Umbilical cord blood lead levels and neonatal behaviour.
Negative correlations have been found between cord blood lead levels and scores on the Brazelton Neonatal Behaviour Assessment in 30 otherwise healthy newborns. Items in the Habituation, Orientation and Regulation of state clusters, particularly those items related to self-regulatory, self-quieting and auditory habituation, showed lower scores (worse performance) in those newborns with higher cord blood lead levels. These disturbances are potentially important since this type of behavior may interfere with the normal process of adaptation to their environment, leading to a less than optimal bonding between newborns and their carers.
Department de Psicologia de la Salut, Facultat de Psicologia, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
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de Cáceres
Subdivisió de Pediatria, Hospital Clinic, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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Botet
Department de Psicologia de la Salut, Facultat de Psicologia, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
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Costas
Centre d'Assistència Primaria "Manso", Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain.
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Rosales
Behavior; Child behavior; Environmental health; Infant newborn; Infant newborn diseases; Lead; Lead poisoning; Umbilical cord