LOS ANGELES, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Exposure to lead during pregnancy and early childhood may speed up the rate at which children forget information, potentially impairing learning and cognitive development, according to a new study published Wednesday.
The study, led by researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, used a well-established cognitive test known as the delayed matching-to-sample task to examine memory performance in children aged 6 to 8.
Researchers applied a novel statistical model -- the nonlinear modified power function -- which had previously been used in animal and human studies, but is now being adapted for environmental health research.
The study found that higher blood lead levels between the ages of 4 and 6 were significantly associated with faster rates of forgetting, even at relatively low levels of exposure, with a median blood lead level of approximately 1.7 micrograms per deciliter.
The findings, published in Science Advances, suggest that even low-level lead exposure can compromise critical cognitive functions during early childhood.
Researchers say the results highlight the urgent need for strengthened lead prevention and mitigation efforts, particularly in historically underserved communities. ■