Lead exposure and its association with pubertal development in school-age Egyptian children: pilot study.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to determine blood lead levels in a group of Egyptian school-age children and assess its relationship to pubertal development.


METHODS
Forty-one children were recruited from high- and low-pollution areas in Cairo, Egypt. Sexual maturation was evaluated using Tanner score. Measurements of blood lead and serum levels of follicle stimulation hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol in girls and testosterone in boys were performed for included subjects.


RESULTS
A total of 51.2% of children had high blood lead levels (>or=10 microg/dL). Boys with high lead levels had delayed pubertal maturation compared to those with low lead levels. Breast staging of sexual maturation was significantly delayed in girls with high lead levels. FSH and LH were significantly reduced in children of both sexes, and testosterone levels were reduced in boys with high lead.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings consolidate the cumulative medical evidence of the deleterious effect of high lead levels on pubertal development, possibly through the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
Tomoum
Hoda Yahya
HY
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. tomoumh@yahoo.com
Mostafa
Gehan Ahmed
GA
Ismail
Nanees Ahmed
NA
Ahmed
Samah Mohammed
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003906:Developing Countries; D004534:Egypt; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011628:Puberty, Delayed / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014505:Urban Population
D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone