The association between lead concentration in the blood and neurobehavioral performance of children

In order to investigate the association between blood lead level (Pb-B) and neurobehavioral performance of school-age children in Korea, a total of 153 students in 6 th -grade were assessed using the Korean version of Swedish Performance Evaluation System: Simple Reaction Time (SRT), Choice Reaction Time (CRT), Color Word Vigilance (CWV), Digit Classification (DC), Digit Additions (DA), Symbol Digit (SD), and Finger Tapping Speed (FTS). Pb-B was measured by means of atomic absorption spectroscopy equipped with graphite furnace atomizer. Geometric means of Pb-B were 2.54 μg/dL in 6th-grade students. Pb-B of 10 μg/dL or greater was not found. Pb-B showed differences by areas and neurological performance showed a significant difference in SRT by areas (p < 0.000). A boy group showed a significant difference in CRT and SD and a girl group showed a significant difference in SRT and DA and marginally FTS. When the subjects were divided into an upper and a lower Pb-B group by median, the difference of neurobehavioral performance between the two groups was significant in SD in a girl group. This study may indicate that Pb-B of 10 μg/dL can have a significant impact on neurobehavioral performance in school-age children.