Study finds links between low levels of lead exposure and strep throat in children
Even low levels of lead exposure can increase the risk of strep throat in children, according to new research from the University at Buffalo.
A recent study conducted by researchers at the University at Buffalo reveals a connection between low levels of lead exposure and an increased risk of strep throat in children. The research team analyzed data from medical records of over 13,000 children aged 14 or younger in Philadelphia from 2010 to 2020. Blood lead screening data were collected, and records for strep throat or croup diagnoses were also reviewed.
Children with blood lead concentrations ranging from 1 to 3.4 micrograms per deciliter had approximately 2.5 times the odds of being diagnosed with strep throat compared to those with levels under 1 microgram per deciliter. Those with levels at or above 3.5 micrograms per deciliter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's threshold for public health action, had about 2.7 times the odds.
The study found no clear association between lead exposure and croup. The lead exposure-related health inequities and structural barriers found in many older cities, such as Buffalo, were highlighted by the study's corresponding author, Marina Oktapodas Feiler. Renters and individuals of lower income are particularly affected due to their inability to maintain or renovate their homes to remove lead.
The researchers concluded that environmental lead exposure adversely affects the development and maturation of the immune system, increasing susceptibility to infectious respiratory illnesses in children. However, the scientific evidence of childhood respiratory outcomes linked to lead exposure remains inconclusive.
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