Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Original Article

Association Between Blood Lead Concentration and Computerized Neurobehavioral Performance in Korean Elementary School Students: Yeon Cheol Kim, Man Joong Jeon, Yun Chul Hong, Chul Gab Lee, Mi Na Ha, Ho Jang Kwon, Joon Sakong; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2011;23(2):183-191. Published online June 30, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2011.23.2.183

OBJECTIVES
This study was conducted to evaluate association between computerized neurobehavioral performance and blood lead concentration in Korean elementary school students.
METHODS
The subjects were 1,077 elementary school students of Seoul, Busan, Daegu and Gwangju. Blood lead concentration was measured and computerized neurobehavioral performance tests were performed.
RESULTS
Blood lead concentration of the subjects was in the range of 0.20 and 7.39 microg/dl. The geometric mean of the subjects' blood lead concentration was 1.41 microg/dl. As blood lead concentration increased, reaction time to the symbol digit tended to increase significantly and linearly. As a result of LOWESS(locally weighted scatterplot smoothing), increasing reaction time to the symbol digit was observed.
CONCLUSIONS
As blood lead concentration under the CDC (center for disease control and prevention) reference value increased, reaction time to the symbol digit tended to increase. But, as the number of subjects over 3 microg/dl is small, it is difficult to make a definite conclusion. If confounding variables are controlled properly in a follow-up study, we can obtain a more definite conclusion.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Association of heavy metal complex exposure and neurobehavioral function of children
Minkeun Kim, Chulyong Park, Joon Sakong, Shinhee Ye, So young Son, Kiook Baek
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Performance assessment on the Korean Computerized Neurobehavioral Test using a mobile device and a conventional computer: an experimental study
Young Seok Byun, Sung Kyu Park, Joon Sakong, Man Joong Jeon
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2018;[Epub] CrossRef
The association between lead concentration in the blood and neurobehavioral performance of children
Dae-Seon Kim, Seungchul Ahn, Seungdo Yu, Eun-Hee Lee
Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences.2012; 4(2): 87. CrossRef
Evaluation of reliability of computerized neurobehavioral tests in Korean children
Kyeong-Soo Lee, Man-Joong Jeon, Tae-Yoon Hwang, Chang-Yoon Kim, Joon Sakong
NeuroToxicology.2012; 33(5): 1362. CrossRef

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4 Crossref

Original Article

Relationship between Blood Lead Concentration and Neurobehavioral Function of Children: Kwang Seub Park, Jae Yong Park, Joon Sakong; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2009;21(2):131-142. Published online June 30, 2009; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2009.21.2.131

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate effects of lead on the central nervous system of children by measuring blood lead concentration, computerized neurobehavioral function and intelligence of elementary school students.
METHODS
The study was conducted with 208 elementary school students living in the vicinity of Pohang Industrial Complex in October and November, 2005. Data on demographic characteristics, living environments and lifestyle habits were collected from subjects.
RESULTS
Blood lead levels of elementary school students ranged from 0.76-4.97 microg/dl, which is below the 10 microg/dl recommended level of CDC. The blood lead levels were similar with those reported in other domestic and international studies. Neurobehavioral tests revealed that most third grade students reacted slowly and their speed declined in simple reaction time (p<0.05), choice reaction time (p<0.05), symbol digit substitution (p<0.01), finger tapping speed nondominant hand (p<0.05) as blood lead levels increased. Sixth grade students demonstrated significance in test performance, and displayed blood lead levels of 2.00-4.00 microg/dl. Results of intelligence testing showed significantly low performance in IQ (p<0.05), vocabulary ability (p<0.05), reasoning ability (p<0.05), mathematical ability (p<0.05) and perception ability (p<0.05) among third grade students who displayed high levels of blood lead concentration. Sixth grade students showed significantly low performance in vocabulary ability (p<0.05) at high level of blood lead concentration. The difference in mean IQ scores between the group with blood lead level of < or =2.00 microg/dl and the group with blood lead level > or =3.00 microg/ dl was 3.21 in third grade students and 4.28 in sixth grade students. Low academic achievement was observed among third grade students (p<0.05) and six grade students (p<0.05) as the average blood lead level increased. Correlation analysis on the association of blood lead concentration with neurobehavioral tests revealed a positive correlation between blood lead levels and reaction time of choice reaction time and symbol digit substitution in third grade students. A positive correlation was observed between blood lead levels and reaction time of symbol digit substitution and finger tapping speed in sixth grade students. There was a negative correlation between blood lead levels and reasoning ability of third grade students (r=-0.247) and vocabulary ability of six grade students (r=-0.255).
CONCLUSION
There have been few studies on the effects of blood lead on the central nervous systems of children in Korea. The study supports the findings of earlier studies that blood lead has an impact on children. However, the study did not confirm significant association of blood lead concentration with each neurological and motor test conducted for this study due to a small sample size and relatively low blood lead levels of elementary school students. Further studies using a similar assessment methods would be helpful to evaluate the effects of low blood lead levels on the central nervous systems of children.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Association of heavy metal complex exposure and neurobehavioral function of children
Minkeun Kim, Chulyong Park, Joon Sakong, Shinhee Ye, So young Son, Kiook Baek
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
The association between lead concentration in the blood and neurobehavioral performance of children
Dae-Seon Kim, Seungchul Ahn, Seungdo Yu, Eun-Hee Lee
Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences.2012; 4(2): 87. CrossRef
Evaluation of reliability of computerized neurobehavioral tests in Korean children
Kyeong-Soo Lee, Man-Joong Jeon, Tae-Yoon Hwang, Chang-Yoon Kim, Joon Sakong
NeuroToxicology.2012; 33(5): 1362. CrossRef

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3 Crossref

Original Article

The Relationship between Occupational Lead Exposure and Minor Hearing Impairment: Nam Hee Lee, Jong Tae Lee, Hae Lim Shin, In Guen Park, Chae Un Lee; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1995;7(1):10-20. Published online February 28, 1995; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.1995.7.1.10

Abstract PDF

In this study the relationship between occupational lead exposure and minor hearing impairment was investigated in a cross-sectional design with 50 lead exposed workers from January to April 1994, The data were collected from the interview with the structured questionnaire which included sociodemographic variables and medical histories especially ear disease and occupational histories. Lead exposure indices which were blood lead, urine lead, zinc protoporphyrin in urine, and delta-aminolevulinic acid in urine were analyzed, Also study subjects were examined pure-tone hearing test. The results were as follows ; 1. There were significant differences in lead indices between lead-exposed workers and non-exposed workers. 2. The duration of lead exposure did not affect the hearing impairment among lead exposed workers. 3. Minor hearing impairment were higher in lead-exposed workers than non-exposed workers, but there were not statisticatly significant. The result from this study indicated that lead exposed workers should be monitored to prevent hearing impairment and would be needed health education.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Occupational Hearing Loss in Korea
Kyoo Sang Kim
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2010; 25(Suppl): S62. CrossRef

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Original Article

A Study on the Associatio Between Symptoms and Biological Indicies in Workers Exposed to Lead: Sung Bong Kim, Eun Il Lee, Kwang Jong Kim; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1990;2(2):199-205. Published online August 31, 1990; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.1990.2.2.199

Abstract PDF: This research was conducted to determine the usefulness of reported symptoms for the diagnosis of lead poisoning for workers exposed to lead. A group of 147 male lead smelting workers were given special physical examinations from June to September of 1989. The examinations included the reporting of ailments(symptoms) by the workers, as well as analyses of their blood lead concentrations and urinary coproporphyrine and delta-aminolevulinic acid concentrations. the associations were analyzed between the bilogical exposure indices and the symptoms described by the workers. The results were as follows: 1. The only symptoms which were described more frequently by the lead workers compared to the control group were paresthesia of the extremities, myalgia, arthralgia, and insomnia. The frequency of other symptoms described were actually lower for the lead-exposed workers. 2. For those workers whose blood lead concentrations were above 60 microgram/dl, only the increase in the frequencies of arthralgia and paresthesia of the xtremities were statistically significant, compared to those workers whose blood lead concentrations were below 60 microgram/dl. Also, arthralgia was the only symptom which increased in frequency in workers whose ruinary coproporphyrine concentrations were above 100 microgram/l; however, this increase was not statistically significant by urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid levels.

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