Lead exposure and motor functioning in 41/2-year-old children: The Yugoslavia prospective study

Objective: To investigate associations between lead exposure and early moto r development. Study design: We conducted standardized assessments of motor function (Brui ninks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency acid Beery Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration) at age 54 months in 283 children whose mothers we re recruited in pregnancy from a smelter town and a non-lead-exposed town i n Yugoslavia and who have been monitored twice yearly since birth. Blood le ad concentration (BPb) was summarized in a measure reflecting the average o f the child's semiannual serial log BPbs through 54 months. Results: Multiple regression showed that taken together, anthropometric mea sures (birth weight, body mass index) and markers of a stimulating and orga nized home life (HOME scale. parental education and intelligence, availabil ity of siblings) explained a significant 10% to 18% of the variance in moto r functioning. Beyond these contributions, BPb was significantly associated with poorer fine motor and visual motor function but was unrelated to gros s motor coordination. Conclusions: Modest associations between early lead exposure and fine motor and visual motor functioning appear even after statistical adjustment is d one for other contributors to motor development. Associations with BPb are specific to these areas of motor skill; gross motor development was unaffec ted.