What is the Birth to Now Study?

The birth to now study, formally known as 'The Impact on Childhood Lead Exposure on Adult Health and Wellbeing' is a long-term follow up of adults from Port Pirie and is being conducted by the Centre for Military & Veterans' Health at the University of Adelaide.  The original study, known as "The Port Pirie Cohort Study" commenced in 1979-1983.  The original aim of this study was to examine the effects of lead exposure both in utero and during childhood on later behaviour and development.

Follow up assessments were performed at regular time intervals from birth to the age of 11 or 13 where parents and/or teachers completed a range of questionnaires about the child. Current study participants were one of the 723 people who were born at the right time and the right place to be involved in this important study.  The level of participation to date is dependent on whether or not the parents could be located at each assessment point and whether they agreed to further involvement.  

Why are our study participants so important to us?

It has been 25 years since participants were first recruited into the study and we are now wanting to touch base with these people again.  As an adult they are probably beginning to establish themselves in the world as an independent entity, and we are very interested in learning about their life and how they feel about it currently.

Being born and growing up in the town of Port Pirie has no doubt made participants aware of the potential harmful effects of lead and other neurotoxins that pollute our environment.  We however feel that lead may only be a small component of the story. Although effects of lead do need to be monitored, our unit is dedicated to determining what other factors in our lives impact powerfully on who we are, where we are going and what we achieve in our lives.  The fact that we have study particpants, people who have both been screened for lead exposure as well as assessed on a range of other childhood behaviour and cognitive measures, makes the completion of this story all the more possible.  This is the first study ever to have such a diverse range of data available from birth to now.

Were you involved in the original study?

If you think you may have been involved in the original cohort study, please contact us on Tollfree Number 1800 613 904 or email birthtonowstudy@adelaide.edu.au for more information.