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Sex-Dependent Impact of Low-Level Lead Exposure during Prenatal Period on Child Psychomotor Functions

Author

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  • Kinga Polanska

    (Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 91-348 Lodz, Poland)

  • Wojciech Hanke

    (Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 91-348 Lodz, Poland)

  • Natalia Pawlas

    (Chair and Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, School of Medicine with Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, 41 808 Zabrze, Poland)

  • Ewelina Wesolowska

    (Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 91-348 Lodz, Poland)

  • Agnieszka Jankowska

    (Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 91-348 Lodz, Poland)

  • Marta Jagodic

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia)

  • Darja Mazej

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia)

  • Jolanta Dominowska

    (Department of Teaching Midwifery, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, Poland)

  • Mariusz Grzesiak

    (Obstetrics, Perinatology and Gynecology Department, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland)

  • Fiorino Mirabella

    (Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, National Institute of Health, I-00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Flavia Chiarotti

    (Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, National Institute of Health, I-00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Gemma Calamandrei

    (Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, National Institute of Health, I-00161 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

The impact of exposure to lead on child neurodevelopment has been well established. However, sex differences in vulnerability are still not fully explained. We aimed at evaluating the effect of a low-level lead exposure, as measured between 20 to 24 weeks of pregnancy and in cord blood, on developmental scores up to 24 months of age in 402 children from the Polish Mother and Child Cohort (REPRO_PL). Additionally, sex-dependent susceptibility to lead at this very early stage of psychomotor development was assessed. The blood lead levels were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In order to estimate the children’s neurodevelopment, the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development was applied. The geometric mean (GM) for blood lead level during 20–24 weeks of pregnancy was 0.99 ± 0.15 µg/dL and, in the cord blood, it was 0.96 ± 0.16 µg/dL. There was no statistically significant impact of lead exposure during prenatal period on the girls’ psychomotor abilities. Among the boys, we observed lower scores for cognitive functions, along with increasing cord blood lead levels (β = −2.07; p = 0.04), whereas the results for the language and motor abilities were not statistically significant ( p > 0.05). Our findings show that fetal exposure to very low lead levels might affect early cognitive domain, with boys being more susceptible than girls. Education on health, higher public awareness, as well as intervention programs, along with relevant regulations, are still needed to reduce risks for the vulnerable population subgroups.

Suggested Citation

  • Kinga Polanska & Wojciech Hanke & Natalia Pawlas & Ewelina Wesolowska & Agnieszka Jankowska & Marta Jagodic & Darja Mazej & Jolanta Dominowska & Mariusz Grzesiak & Fiorino Mirabella & Flavia Chiarotti, 2018. "Sex-Dependent Impact of Low-Level Lead Exposure during Prenatal Period on Child Psychomotor Functions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-11, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:10:p:2263-:d:175924
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kinga Polanska & Anna Krol & Dorota Merecz-Kot & Danuta Ligocka & Karolina Mikolajewska & Fiorino Mirabella & Flavia Chiarotti & Gemma Calamandrei & Wojciech Hanke, 2017. "Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure during Pregnancy and Child Neurodevelopment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-12, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Magdalena Janc & Agnieszka Jankowska & Monika Weteska & Agnieszka Brzozowska & Wojciech Hanke & Joanna Jurewicz & Mercè Garí & Kinga Polańska & Joanna Jerzyńska, 2022. "REPRO_PL-Polish Mother and Child Cohort—Exposure, Health Status, and Neurobehavioral Assessments in Adolescents—Design and Cohort Update," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-16, October.
    2. Halina B. Röllin & Kalavati Channa & Bukola Olutola & Claudina Nogueira & Jon Ø. Odland, 2020. "In Utero Exposure to Aluminium and Other Neurotoxic Elements in Urban Coastal South African Women at Delivery: An Emerging Concern," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-17, March.
    3. Monika A. Zielinska & Jadwiga Hamulka & Iwona Grabowicz-Chądrzyńska & Joanna Bryś & Aleksandra Wesolowska, 2019. "Association between Breastmilk LC PUFA, Carotenoids and Psychomotor Development of Exclusively Breastfed Infants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-18, March.
    4. Dylan B. Jackson & Alexander Testa, 2021. "Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Early Language Difficulties among U.S. Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-15, June.
    5. Aleksandra Fucic & Mirta Starcevic & Nada Sindicic Dessardo & Drago Batinic & Sasa Kralik & Jure Krasic & Nino Sincic & Damir Loncarevic & Vedrana Guszak, 2020. "The Impact of Mother’s Living Environment Exposure on Genome Damage, Immunological Status, and Sex Hormone Levels in Newborns," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-12, May.

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