X
Xu
F
F
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
D007854:Lead