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Association between Bone Lead Concentration and Aggression in Youth from a Sub-Cohort of the Birth to Twenty Cohort

Author

Listed:
  • Nonhlanhla Tlotleng

    (Epidemiology and Surveillance Section, National Health Laboratory Service, National Institute for Occupational Health, Braamfontein, Johannesburg 2001, South Africa)

  • Nisha Naicker

    (Epidemiology and Surveillance Section, National Health Laboratory Service, National Institute for Occupational Health, Braamfontein, Johannesburg 2001, South Africa
    Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa)

  • Angela Mathee

    (Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2028, South Africa
    Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
    Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg 2094, South Africa)

  • Andrew C. Todd

    (Department of Environmental Medicine & Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA)

  • Palesa Nkomo

    (SAMRC Development Pathways for Health Research Unit (DPHRU), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 5050, South Africa)

  • Shane A. Norris

    (SAMRC Development Pathways for Health Research Unit (DPHRU), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 5050, South Africa
    Global Health Research Institute, School of Health and Human Development, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK)

Abstract

Background: An association between blood-lead levels and aggression has been demonstrated in children and adolescent youth in South Africa. However, there are limited studies that have assessed aggression as an outcome for cumulative lead exposure using bone lead concentration. This study aims to assess the association between bone lead concentration and aggressive behaviour among a sample of youth in South Africa. Methods: Bone lead in 100 participants (53 males and 47 females) recruited and followed in the Birth to Twenty (BT20) Cohort were measured using 109 Cd-based, K-shell X-ray fluorescence (KXRF). The Buss–Perry Aggression questionnaire was used to measure aggressive behaviour. Linear regression models were fitted to determine the association between aggression score for physical, verbal, anger and hostility and bone lead, adjusting for known confounders. Results: A one-microgram-per-gram increase in bone lead was found to increase the score for all four scales of aggression, but significantly only for anger (β = 0.2 [95% CI 0.04–0.370]). Psychosocial factors such as a history of family violence and exposure to neighbourhood crime were significant predictors for aggression. Conclusions: The study provides a preliminary overview of the relationship between cumulative lead exposure and behavioural problems such as aggression. A larger sample, across exposed communities, may prove more definitive in further investigating the association between these two important public health factors and to maximize generalizability.

Suggested Citation

  • Nonhlanhla Tlotleng & Nisha Naicker & Angela Mathee & Andrew C. Todd & Palesa Nkomo & Shane A. Norris, 2022. "Association between Bone Lead Concentration and Aggression in Youth from a Sub-Cohort of the Birth to Twenty Cohort," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:4:p:2200-:d:750154
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Feigenbaum, James J. & Muller, Christopher, 2016. "Lead exposure and violent crime in the early twentieth century," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 51-86.
    2. Mulusew G Jebena & David Lindstrom & Tefera Belachew & Craig Hadley & Carl Lachat & Roos Verstraeten & Nathalie De Cock & Patrick Kolsteren, 2016. "Food Insecurity and Common Mental Disorders among Ethiopian Youth: Structural Equation Modeling," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(11), pages 1-20, November.
    3. Shane A. Norris & Linda M. Richter & Stella A. Fleetwood, 2007. "Panel studies in developing countries: case analysis of sample attrition over the past 16 years within the birth to twenty cohort in Johannesburg, South Africa," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 19(8), pages 1143-1150.
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