Abstract
Trace elements persist in the environment, and their early exposure may adversely affect children's intellectual development. To clarify the influence of blood trace element levels in newborns and school-aged children, we used Wechsler Intelligence Scale for children (WISC-CR) to explore intellectual development level of 148 school-aged children based on a population cohort study. Lead (Pb), selenium (Se), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and chromium (Cr) in cord blood and Pb, As, Cu in venous blood were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). Our analysis of the correlation between children's mental development and trace element content found children’s cognitive abilities negatively correlate with Pb (PIQ: β=-0.109, P=0.03737) and Cu (PIQ: β=-0.031, P=0.04431; FISQ: β=-0.031, P=0.02137) levels in cord blood. Prenatal low-level As exposure may negatively affect girls’ performance intelligence quotient (PIQ) and verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ). There were differences in Se levels in cord blood and venous blood between boys and girls (P=0.010; P=0.073). High Se levels were associated with a lower VIQ in boys and a higher VIQ in girls. Prenatal exposure to Pb, As and Cu may weaken children’s cognitive abilities at school age. Se exposure may have opposite effects on cognitive abilities affected by dose and gender.
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Data Availability
The data that support the findings of this study are not openly available due to the inclusion of information that could compromise the subject's privacy, but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- Pb:
-
lead
- As:
-
arsenic
- Se:
-
selenium
- Mn:
-
manganese
- Cu:
-
copper
- Cr:
-
chromium
- WISC-CR:
-
Wechsler intelligence scale for children
- ICP-MS:
-
inductively coupled plasma emission mass spectroscopy
- DBH:
-
dopamine β-hydroxylase
- ROS:
-
reactive oxygen species
- LOD:
-
limit of detection
- IQR:
-
interquartile range
- C-Pb:
-
lead concentrations in cord blood
- C-Se:
-
selenium concentrations in cord blood
- C-Cu:
-
copper concentrations in cord blood
- C-Mn:
-
manganese concentrations in cord blood
- C-Cr:
-
chromium concentrations in cord blood
- C-As:
-
arsenic concentrations in cord blood
- V-Pb:
-
lead concentrations in venous blood
- V-Se:
-
selenium concentrations in venous blood
- V-Cu:
-
copper concentrations in venous blood
- CI:
-
confidence interval
- GM:
-
geometric mean
- GSD:
-
geometric standard deviation
- IQ:
-
intelligence quotient
- PIQ:
-
performance intelligence quotient
- VIQ:
-
verbal intelligence quotient
- FSIQ:
-
full-scale intelligence quotient
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This work was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation of China (Grant No.81973062), the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2017YFC1600500), and the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (Grant No.09DZ2200900). The funders had no role in the conduct of the study, the analysis or interpretation of data, and the preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Methodology, software and data curation were performed by Wang Yihong and Wang Yaqian. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Wang Yihong and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. Yan Chonghuai contributed to conceptualizing, writing, reviewing and editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Wang, Y., Wang, Y. & Yan, C. Gender differences in trace element exposures with cognitive abilities of school-aged children: a cohort study in Wujiang city, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 64807–64821 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20353-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20353-4