PRENATAL AND PERINATAL LOW-LEVEL LEAD-EXPOSURE ALTERS BRAIN-STEM AUDITORY-EVOKED RESPONSES IN INFANTS

Wave III latency and the III-V interpeak interval of brainstem auditor y evoked responses in infants in the first weeks of life decreased and increased, respectively, in association with mid-pregnancy maternal b lood lead levels (2.5-35 mu g/dl) in a group of 30 prospectively follo wed healthy pregnancies and deliveries. The rapid myelination of brain stem auditory pathways of occurring around mid-pregnancy and the lengt hening oi the III- V interpeak interval with increased mid-pregnancy m aternal lead suggest that brain structures involved in spatial localiz ation of sound may be compromised by prenatal lead exposure. The data also indicate that maternal blood lead measurements during pregnancy p rovide an adequate surrogate index of fetal exposure. (C) 1994 Intox P ress.