title: Prenatal exposure to lead, delta-aminolevulinic acid, and schizophrenia: further evidence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A previously conducted study of prenatal lead exposure and schizophrenia using delta-aminolevulinic acid, a biologic marker of Pb exposure, in archived maternal serum samples collected from subjects enrolled in the Childhood Health and Development Study (1959-1966) based in Oakland, California, suggested a possible association between prenatal Pb exposure and the development of schizophrenia in later life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study we extend these findings using samples collected from the New England cohort of the National Collaborative Perinatal Project (1959-1966). Using similar methods, in this study we found results that suggest a comparable association in this cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  We pooled matched sets of cases and controls from both the California and New England sites using a multilevel random-intercept logistic regression model, accounting for matching and site structure as well as adjusting for maternal age at delivery and maternal education.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The estimated odds ratio for schizophrenia associated with exposure corresponding to 15 microg/dL of blood Pb was 1.92 (95% confidence interval, 1.05-3.87; p = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although several limitations constrain generalizability, these results are consistent with previous findings and provide further evidence for the role of early environmental exposures in the development of adult-onset psychiatric disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA. mgo4@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Mark G A
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Opler
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Buka
authors.forename: Justina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Groeger
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: McKeague
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Factor-Litvak
authors.forename: Michaeline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bresnahan
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Graziano
authors.forename: Jill M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Larry J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Seidman
authors.forename: Alan S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Ezra S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Susser
mesh_terms: D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007854:Lead; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid