Science / Medicine : Reversing Lead’s Effect on Growth

The stunting of infants’ growth by low to moderate lead exposure can be a temporary effect, say researchers who found that children under 3 can catch up if lead exposure is reduced. “If exposure can be diminished, it appears that earlier effects on growth are eliminated,” said pediatrician Kim N. Dietrich of the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine in the journal Pediatrics.

Lead has been identified as the No. 1 environmental hazard to America’s children, putting 3 million to 4 million at risk of problems ranging from damaged intelligence and behavioral disorders to stunted growth, liver or kidney damage, limb paralysis or convulsions and even death.

Dietrich and his colleagues have reported previously that low to moderate lead exposures of children in the womb and during their first 15 months of life stunted their growth. The effect seems to be reversible, at least when elevated lead levels in the womb or during the baby’s first 15 months are followed by less exposure, the researchers report in a follow-up study of lead levels and height of 235 children.