Blood lead levels in children with neurological disorders

Blood lead levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry in 82 chi ldren suffering from various neurological disorders (cerebral palsy 42, sei zure disorders 35, acute encephalopathy of unknown origin 5) and in 28 heal thy children, aged 1 to 12 years, Mean blood lead levels were 11.96 +/- 10. 97 mu g/dl in control children and 19.30 +/- 17.65 mu g/dl in children with neurological disorders. A significant number of control children as well a s those who had neurological disorders were found to have blood lead concen trations of greater than or equal to 10 mu g/dl and greater than or equal t o 20 mu g/dl, the cut-off limits for lead poisoning and medical evaluation, respectively, Blood lead levels were, statistically, elevated in children with cerebral palsy compared to controls, Children with pica behaviour exhi bited higher blood lead concentrations.