title: Relationships between blood lead concentrations, intelligence, and academic achievement of Saudi Arabian schoolgirls.
abstract: This cross-sectional study examined the association between blood lead levels and neuropsychological and behavioural problems of 533 schoolgirls (6-12 years of age) who attended public schools in Riyadh, Capital of Saudi Arabia. Regression models were used to determine the best predictors of Beery VMI Saudi-based standard scores, TONI Saudi-based scores and rank percentile. The mean blood lead level was 8.11 +/- 3.50 micrograms/dl in the range of 2.3 to 27.36 micrograms/dl. Significant negative associations were noted between blood lead levels and Beery VMI Saudi-based standard scores as well as rank percentile. Lead had no effect on TONI Saudi-based standard scores. Beery VMI Saudi-based standard scores, TONI Saudi-based standard scores and rank percentiles were inversely related to pupils with blood lead levels > 9 micrograms/dl. These findings attest an association between neuropsychological and behavioural impairment and lead exposure at blood lead levels in the range of 9.02 to 27.36 micrograms/dl. The results of this study should be seriously considered by public health authorities to give more attention to this pediatric health problem.
authors.affiliation: Biological & Medical Research Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia. iman@kfshrc.edu.sa
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: al-Saleh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nester
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: DeVol
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shinwari
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Munchari
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: al-Shahria
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood*; D007858:Learning; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011634:Public Health; D012529:Saudi Arabia
chemical_list: D007854:Lead