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Blood‐Lead Levels and Children's Behaviour—Results from the Edinburgh Lead Study
Author(s) -
Thomson G. O. B.,
Raab G. M.,
Hepburn W. S.,
Hunter R.,
Fulton M.,
Laxen D. P. H.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1989.tb00265.x
Subject(s) - rutter , psychology , confounding , neuroticism , lead (geology) , developmental psychology , el niño , clinical psychology , blood lead level , lead exposure , pediatrics , medicine , social psychology , personality , cats , geomorphology , geology
The effect of blood‐lead on children's behaviour was investigated in a sub‐sample of 501 boys and girls aged 6–9 years from 18 primary schools within a defined area of central Edinburgh. Behaviour ratings of the children were made by teachers and parents using the Rutter behaviour scales. An extensive home interview with a parent was also carried out, Multiple regression analyses showed a significant relationship between log blood‐lead and teachers’ ratings on the total Rutter score and the aggressive/anti‐social and hyperactive sub‐scores, but not the neurotic sub‐score when 30 possible confounding variables were taken into account. There was a dose‐response relationship between blood‐lead and behaviour ratings, with no evidence of a threshold.