<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Blood lead level (BLL) is insufficiently sensitive for early detection of Lead-induced neurotoxicity (LIN). This study determined the possible role of the combination of BLL, intelligent quotient (IQ) and erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the early detection of LIN in Children. Apparently healthy children (n=309) from eight public primary schools in Ibadan, Nigeria were recruited and classified into: children with Elevated BLL (EBLL) and children with Acceptable BLL (control) based on CDC cut-off for childhood lead exposure. Neurological indices (speech, memory, cranial nerves and cerebellar functions), IQ, BLL and erythrocyte AChE activity were assessed using standard methods, Standard Progressive Matrices, AAS and HPLC respectively. Statistical analysis involved Student’s t-test, Pearson’s correlation and multivariate regression. p&lt;0.05 was considered significant. There were 169 (54.7%) children with EBLL while there were 140 (45.3%) control children. Both groups exhibited normal speech, memory, cranial nerves and cerebellar functions. However, IQ was lower in EBLL children (85.9±11.6) compared with control (91.5±14.0) while BLL and AChE activity were higher in EBLL children (0.4±0.1 µmol/l; 117.5±25.5 µkat/l) compared with control (0.2±0.0 µmol/l; 59.4±10.2 µkat/l). BLL showed inverse correlation with IQ (r=–0.134, <italic>p</italic>=0.019) but positive correlation with AChE (r=0.978, <italic>p</italic>≤0.001). 16.2% of the observed variation in BLL could be accounted for by AChE using the equation; [BLL=–0.007+0.003 AChE] <italic>p</italic>&lt;0.05. Elevated blood lead level is prevalent among the school children and appears to have adverse effect on their IQ. Erythrocyte AChE could be a promising marker for early recognition of significant environmental lead exposure and lead-induced neurotoxicity in children.</p></abstract>

Blood lead level (BLL) is insufficiently sensitive for early detection of Lead-induced neurotoxicity (LIN). This study determined the possible role of the combination of BLL, intelligent quotient (IQ) and erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the early detection of LIN in Children. Apparently healthy children (n=309) from eight public primary schools in Ibadan, Nigeria were recruited and classified into: children with Elevated BLL (EBLL) and children with Acceptable BLL (control) based on CDC cut-off for childhood lead exposure. Neurological indices (speech, memory, cranial nerves and cerebellar functions), IQ, BLL and erythrocyte AChE activity were assessed using standard methods, Standard Progressive Matrices, AAS and HPLC respectively. Statistical analysis involved Student’s t-test, Pearson’s correlation and multivariate regression. p<0.05 was considered significant. There were 169 (54.7%) children with EBLL while there were 140 (45.3%) control children. Both groups exhibited normal speech, memory, cranial nerves and cerebellar functions. However, IQ was lower in EBLL children (85.9±11.6) compared with control (91.5±14.0) while BLL and AChE activity were higher in EBLL children (0.4±0.1 µmol/l; 117.5±25.5 µkat/l) compared with control (0.2±0.0 µmol/l; 59.4±10.2 µkat/l). BLL showed inverse correlation with IQ (r=–0.134, p=0.019) but positive correlation with AChE (r=0.978, p≤0.001). 16.2% of the observed variation in BLL could be accounted for by AChE using the equation; [BLL=–0.007+0.003 AChE] p<0.05. Elevated blood lead level is prevalent among the school children and appears to have adverse effect on their IQ. Erythrocyte AChE could be a promising marker for early recognition of significant environmental lead exposure and lead-induced neurotoxicity in children.

Positive and inverse correlation of blood lead level with erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase and intelligence quotient in children: implications for neurotoxicity

Department of Family Medicine and Psychiatry

Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine

University of Ibadan/University College Hospital

Department of Special Education, Faculty of Education

Interdisciplinary Toxicology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Blood lead level (BLL) is insufficiently sensitive for early detection of Lead-induced neurotoxicity (LIN). This study determined the possible role of the...

Positive and inverse correlation of blood lead level with erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase and intelligence quotient in children: implications for neurotoxicity

Published Online: Feb 20, 2020

Page range: 136 - 142

Received: Feb 07, 2019

Accepted: Sep 12, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/intox-2019-0016

Keywords
erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase, intelligence quotient, lead-induced neurotoxicity

© 2019 Nnenna Linda Nwobi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Positive and inverse correlation of blood lead level with erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase and intelligence quotient in children: implications for neurotoxicity

Published Online: Feb 20, 2020

Page range: 136 - 142

Received: Feb 07, 2019

Accepted: Sep 12, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/intox-2019-0016

Keywordserythrocyte acetylcholinesterase, intelligence quotient, lead-induced neurotoxicity

© 2019 Nnenna Linda Nwobi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase, intelligence quotient, lead-induced neurotoxicity