Study Finds Lead Negatively Impacts Cognitive Functions of Boys More than Girls

A new study published in the Journal of Environmental Health, conducted by Creighton University’s College of Arts and Sciences, reports that females are less impacted by high levels of lead than males. The study also discovered how impairment from lead poisoning is visible in early childhood. During the study, 40 young children were analyzed in regards to executive function and reading skills, selected geographically for their proximity to the largest lead cleanup area in the nation (due to widespread contamination from a major refinery). While males with high levels of lead in their bloodstream exhibited below average comprehension, females with similar lead levels were visibly less affected. “The study supports existing research suggesting that estrogen and estradiol in females may act as neuroprotectants against the negative impacts of neurotoxins. The findings also add to the evidence that lead exposure has a negative impact on cognitive functioning, especially those functions housed within frontal areas of the brain. Executive functions are controlled largely by the prefrontal cortex, while reading skills rely more heavily on the temporal or parietal areas of the cerebral cortex,” stated a Creighton University psychology professor. This is the first study to indicate that exposure to high levels of lead visibly impact childhood development. Previous research proposed that the risks were long-term, rather than immediate. To learn more about this study, click here.