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Psychometric Intelligence Deficits in Lead-exposed Children

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Lead Exposure and Child Development

Summary

The psychometric intelligence and the blood lead (PbB) of 509 children living near a lead smelter in Lavrion, Greece, were evaluated. The mean PbB was 23.7 μg/dl and the range 7.4–63.9 μg/dl. After controlling for 17 variables, including parent IQ, with a multiple linear regression model, it was found that PbB was significantly associated with full-scale IQ of the WISC-R (b = -0.270, p = 0.000069). Verbal and performance IQs were almost equally affected. The adjusted full-scale IQ difference between ‘high’ (>45 μg/dl) and ‘low’ PbB children was 9.1 units. The dose-response curve showed evidence of a threshold at the level of about 25 μg/dl PbB.

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Authors
  1. A. Hatzakis
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  2. A. Kokkevi
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  3. C. Maravelias
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  4. K. Katsouyanni
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  5. F. Salaminios
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  6. A. Kalandidi
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  7. A. Koutselinis
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  8. C. Stefanis
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  9. D. Trichopoulos
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child Psychiatry, Institute of Child Health Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, London, UK

    M. A. Smith

  2. Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office Office of Health and Environment Assessment US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, 27711, NC, USA

    L. D. Grant (Director) (Director)

  3. Environment Research Programme, Commission of the European Communities, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049, Brussels, Belgium

    A. I. Sors (Directorate-General for Science, Research and Development) (Directorate-General for Science, Research and Development)

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© 1989 ECSC-EEC-EAEC, Brussels — Luxembourg; EPA, USA

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Hatzakis, A. et al. (1989). Psychometric Intelligence Deficits in Lead-exposed Children. 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_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0847-5_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6868-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0847-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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