The relationship between blood lead concentrations and learning

• Main Authors: Wang Chao-Ling, 王肇齡
• Other Authors: Ho Chi-Kung
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2001
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/18698005757475295255

碩士 === 高雄醫學大學 === 職業安全衛生研究所 === 89 === Over the past 20 years lead have been proved to exert an influence on the intelligence of children. Especially for children exposed to environmental lead, their average blood lead was often lower than the intoxication level. Kaohsiung is an industrial area in Southern Taiwan also with lead exposure as an important environmental issue, we attempted to ascertain the extent that environmental lead influences the achievement of primary school children. We randomly selected 934 children from 32 primary schools in 11 districts of Kaohsiung City. Blood lead levels were checked and the children were administered questionnaires about their family information. Scores of several schools courses were used in this study on the relationship between a child''s blood lead and his or her academic performance (ranking with his or her classmates), including Chinese (reading and writing short Chinese articles), Mathematics, History and Society, and Natural Science. Multiple regression models were done with adjustments for the confounding effects of their parents’ socioeconomic levels. The mean (SD) of 934 blood lead level was 5.50(1.86) microgram/dL. Spearman’s coefficient showed that class rankings in Chinese, Mathematics, Natural Science, and History and Society were all strongly associated with blood lead levels (P<0.01). The multiple regression models revealed that blood lead level to exert a stronger influence on the children''s language ability (Chinese) than on their ability to calculate (Mathematics). Our results suggest that environmental lead exposure adversely affects a child''s academic achievement, making it a direct declaration influence of exposure to this substance on academic achievement.