Association of Childhood Blood Lead Levels With Cognitive Function and Socioeconomic Status at Age 38 Years and With IQ Change and Socioeconomic Mobility Between Childhood and Adulthood.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Many children in the United States and around the world are exposed to lead, a developmental neurotoxin. The long-term cognitive and socioeconomic consequences of lead exposure are uncertain.

Objective

To test the hypothesis that childhood lead exposure is associated with cognitive function and socioeconomic status in adulthood and with changes in IQ and socioeconomic mobility between childhood and midlife.

Design, setting, and participants

A prospective cohort study based on a population-representative 1972-1973 birth cohort from New Zealand; the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study observed participants to age 38 years (until December 2012).

Exposures

Childhood lead exposure ascertained as blood lead levels measured at age 11 year

SUBMITTER: Reuben A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5490376 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature