Low-level lead exposure and intelligence in children

Numerous prospective and cross-sectional studies of the relation between lo w-level lead exposure and cognitive functioning in children have suggested that intellectual and academic performance declines as lead burdens increas e. Kaufman [Arch. Clin. Neuropsychol. (2001)] raises questions regarding in terpretive issues along these lines, and therein challenges the wisdom of u sing the available lead/IQ data complex as an essential element of the deci sion-making process that leads to policy statements. In this article, we ad dress some of the concerns expressed by Kaufman, and conclude that each of his five points are logically or statistically flawed, as is his overall st rategy of critiquing individual studies after methodologically sound meta-a nalyses have been performed. Kaufman is perhaps correct that the findings f rom correlational research on low lead levels and IQ loss should be interpr eted with caution, but the caution extends equally if not more greatly in t he direction of previous research having underestimated the relationship be tween the two variables in question. (C) 2001 National academy of Neuropsyc hology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.