ArticleCognitive and Sensorimotor Functions in 6-Year-Old Children in Relation to Lead and Mercury Levels: Adjustment for Intelligence and Contrast Sensitivity in Computerized Testing
Section snippets
Study Areas
As in 1991, the study was conducted in the cities of Leipzig, Gardelegen, and Duisburg. Leipzig is one of the largest cities (about 500,000 inhabitants) in East Germany (Saxonia) formerly characterized by high dust and SO2 levels that keep declining since the year of reunification (1989), but without specific sources of exposure to heavy metals. The specific study area (South-West Leipzig) is characterized by old dilapidated housing close to small-scale industry. Lead pipes in domestic water
Check for selection bias
Three hundred and eighty-four children, namely 60.3% of the eligible children, participated according to their mother’s prior agreement. The samples of participating and nonparticipating children and their families were compared for relevant biosocial and exposure variables, and the results of this comparison are given in Table 1. Except for PbB, HgU, and education as a relevant proxy for social status, no further significant differences between participating and nonparticipating
Discussion
In the present study neurobehavioral functions in 6-year-old children, assessed by means of conventional vs. computerized testing, were examined for associations with background levels of lead in blood (PbB) and urinary mercury excretion (HgU).
With regard to the latter, the observed associations were small, throughout, and statistically not significant, even if two-tailed probabilities were replaced by one-tailed probabilities. This observation supports the opinion that current background
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Drs. M. Mangold, S. Teichmann, F. J. Gutsmuths, and R. Behler from the local Health Offices for their support in organizing the studies within the regular medical examinations prior to school entrance, as well as Birgit Dziersan, Ulrike Hennekes, Thekla Petursdottir, and Ursula Zovkic for their help in testing the children.
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