No difference in iron status between children with low and moderate lead exposure

• Published in: The Journal of pediatrics Vol. 135; no. 1; pp. 108 - 110
• Main Authors: Serwint, Janet R., Damokosh, Andrew I., Berger, Omer G., Chisolm, J.Julian, Gunter, Elaine W., Jones, Robert L., Rhoads, George G., Rogan, Walter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.07.1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: African Continental Ancestry Group; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - epidemiology; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Child, Preschool; Deficiency Diseases - epidemiology; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Female; Humans; Infant; Iron - deficiency; Iron Metabolism Disorders - epidemiology; Lead; Lead Poisoning - epidemiology; Male; Medical sciences; Metals and various inorganic compounds; Prevalence; Statistics, Nonparametric; Toxicology; United States - epidemiology; United States; North America; America; MCV; FER; TLC; CDC; RDW; NHANES III; Human; Pathophysiology; Ferritin; Negroid; Lead; Infant; Poisoning; Child; Saturnism; Comparative study; Blood plasma
• ISSN: 0022-3476; 1097-6833
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-3476(99)70338-0

We compared the iron status between children 11 to 33 months old with confirmed blood lead levels of 20 to 44 μg/dL and demographically similar children with blood lead levels of <10 μg/dL. There were no differences. Laboratory investigation or empirical treatment for iron deficiency is not justified on the basis of moderately elevated blood lead levels alone. (J Pediatr 1999;135:108-10)