Contributions of the caregiving environment to increased lead burden of children.

Two groups of children, 12 to 30 months (n = 14) and 31 to 78 months of age (n = 12), showing increased lead burden were compared to a sample of children matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status but showing no evidence of increased lead burden. All children were screened at a local county health department because of suspected lead exposure or as part of the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program. The quality of the caregiving environment was assessed using the HOME Inventory. A measure of maternal intelligence was also obtained. For the younger children, significant deficits in maternal IQ and quality of the caregiving environment were associated with increased lead burden. In particular, the subscales of the HOME Inventory dealing with emotional and verbal responsivity of the mother and maternal involvement with the child were significantly lower for children with increased lead burden. For the older children there was no significant association between lead burden and home environment or maternal IQ. The results suggest that intellectual deficits previously attributed to lead toxicity may be related to compromised home environment.