Main and interaction effects of metallic toxins on classroom behavior

Abstract

This study investigated the relationships of metal levels and metal combinations to children's classroom behavior. Hair-metal concentrations of lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and aluminum were determined in 80 randomly selected elementary-age children, who were also rated by their classroom teacher on the Walker Problem Behavior Identification Checklist (WPBIC). Parents were interviewed to control for confounding variables that may have affected behavioral development. Regression analysis indicated that the set of metals was significantly related to increased scores on four of the five WPBIC subscales and on the total scale, with lead being a major contributor to four of the six dependent measures. Metal combinations were significantly related to increased scores on the WPBIC subscales measuring acting-out, disturbed peer relations, and immaturity, and on the total scale. A continuing reexamination of metal poisoning concentrations is needed because metal levels and metal combinations previously thought harmless may be associated with nonadaptive classroom behavior.

Concentrations of Toxic Metals and Trace Elements in the Meconium of Newborns from an Industrial City

“…Also previous studies have investigated correlations among Pb, Cd, and trace elements in hair, teeth, and nails, but ours is the fi rst to have assessed such associations in meconium. High Pb concentration both decreased Fe concentration and altered Fe/Cu and Fe/Zn ratios [27] . Other research has demonstrated a signifi cant negative correlation between Cd and Zn in blood, but a signifi cant positive correlation between Cd and Zn in seminal plasma [28] .…”

The Challenge Posed to Children's Health by Mixtures of Toxic Waste: The Tar Creek Superfund Site as a Case-Study

“…In cohort studies, Thatcher et al (75,76) reported that the concentration of cadmium in hair was significantly inversely related to adjusted IQ scores, particularly verbal IQ, and to visual evoked potentials; (77) and Marlowe and colleagues (78,79) reported associations between increased hair cadmium and children's performance on visual-motor tasks. Marlowe et al (80) also reported that lead and cadmium acted synergistically in impair children's classroom behavior.…”

Hair minerals and diet of Prader-Willi syndrome youth

“…These data support other recent studies that have correlated increased hair metal levels with mental retardation (Marlowe, Folio, Hall, & Errera, 1982;Marlowe, Errera, & Jacobs, 1983). Studies of general school populations have also linked increasing hair metal levels and their interactions to decrements in psychometric intelligence (Thatcher, Lester, McAlaster, & Horst, 1982;Moon, Marlowe, & Errera, in press), adaptive behavior (Marlowe, Cossairt, Moon, & Errera, 1985), and academic achievement (Moon, Marlowe, Stellern, & Errera, 1985).…”