Heavy metal exposure has adverse effects on the growth and development of preschool children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and manganese (Mn) in the PM and blood and physical growth, and development parameters including birth length and weight, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), head circumference, and chest circumference in preschool children from Guiyu (e-waste exposure area) and Haojiang (the reference area). A total of 470 preschool children from Guiyu and Haojiang located in southeast coast of China were recruited and required to undergo physical examination and blood tests during the study period. Birth length and weight were obtained by birth records and questionnaire. Pb and Cd in both PM and blood were significantly higher in Guiyu than Haojiang. Remarkably, the children of Guiyu had significantly lower birth weight and length, BMI, and chest circumference when compare to their peers from the reference area (all p value < 0.05). Spearman correlation analyses showed that blood Pb was negatively correlated with height (r = -0.130, p < 0.001), weight (r = -0.169, p < 0.001), BMI (r = -0.100, p < 0.05), head circumference (r = -0.095, p < 0.05), and chest circumference (r = -0.112, p < 0.05). After adjustment for the potential confounders in further linear regression analyses, blood Pb was negatively associated with height (β = -0.066, p < 0.05), weight (β = -0.119, p < 0.001), head circumference (β = -0.123, p < 0.01), and chest circumference (β = -0.104, p < 0.05), respectively. No significant association between blood Cd, Cr, or Mn was found with any of our developmental outcomes. Taken together, lead exposure limits or delays the growth and development of preschool children.

Increased intestinal permeability with elevated peripheral blood endotoxin and inflammatory indices for e-waste lead exposure in children

“…In addition, children with innutrition have higher Pb levels in blood and scalp hair compared with well-nourished children (Talpur et al, 2018). Pb exposure is associated with height, weight, BMI, bust, head circumference, and waistline for children (Kuang et al, 2020;Zeng et al, 2019). Consequently, the decline in growth and more diarrhea of children in the exposed group may be due to the adverse effect of Pb exposure on intestinal barrier function.…”

Elevated lead levels in relation to low serum neuropeptide Y and adverse behavioral effects in preschool children with e-waste exposure

“…With the rapid development of electronic industry, the innovation of global electronic products and the acceleration of electronic equipment or products upgrading in recent years, electronic waste (e-waste) have become the fastest growing garbage in the world (Zeng et al, 2020). E-waste refers to discarded electrical and electronic equipment after the end of its service life, whose abandoned components have contained potentially harmful contaminants such as heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (Zeng et al, 2019). It was estimated that China generated the highest ewaste quantity (approximately 20% of global e-waste) both in Asia and in the world, and only 15% of e-waste has been documented to be collected and properly recycled (Zhang et al, 2012;Song and Li, 2014;Heacock et al, 2016;Zeng et al, 2016a,b;Priyadharsini and Singh, 2019).…”

Source apportionment of urban road dust using four multivariate receptor models

“…Studies show that children are at a greater risk of being exposed to high concentration of PTEs and PAH since they spend a greater portion of their day outdoors (Zeng et al 2019). Developmental disorders like impaired mental development (Isaac et al 2012) and stunted growth (Zeng et al 2019) are common in children exposed to elevated concentrations of PTEs.…”