Surface dental enamel lead levels and antisocial behavior in Brazilian adolescents

Author(s)

Olympio, Kelly P. K. ^[1] ; Oliveira, Pedro V. ^[2] ; Naozuka, Juliana ^[2] ; Cardoso, Maria R. A. ^[3] ; Marques, Antonio F. ^[4] ; Guenther, Wanda M. R. ^[1] ; Bechara, Etelvino J. H. ^{[5, 6]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Saude Ambiental, Fac Saude Publ, BR-01246904 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Quim, Dept Quim Fundamental, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Epidemiol, Fac Saude Publ, BR-01246904 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Educ, Fac Ciencias, BR-17033360 Bauru, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Quim, Dept Bioquim, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[6] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Exatas & Terra, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: NEUROTOXICOLOGY AND TERATOLOGY; v. 32, n. 2, p. 273-279, MAR-APR 2010.
• Web of Science Citations: 27

Abstract

Lead poisoning has been reportedly linked to a high risk of learning disabilities, aggression and criminal offenses. To study the association between lead exposure and antisocial/delinquent behavior, a cross-sectional study was conducted with 173 Brazilian youths aged 14-18 and their parents (n=93), living in impoverished neighborhoods of Bauru-SP, with high criminality indices. Self-Reported Delinquency (SRD) and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) questionnaires were used to evaluate delinquent/antisocial behavior. Body lead burdens were evaluated in surface dental enamel acid microbiopsies. The dental enamel lead levels (DELL) were quantified by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) and phosphorus content was measured using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Logistic regression was used to identify associations between DELL and each scale defined by CBCL and SRD scores. Odd ratios adjusted for familial and social covariates, considering a group of youths exposed to high lead levels (>= 75 percentile), indicated that high DELL is associated with increased risk of exceeding the clinical score for somatic complaints, social problems, rule-breaking behavior and externalizing problems (Cl 95%). High DELL was not found to be associated with elevated SRD scores. In conclusion, our data support the hypothesis that high-level lead exposure can trigger antisocial behavior, which calls for public policies to prevent lead poisoning. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 06/56530-4 - Carbonilic and redox stress associated with alpha-aminoketones and endogenous beta-ketoacids: mechanisms and biomarkers.
• Grantee: Etelvino José Henriques Bechara
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 01/09641-1 - Free radicals and excited species in metabolic disorders and bioluminescence
• Grantee: Etelvino José Henriques Bechara
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants