Are different soil metals near the homes of pregnant women associated with mild and severe intellectual disability in children?

ABSTRACT:

Aim

We explored the association of relatively low concentrations of metals in the soil proximal to maternal residence during pregnancy, with intellectual disability. We hypothesized different metals would be associated with mild versus severe intellectual disability.

Method

We used a mixed methods design, starting with a retrospective cohort from 1996 to 2002, of 10,051 pregnant mothers, soil sampling in the areas where these mothers resided during pregnancy, and follow-up of their children to determine if there was an intellectual disability outcome. We tested the soil and then predicted the soil concentration at the maternal homes, and modeled the association with the severity of the child's intellectual disability.

Results

We found a significant positive associatio

SUBMITTER: McDermott S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4133275 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature