Blood lead, parental marital status and the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in elementary school children: A longitudinal study

Water contaminant levels interact with parenting environment to predict development of depressive symptoms in adolescents

“…Thus, we are likely examining a somewhat restricted range for many of our primary variables (with the exception of nitrate, for which 20% of families were served by water systems that exceeding the EPA's maximum contaminant level). Although this approach is consistent with prior research examining the relation between ADHD symptoms and lead (Choi et al, ), it does limit our ability to quantify the clinical significance of our findings. Nevertheless, the fact that we found such associations longitudinally in a sample of relatively healthy adolescents suggests that water contaminants and more controlling approaches to parenting are insidious contributors to depressive processes across a range of functioning.…”

“…Such measurement may also clarify why arsenic exerted a direct, but not interactive, effect on depressive symptoms; it is possible that even relatively low levels of arsenic are sufficient to clinically elevate these theorized mediators. An additional possible pathway for associations is that contaminants like lead, nitrate, and arsenic have neurotoxic effects on brain development and functioning (Choi et al, ; Manassaram et al, ) that may increase the risk of depression in children. Consistent with a diathesis‐stress model, this liability or vulnerability may be triggered in the context of an emotionally negative family environment.…”

“…Consistent with prior work examining the association between ADHD symptoms and lead (Choi et al, ), and to utilize the full range of our data, we examined depressive symptoms rather than depression diagnosis. At baseline and follow up, adolescent participants completed the short form of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI‐S; Kovacs, ), which assesses current depressive symptomatology through 10 items.…”

“…For example, in several studies, negative social environments have been found to interact with levels of environmental pollutants to predict childhood asthma (Chen, Schreier, Strunk, & Brauer, ), including creating a “double exposure” whereby negative social environments intensify the effects of air pollution on asthma (Clougherty et al, ). One study has now documented similar patterns for mental health; the effects of exposure to lead on symptoms of ADHD in children was moderated by family composition, such that lead increased symptom risk to a greater extent in children from single‐parent families than in children from two‐parent families (Choi, Kwon, Lim, Lim, & Ha, ). (It is worth noting, as well, that aversive parental relationships promote the same proinflammatory processes that are theorized to underlie associations between contaminants and depressive symptoms; e.g., Miller & Chen, .…”

Association of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with recurrent hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes mellitus

“…Although several risk factors of ADHD, both genetic and acquired, have been identified, data regarding the association between hypoglycemia and ADHD in children and adolescents with T1DM are limited. Inadequate blood glucose is assumed to be pertinent to these neurocognitive and psychiatric abnormalities in pediatric patients with diabetes.…”