@article{10272/20886,
year = {2022},
url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10272/20886},
abstract = {We explored the association between residence in an area polluted with metals and neurobehavioral performance in children aged 9 to 11. A cross-sectional study was conducted with thirty
boys and thirty girls aged 9 to 11 from public schools in a heavily industrialized area, matched by
age (±4 months) and gender with 15 boys and 15 girls from public schools in cities without relevant
industrial activity. Neurobehavioral performance was assessed with the Behavioral Assessment
and Research System. Linear regression models were used, adjusting for age, sex, social class and
multimedia activities to predict each of the neurobehavioral outcome variables. No differences in
neurobehavioral performance were found when all children with residence in areas with environmental exposure to metals were classified as exposed and the children from the other provinces as
unexposed. However, when we compared children living <1 km from an industrial area with respect
to those living more than 1 km away, significant differences were found. Children living <1 km away
had lower scores on Finger Tapping (p = 0.03), Symbol-Digit (p = 0.07) and Continuous Performance
(p = 0.02) than those living farther away. Our results support the hypothesis that residing close to
an area with industrial activity (<1 km) is associated with deficits in neurobehavioral performance
among children aged 9 to 11},
organization = {: We acknowledge the following schools that helped us with the recruitment of
children: CEIP Virgen del Pilar (Huelva), CEIP Prácticas (Huelva), CEIP Virgen de Montemayor
(Moguer, Huelva), CEIP Valdelamusa-San Telmo, CEIP Virgen de Andévalo (El Cerro), CEIP Luis
Cernuda (Castilleja de la Cuesta, Seville), CEIP Juan XXIII (Castilleja de la Cuesta, Seville) and
CEIP Nuestro Padre Jesús (Jabalquinto, Jaen). We would also like to thank Consejería de Educación
(Delegación Provincial de Huelva and Delegación Provincial de Jaén) and Consejería de Salud
(Delegación Provincial de Huelva) for their support for this study, and to W. Kent Anger for his
scientific feedback},
publisher = {MDPI},
title = {Residence in an Area with Environmental Exposure to Heavy Metals and Neurobehavioral Performance in Children 9–11 Years Old: An Explorative Study},
doi = {10.3390/ijerph19084732},
author = {Capelo Álvarez, Rocío and Rohlman, Diane S. and Jara Biedma, Rocío and García Barrera, Tamara and Viñas, Jesús and Lorca Marín, José Andrés and Contreras Llanes, Manuel and Alguacil Ojeda, Juan},
}