Abstract
The adverse affects of high blood levels of lead are well established. There is now data emerging which looks at lower blood levels of lead associated with poor cognition and other developmental concerns. The authors undertook a literature review to examine the causal effect of low lead level and impaired cognitive function. The plausibility of including lead screening as part of developmental delay workup in Ireland is also explored. This review concludes that there is an adverse relationship between increasing level of lead and cognition. Children with developmental delay would be at an increased risk to the cognitive impairment associated with low levels of lead. Given that there are preventative and therapeutic options to minimise the effects of lead, we argue that this group of children should be routinely screened for lead. Currently there is lack of prevalence data in Ireland. The authors are working in conjunction with British Paediatric Surveillance Unit Project to undertake active surveillance of lead poisoning in Ireland.
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Neary, E., Ahmareen, O. & Sharif, F. 1428 Literature Review on Lead Poisoning. Pediatr Res 68 (Suppl 1), 706 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-01428
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-01428
