EARLY SENSORY-MOTOR DEVELOPMENT AND PRENATAL EXPOSURE TO LEAD

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  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 6  (5) , 387-402
Abstract
As part of a longitudinal study of the early developmental effects of exposure to lead, the Bayley Scales of Infant Development was administered at age 6 mo. to infants classified into 3 groups based on their umbilical cord blood lead levels (low:mean = 1.8 .mu.g/dl; mid'', mean = 6.5 .mu.g/dl; high:mean = 14.6 .mu.g/dl). No infant had a cord blood lead level greater than 30 .mu.g/dl, the level currently regarded as the upper limit of normal for young children. Multiple regression analyses indicated that high cord blood lead levels were associated with lower covariance-adjusted scores on the Mental Development Index. Scores on the Psychomotor Development Index were not significantly related to cord blood lead level. The level of lead in blood at 6 mo. of age was not associated with scores on either the Mental or Psychomotor Development Index. These data are compatible with the hypothesis that low levels of lead delivered transplacentally are toxic to infants.