Hair lead levels to evaluate the subclinical impact of lead on growth in Sardinian children (Italy)

Abstract

Our results support the use of hair lead levels as a biomarker to assess the impact of subclinical lead on the physical growth of children, especially when the study area presents medium and/or high levels of lead pollution.

A Systematic Review of the Effects of Environmental Pollutants, Chemical Factors, and Climate Changes on Children’s Height

“…In the study of Pan et al during year 2010 in USA, the breast milk levels of these pollutants and also children's blood levels were measured, thereafter height growth charts were evaluated, and results did not show a significant association (50). Five other similar studies reported the same results (6,8,9,13,25). However, Burns et al (2011) reported a significant association between children short stature and exposure to PCB, PBB, P,P'-DDT, and Dioxin (11).…”

“…In the study of Mahram et al, lead exposure did not have a negative effect on height growth (27). While in the study of Sanna et al conducted in Italy, significant effect of lead exposure on height growth in 11-to 14 -year -old children in comparison with the control group was mentioned (25). Other seven reports indicated that living in areas with lead 4 Health Scope.…”

“…Another study revealed opposite results and reported that both prenatal and postnatal lead exposure might cause short stature of two-to three -year -old children (20); likewise another study reported the same results in children less than two years old (18). Six studies found that exposure to lead could have a negative influence on children and adolescents' height (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26). A study reported an association between higher blood lead levels and shorter average height, yet this result was not statistically significant in comparison to controls (27).…”

Adipose tissue: Another target organ for lead accumulation? A study on sardinian children (Italy)

“…Lead can accumulate in the human body, preferentially in bones and soft tissues, and it jeopardizes the functions of organs and tissues, even causing death at high concentrations (Dooyema et al, 2011;Lech, 2002;White et al, 2007;WHO, 2010a;Zhang et al, 2011). It is also known that exposure of children to moderate and low lead levels can negatively affect growth (Factor-Litvak et al, 1999;Ignasiak et al, 2006Ignasiak et al, , 2007Rahman et al, 2002;Schwartz et al, 1986;Sanna and Vallascas 2011;Schell et al, 2009) and sexual development (Denham et al, 2005;Hauser et al, 2008;Naicker et al, 2010;Tomoum et al, 2009;Williams et al, 2010). Moreover, low and moderate Pb levels (PbB5-10 lg/dl) can lead to a reduction of the Intelligence Quotient (Carlisle et al, 2009;Factor-Litvak et al, 1999;Iglesias et al, 2011;Schwartz, 1986) and neurological-behavioral disorders such as hyperactivity (ADHD), panic attacks and depression Nie et al, 2011;Roy et al, 2009;Szkup-Jabło nska et al, 2011).…”

“…The aim of this study was to assess predictors of hair lead concentrations by evaluating the possible relationship between several adiposity/obesity indexes and lead levels in 759 children (11-15 years) resident in different municipalities of Sardinia. The lead levels were measured in the children's hair (PbH), given that PbH is a reliable biomarker to determine different levels of exposure of communities with different environmental backgrounds (Rodrigues et al, 2008;St€ upar et al, 2007;Sanna et al, 2008Sanna et al, , 2011, while their adipose tissue was assessed via various adiposity indexes: weight, body mass index, waist circumference, waist to hip circumference ratio and sum of skinfolds. If the relationship between lead levels and adipose tissue was confirmed, it would be important to include in future research the state of overweight and/or obesity as a possible new risk factor to assess the health of populations exposed to lead pollution.…”