Attention deficit among preschool and school-aged children living near former metal-processing plants in Romania.
Environ Res
; 208: 112689, 2022 05 15.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34999026
Industrial areas affected by high and long-term heavy metal pollution have a great impact on health of the resident population. Children represent a group at high-risk with an increased susceptibility to chronic heavy metal intoxication. Our work included the assessment of attention particularities through a case-control study in pre-school and school-aged children (4-6 years and 8-11 years) from two study areas, Copsa Mica and Zlatna, compared to a non-polluted locality with no history of heavy metal pollution. Copsa Mica and Zlatna are two of the most polluted heavy metals regions in Romania due to non-ferrous metallurgy for a long period of time. Recruitment of participants was made by a random selection of an entire class for each age within the schools and kindergartens from the study areas (Copsa Mica and Zlatna) and from the non-polluted region. Interpretation of data was performed using statistical analysis (ANOVA and Student's t-test). Preschool children (4-6 years) were tested using Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) tests, Animal House and labyrinth samples. The results of the attention tests applied to pre-school children were lower in the study areas compared to the control group, but no statistical differences were found. The results of the attention tests applied to children aged between 8 and 11 years (Toulouse-Pieron test and Traffic light test) indicate lower average scores within the study groups from polluted areas, compared to the control group. Differences with statistically significance were registered for the 8 years age group (p = 0.037). In these areas efficient strategies and precise intervention measures are needed in order to limit or remove the heavy metal exposure and protect the human health, especially the groups exposed to a high level of risk.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Monitoreo del Ambiente
/
Metales Pesados
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Environ Res
Año:
2022
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Rumanía
Pais de publicación:
Países Bajos