Low Level Lead Exposure and Postural Balance in Children

Background: The detrimental effects of lead exposure have been well documented. In children, it is linked to a decrease in IQ, damage to the nervous system, behavioral problems, slowed growth and poor neuromotor skills. It has been suggested there is no safe level of lead exposure.Objectives: The objectives of this study were to 1) conduct a literature review for the effects of low level lead exposure, 2) identify sources of lead exposure in a rural Ohio community with no known airborne exposure sources, and 3) investigate the relationship between low level lead exposure (<5 μg/dL) and postural balance. Methods: A literature review was conducted summarizing the studies of childhood low level lead exposure and health outcomes. Low level lead was originally defined as BLLs below 10 μg/dL and then expanded to 20 μg/dL. The Marietta Community Actively Researching Exposure Study (CARES) is an ongoing study in two Appalachian counties in Southeastern Ohio, Washington County and Guernsey County. The goal of CARES is to understand neurobehavioral consequences of airborne metal exposure. Only children from Guernsey County were included in these analyses. Parents of children ages 7-9 completed a demographic and exposure questionnaire. A table of potential lead exposures was extrapolated from the questionnaire data. Each of the exposure categories had the number of participants with this exposure calculated along with the percentages of participants who had this possible route of exposure. Children provided a blood sample for metals analyses, and a subset of these children participated in the postural balance assessment. Linear regression was used to assess the relationship between blood lead levels and postural balance. Results: Residing in a house built before the lead paint ban in 1978 was the most common possible route of household lead exposure. The blood lead concentration of children living in homes built before 1978 was 28% higher than children residing in homes built after 1978. The average BLL was 1.6 μg/dL (n=30). The children’s BLLs were significantly associated with postural balance in two of the eight test conditions. The relationship was positive for the sway area (SA) in the eyes closed (EC) condition.Conclusions: The most common source for lead exposure in our cohort is lead-based paint and home renovations. The four models that indicated that there is potential functional impairment of the vestibular and/or proprioceptive systems are SA in the EO condition, SA in the EC condition, SA in the FO condition and SA in the FC condition; however, statistical significance in the expected direction was found for the SA in the EC condition only. Future studies with a larger sample size will be needed to further evaluate the relationship between low BLLs and postural balance.

Name thesis:degree_name

MS

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Medicine: Epidemiology (Environmental Health)

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Cincinnati

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Hemingway, Jennifer M.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Haynes, Erin Nicole

• Epidemiology
• Lead
• Balance

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1353099859

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:ucin1353099859