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BackgroundLead toxicity is of particular public health concern given its near ubiquitous distribution in nature and established neurotoxicant properties. Similar in its ubiquity and ability to inhibit neurodevelopment, early childhood stunting affects an estimated 34 % of children under 5 in low- and middle-income countries. Both lead and stunting have been shown to be associated with decreased neurodevelopment, although the relationship between these childhood burdens is underexplored. The association between lead exposure and stunting has been previously established, yet limited data are available on susceptibility windows.MethodsWhole blood lead samples were collected from rural Bangladeshi children at delivery (umbilical cord blood) and at age 20-40 months (fingerstick blood). Stunting was determined using the Child Growth Standards developed from the World Health Organization Multicentre Growth Reference Study. Children with height for age ResultsMedian (IQR) umbilical cord and fingerstick blood lead levels were 3.1 (1.6-6.3) μg/dl and 4.2 (1.7-7.6) μg/dl, respectively. In adjusted multivariable regression models, the odds of stunting at 20-40 months increased by 1.12 per μg/dl increase in blood lead level (OR = 1.12, 95 % CI: 1.02-1.22). No association was found between cord blood lead level and risk of stunting (OR = 0.97, 95 % CI: 0.94-1.00).ConclusionsThere is a significant association between stunting and concurrent lead exposure at age 20-40 months. This association is slightly attenuated after controlling for study clinic site. Additional research including more precise timing of lead exposure during these critical 20-40 months is needed.

Original publication

DOI

10.1186/s12940-016-0190-4

Type

Journal

Environmental health : a global access science source

Publication Date

04/11/2016

Volume

15

Addresses

Department of Environmental Health - EOME Program, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Landmark Center, 401 Park Drive, 3rd Floor East, Boston, MA, 02215, USA. kgleason@mail.harvard.edu.

Keywords

Fetal Blood, Humans, Child Nutrition Disorders, Growth Disorders, Lead, Environmental Pollutants, Environmental Monitoring, Child, Preschool, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Rural Population, Bangladesh, Female, Male