Summary
Two hypotheses were tested: (a) that cognitive development is negatively related to measures of current and/or prior lead exposure and (b) that lead level is related negatively to prior measures of cognitive development and/or positively to prior measures of psychomotor maturity. Blood lead (PbB) was measured at ages 6 months, 2 years and 3 years. These PbB measures were related to developmental measures at ages 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years. With statistical control of confounding, associations of PbB and concurrent and later development were attenuated and not statistically significant. Similarly, PbB was not related significantly to prior measures of cognitive development or psychomotor acceleration. The relationship of PbB and developmental status in the early preschool years appeared to be a function of the dependence of each on the quality of the caretaking environment.
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© 1989 ECSC-EEC-EAEC, Brussels — Luxembourg; EPA, USA
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Ernhart, C.B., Morrow-Tlucak, M. (1989). Low-Level Lead Exposure and Intelligence in the Early Preschool Years. In: Smith, M.A., Grant, L.D., Sors, A.I. (eds) Lead Exposure and Child Development. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0847-5_31
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0847-5_31
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6868-0
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0847-5
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