The Institute is now investigating ways to reverse these effects. In this study, treated and untreated children will be measured for cognitive and behavioral development three years after treatment.
All children receive home lead abatement and vitamin and mineral supplementation.
The study's principal aim is to determine whether succimer is both safe and effective and to track any behavior and developmental changes among these children. Low Birth Weight in Babies Low birth weight is associated with a number of adverse health outcomes, including reduced growth, lower cognitive performance, and greater morbidity. Lead, a common contaminant of inner-city environments, is stored in bone where, during pregnancy, it can be mobilized and cross the placenta to expose the fetus. This study measured pregnant women's bone lead levels and found that the higher the level, the greater the possibility her child was born with a low birth weight. This Program Announcement seeks to encourage research to develop innovative strategies to prevent low birth weight in minority populations and to expand our understanding of how psychosocial and environmental factors affect or interact with the biologic mechanisms that influence pregnancy outcomes.