Effects of blood lead and cadmium levels on the functioning of children with behaviour disorders in the family environment
Journal Title: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine - Year 2012, Vol 19, Issue 2
Abstract
Introduction and objective: The developing brain of a child is extremely prone to damage resulting from exposure to harmful environmental factors, e.g. heavy metals. Intoxication of children’s organisms with lead and cadmium affects their intellectual development. Even a relatively small amount of this metal in children’s blood can lead to developmental dysfunctions. The aim of this study was to analyse the correlation between blood lead and cadmium levels in children with behaviour disorders and their functioning in the home. Material and methods: This survey-based study was conducted among 78 families with children diagnosed as having behaviour disorders. It was performed using the ADHD-Rating Scale-IV. To determine lead and cadmium levels the laboratory procedure was based on Stoppler and Brandt’s method. Results: The mean blood lead level was 19.71 µg/l and the mean blood cadmium level was 0.215µg/l. Higher blood lead levels in children correlates positively with incidences of hyperactive and impulsive behaviour in the home, as assessed by parents (p=0.048). Statistically significant effects of cadmium on children’s behaviour were not noticed. Conclusions: The effect of lead on the developing organism of a child has such behavioural consequences as attention disorders, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour which, in turn, may interfere with children’s functioning in the home. A negative effect of cadmium on the functioning of children with behaviour disorders in the home was not proved.
Authors and Affiliations
Małgorzata Szkup-Jabłońska, Beata Karakiewicz, Elżbieta Grochans, Anna Jurczak, Grażyna Nowak-Starz, Iwona Rotter, Adam Prokopowicz
The factor harmful to the quality of human life – shift-work
The system of human activity, which is established by genetics and regulated by outer and inner factors, is associated with many characteristics which maintain the body in the best condition and ensure appropriate life q...
Meteorological parameters and severity of acute pulmonary embolism episodes.
Frequency of acute pulmonary embolism episodes has been previously shown to correlate significantly with meteorological factors in the period preceding their occurrence. The purpose of the study was to analyze the relati...
Chronic pelvic pain
[b][/b][b]Introduction. [/b]Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) affects about 10–40% of women presenting to a physician, and is characterised by pain within the minor pelvis persisting for over 6 months. [b]Materials and method....
Protective efficacy of permethrin-treated trousers against tick infestation in forestry workers
[b]introduction and objective.[/b] Prevention of tick borne diseases in forestry workers is essentially based on the use of appropriate clothing. The objective of this pragmatic, randomized, controlled trial was to asses...
Leisure time physical activity of young women from the Carpathian Euroregion in relation to the Body Mass Index
Carpathian Euroregion gathers the population of 5 countries, including Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania- the European Union members, as well as Ukraine. Young women are statistically less involved in high-intensity...