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ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF SENSORY AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN CHILDREN EXPOSED TO LEAD: A REVIEW
Citation:
Otto, D. ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF SENSORY AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN CHILDREN EXPOSED TO LEAD: A REVIEW. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/D-87/296 (NTIS PB88103148), 1987.
Description:
Studies of the effects of lead absorption on sensory evoked and slow brain potentials in children are reviewed. Studies of slow wave voltage in children during sensory conditioning indicated a linear relationship to blood lead level in two studies; an effect that could not be replicated in an independent sample of children. Results of a fourth study indicated that slow voltage measures were more sensitive to lead during active rather than passive conditioning. Conflicting evidence of lead effects on pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials in children was found in three studies. Evidence of increased latencies of brainstorm auditory evoked potentials at blood lead levels above 25/dl were reported in two studies. Sensory evoked potentials hold considerable promise as noninvasive, clinically valid, culture free measures of the effects of lead exposure on sensory nerve conduction, but further study is needed in humans and animals to clarify inconsistencies in the existing literature.