Objective

Although environmental lead exposure has decreased, several studies have shown that low-level lead exposure can result in adverse psychological symptoms. However, few studies have examined lead neurotoxicity in pregnant women. We investigated the association between lead exposure and psychological symptoms in pregnant women, and between socio-economic status and blood lead levels.

Methods

Blood lead levels were measured in 17,267 pregnant women in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. Odds ratios (ORs) for high blood lead levels were calculated using multinomial logistic regression. Psychological symptoms were assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). ORs for depression (K6░≥░13 or ≥5) were calculated using logistic regression with adjustment for potential confounders.

Results

The geometric mean of whole blood lead levels was 0.58░μg/dl (range 0.14–6.75░μg/dl). Higher blood lead levels were associated with older age (OR 1.79, 9 5% confidence interval [CI] 1.46–2.19), unmarried status (OR 1.75, 95 % CI 1.31–2.33), lower household income (OR 1.76, 95 % CI 1.38–2.24), and lower educational attainment (OR 1.34, 95 % CI 1.20–1.48). The percentage of women with K6 scores ≥13 and ≥5 was 3 % and 28.2 %, respectively. There was no significant association between lead exposure and K6 score (K6░≥░13: OR 1.00, 95 % CI 0.76–1.32; K6░≥░5: OR 0.98, 95 % CI 0.88–1.09).

Conclusion

Our results indicate a small but significant association between higher blood lead levels and lower socio-economic status in a population with low blood lead levels, but no association between low-level lead exposure and psychological symptoms.

中文翻译：

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孕妇的血铅暴露与心理健康之间的关联：日本环境和儿童研究的结果。

目的

尽管减少了环境铅的暴露，但一些研究表明，低水平的铅暴露会导致不良的心理症状。但是，很少有研究检查孕妇的铅神经毒性。我们调查了铅暴露与孕妇心理症状之间的关联，以及社会经济状况与血铅水平之间的关联。

方法

在《日本环境与儿童研究》中对17,267名孕妇的血铅水平进行了测量。高血铅水平的赔率（OR）使用多项式逻辑回归计算。使用凯斯勒心理困扰量表（K6）评估心理症状。抑郁的OR（K6░≥░13或≥5）使用对数校正后的对数回归进行逻辑回归计算。

结果

全血铅水平的几何平均值为0.58μg/ dl（范围0.14–6.75μg / dl）。血铅水平升高与年龄较大（OR 1.79，9 5％置信区间[CI] 1.46–2.19），未婚状态（OR 1.75，95％CI 1.31–2.33），家庭收入较低（OR 1.76，95％CI）相关。 1.38–2.24）和较低的教育程度（OR 1.34，95％CI 1.20–1.48）。K6评分≥13和≥5的女性比例分别为3％和28.2％。铅暴露与K6得分之间无显着相关性（K6░≥░13：OR 1.00，95％CI 0.76-1.32；K6░≥░5：OR 0.98，95％CI 0.88-1.09）。

结论

我们的结果表明，在血铅水平低的人群中，血铅水平较高与社会经济地位较低之间存在很小的显着关联，但铅水平低暴露与心理症状之间没有关联。