Association of heavy metal complex exposure and neurobehavioral function of children

Minkeun Kim; Chulyong Park; Joon Sakong; Shinhee Ye; So Young Son; Kiook Baek

doi:10.35371/aoem.2023.35.e23

Association of heavy metal complex exposure and neurobehavioral function of children

Ann Occup Environ Med. 2023 Jul 6:35:e23. doi: 10.35371/aoem.2023.35.e23. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Minkeun Kim¹, Chulyong Park^{1

2}, Joon Sakong^{1

2}, Shinhee Ye³, So Young Son¹, Kiook Baek¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.
² Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea.
³ Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Incheon, Korea.

Abstract

Background: Exposure to heavy metals is a public health concern worldwide. Previous studies on the association between heavy metal exposure and neurobehavioral functions in children have focused on single exposures and clinical manifestations. However, the present study evaluated the effects of heavy metal complex exposure on subclinical neurobehavioral function using a Korean Computerized Neurobehavior Test (KCNT).

Methods: Urinary mercury, lead, cadmium analyses as well as symbol digit substitution (SDS) and choice reaction time (CRT) tests of the KCNT were conducted in children aged between 10 and 12 years. Reaction time and urinary heavy metal levels were analyzed using partial correlation, linear regression, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), the weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and quantile G-computation analysis.

Results: Participants of 203 SDS tests and 198 CRT tests were analyzed, excluding poor cooperation and inappropriate urine sample. Partial correlation analysis revealed no association between neurobehavioral function and exposure to individual heavy metals. The result of multiple linear regression shows significant positive association between urinary lead, mercury, and CRT. BMKR, WQS regression and quantile G-computation analysis showed a statistically significant positive association between complex urinary heavy metal concentrations, especially lead and mercury, and reaction time.

Conclusions: Assuming complex exposures, urinary heavy metal concentrations showed a statistically significant positive association with CRT. These results suggest that heavy metal complex exposure during childhood should be evaluated and managed strictly.

Keywords: Central nervous system; Environmental exposure; Heavy metals; Neurobehavioral manifestation.