Contribution of house dust contamination towards lead exposure among children in Karachi, Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-275
Author(s):  
Akihiko Ikegami ◽  
Mayumi Ohtsu ◽  
Ambreen Sahito ◽  
Adeel Ahmed Khan ◽  
Zafar Fatmi ◽  
...  

AbstractLead exposure is associated with impaired neurodevelopment among children. House dust is recognized as one of the important secondary sources of lead exposure in children. We assessed the relationship between lead contamination in house dust and blood lead level in Pakistani children. We investigated lead contamination in house dust samples collected from 59 houses in Karachi, Pakistan. The lead content of house dust in Pakistan was relatively higher than that reported in previous studies. Weekly lead intakes from house dust were considerably higher among Pakistani children. In Pakistani children, 12% (7 of 58) showed lead intake values greater than the previous Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake of lead. A correlation (Pearson’s correlation = 0.37) was found between weekly lead intake from house dust and blood lead level in Pakistani children. In addition, blood lead levels were significantly higher in children with high lead intakes than in children with low and medium lead intakes. Thus, house dust is an important source of lead exposure in Pakistani children.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Man Fung Tsoi ◽  
Chris Wai Hang Lo ◽  
Tommy Tsang Cheung ◽  
Bernard Man Yung Cheung

AbstractLead is a heavy metal without a biological role. High level of lead exposure is known to be associated with hypertension, but the risk at low levels of exposure is uncertain. In this study, data from US NHANES 1999–2016 were analyzed. Adults with blood lead and blood pressure measurements, or self-reported hypertension diagnosis, were included. If not already diagnosed, hypertension was defined according to the AHA/ACC 2017 hypertension guideline. Results were analyzed using R statistics version 3.5.1 with sample weight adjustment. Logistic regression was used to study the association between blood lead level and hypertension. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated. Altogether, 39,477 participants were included. Every doubling in blood lead level was associated with hypertension (OR [95%CI] 1.45 [1.40–1.50]), which remained significant after adjusting for demographics. Using quartile 1 as reference, higher blood lead levels were associated with increased adjusted odds of hypertension (Quartile 4 vs. Quartile 1: 1.22 [1.09–1.36]; Quartile 3 vs. Quartile 1: 1.15 [1.04–1.28]; Quartile 2 vs. Quartile 1: 1.14 [1.05–1.25]). In conclusion, blood lead level is associated with hypertension in the general population with blood lead levels below 5 µg/dL. Our findings suggest that reducing present levels of environmental lead exposure may bring cardiovascular benefits by reducing blood pressure.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Laporte ◽  
H Barberin de Barberini ◽  
E Jouve ◽  
K Hadji ◽  
S Gentile

Abstract Background Removing lead sources is the main measure against child lead poisoning. Medical treatment is ineffective for most mild cases and particularly against long-term complications in neurological development. However, the effectiveness of interventions to eliminate sources of lead exposure has not been fully established, mainly because of the diversity of situations. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of several interventions (housing counselling, rehabilitation and relocation) on blood lead levels in two situations (stable unhealthy housing with old flaked lead paints, slums with family recycling practices by incineration). Methodology A historical cohort of lead poisoning in children has been established in Marseille, France. Medical follow-up followed national guidelines. Environmental interventions followed legal procedures, where available. In slums, counselling was adapted to the exposure. A generalized mixed model was developed to study the kinetics of blood lead levels after the interventions. Results 151 children were included; age = 5.4 (SD = 7.8) years; 85 (56%) lived in stable unhealthy housing, others lived in slums. Medical follow-up included 492 blood lead levels. For children living in stable unhealthy housing, blood lead level decrease was significantly associated with every intervention: housing counselling, rehabilitation and relocation (respectively p < 0.005; p < 0.05 and p < 0.005). For children living in slums, blood lead level decrease was only associated with relocation in a stable housing (p < 0.005). Conclusions Several interventions are effective to decrease blood lead levels in unhealthy housing. In slums, access to a stable housing first is a prerequisite for any intervention against child lead poisoning, even when related to family practices. Key messages In stable unhealthy housing, several interventions against lead exposure can be effective to raise a strategy. But, environmental health and access to housing first needs to be addressed for their implementation.


2007 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 214
Author(s):  
Budi Haryanto

Leaded-gasoline has been used as major octane booster of motor vehicles’ gasoline in Indonesia since decades ago, except in Jakarta, Batam and Bali where it had not been used from 2001, 2003 and 2004, respectively. Negative effects of lead, such as decreasing of IQ, hearing, growth, and hemoglobin level, then will still be threatening and may continue in the future. Meanwhile, the prolonged lead exposure occurs in the may have more dangerous human health effects to children. The Jakarta blood-lead study in 2001 showed that 35% elementary school children have blood lead levels (BLLs) more than 10 µg/dl, and 2.4% had BLL more than 20 µg/dl (CDC-USAEP 2001). The objective of this study is to assess the blood lead level of elementary school children in Jakarta urban area in 2005 by evaluating the mean blood lead level of 3rd and 4th grade elementary school children in Jakarta urban area. A cross-sectional survey was implemented to achieve the above objective. The study was conducted in January-February 2005. Portable LeadCare and Hemocue were used to analyze blood-lead and blood hemoglobin (Hb) respectively from children finger blood on site. All of the 20 selected elementary schools agreed to participate in the test. A total of 203 students were allowed by their parents to participate in the test. The overall average for Hb-blood level is 12.6 g/dl and for Pb-blood level is 4.2 µg/dl. Percentage of those children with Pb-blood equal and more than 10 µg/dl is 1.3%. The declining Pb-blood prevalence from 2001 study obviously reflects the success of Leaded-gasoline phase-out program in Jakarta. It means that the program is successful in preventing people exposed to leadedgasoline in Jakarta, especially children, from the risk of lead toxicity and its impacts. Thus, the program of phasing-out of leaded-gasoline should be expanded and implemented to all Indonesian provinces and cities in order to avoid lead exposure to people.Keywords : Air quality, blood-lead levels, children health effectsAbstrakBensin dengan kandungan logam berat timbal digunakan sebagai bahan bakar utama kendaraan bermotor di Indonesia sejak beberapa dekade. Jakarta, Batam dan Bali yang secara berurutan sudah tidak menggunakannya sejak 2001, 2003 dan 2004. Pengaruh negatif logam berat timbal meliputi penurunan tingkat IQ, gangguan pendengaran, gangguan pertumbuhan, dan menurunkan kadar hemoglobin, masih akan terus berlangsung dan mengancam anak-anak. Studi kadar logam berat timbal dalam darah di Jakarta, tahun 2001, menemukan 5% anak sekolah dasar dengan kadar timbal darah (BLLs) ³10 µg/dl, dan 2,4% mempunyai BLL > 20 µg/dl (CDC-USAEP 2001). Penelitian ini bertujuan menilai kadar timbal darah anak sekolah dasar di Jakarta, tahun 2005. Studi dilakukan pada anak-anak sekolah dasar kelas 3 dan 4 di Jakarta pada periode Januari-Februari 2005. Sebanyak 20 sekolah dasar yang terpilih dan 203 pelajar berartisipasi pada penelitian. Rata-rata kadar hemoglobin darah adalah 12,6 g/dl dan kadar Pb darah adalah 4,2 µg/dl. Proporsi anak-anak dengan kadar Pb-darah ³ 10 µg/dl adalah 1,3%. Penurunan prevalensi Pb-darah dari studi tahun 2001 secara meyakinkan merefleksikan keberhasilan program penghapusan bensin bertimbal di Jakarta. Itu berarti bahwa program tersebut berhasil mencegah pajanan risiko toksik dan dampak kesehatannya pada penduduk Jakarta, khususnya anak-anak. Program penghentian bahan bakar bertimbal disarankan untuk diperluas pada seluruh provinsi dan kota di Indonesia. Kata kunci : Kualitas udara, kadar timbal (Pb) darah, dampak kesehatan pada anak-anak


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-200
Author(s):  
Edward B. Hayes ◽  
Hyman G. Orbach ◽  
Alina M. Fernandez ◽  
Sheila Lyne ◽  
Thomas D. Matte ◽  
...  

Objectives. To evaluate trends in blood lead levels among children in Chicago from 1968 through 1988, and to determine the impact of the changes in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) blood lead level of concern. Methods. We reviewed a systematic sample of blood lead screening records of the Chicago Department of Health Laboratory for high-risk children aged 6 months to 5 years. Median blood lead levels for each quarter of the years 1974 through 1988 were determined and regressed against mean air lead levels recorded at air-monitoring stations in Chicago during the same period. Results. Median blood lead levels declined from 30 µg/dL in 1968 to 12 µg/dL in 1988, and were strongly associated with declining average air lead levels (r = .8, P < .001) from 1974 through 1988. A regression model using log-transformed data predicted a decline of 0.56 µg/dL in the median blood lead level with each 0.1 µg/m3 decline in the mean air lead level when the air lead level was near 1.0 µg/m3; the predicted slope was steeper at lower air lead levels. Despite the nearly 20-fold reduction in air lead levels, the median blood lead level of 12 µg/dL in 1988 indicates substantial continuing lead exposure. The CDC blood lead level of concern was lowered twice from 1968 to 1988, but due to the decline in blood lead levels, fewer than 30% of the children were above the level of concern throughout most of the study. Conclusion. Although substantial lead exposure persists in Chicago, reductions in airborne lead emissions seem to have contributed to a long-term decline in the median blood lead level of high-risk Chicago children.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-288
Author(s):  
Joel Schwartz ◽  
Carol Angle ◽  
Hugh Pitcher

The second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1976 to 1980, incorporated medical history, physical examination, anthropometric measurements, dietary information (24-hour recall and food frequency), laboratory tests, and radiographs. In linear regressions of adjusted data from 2,695 children aged 7 years and younger, 91% of the variance in height, 72% of the variance in weight, and 58% of the variance in chest circumference were explained by six variables: age, race, sex, blood lead level, total calories or protein, and hemetocrit or transferrin saturation level. Variables that did not significantly improve the models predicting growth included family income, degree of urbanization, serum albumin, copper, iron, and zinc levels, dietary carbohydrate, fat, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin A, vitamin C, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamine. The highly significant correlation of blood lead level with growth does not contradict the established association of childhood deprivation with increased lead exposure and with nutritional deficiences known to enhance lead absorption. Blood lead level may also represent a composite marker for unidentified genetic, ethnic, environmental, and sociocultural variables, other than race, sex, and nutrition, that affect growth. However, the correlation of stature, particularly height, with blood lead levels in the range of 5 to 35µg/dL is so statistically significant that it merits investigation in other surveys and consideration of the multiple biologic mechanisms by which low-level lead exposure could impair the growth of children.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diah Lestari ◽  
Angki Purwanti

The modifying factor for exposure time for paint workers who work more than 8 hours / day have abnormal blood lead levels> 10 μg / dl. Lead exposure to paint workers occurs when mixing paints, mostly through air, skin, through food and drinks. The longer the work, the more the amount of lead exposure received, although the amount of lead absorbed by the body is only small, this metal turns out to be very dangerous and can cause health problems due to the buildup of lead in the body. The presence of lead (Pb) in the blood can cause severe and dangerous effects including interfering with the hematopoietic system, a long exposure can disrupt the gastrointestinal system, central nervous system, immune system, kidneys. The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship and closeness of the relationship between the modification factors of exposure time with blood lead levels of adulterated paint workers in the area of East Jakarta. The research method uses primary data through an analytic observational cross-sectional design approach. Sampling is done by non-probability sampling with consecutive sampling techniques. The correlation test used was the Spearman test with a confidence level of 95%. The results of the research found that the average exposure time of adulterated paint workers was 48.9 hours/week exceeding the permissible work time, and the exposure time >40 hours/week was 77.5% of the number of respondents. The average blood lead level was 0.15 mg/L, with the highest blood lead level 0.45 mg/L and workers with exposure times> 40 hours/week obtained blood lead levels exceeding the safe reference limit (40 mg/L) of 19.4%. The conclusion is that there is a significant relationship between duration of exposure and lead level of adulterated paint workers (p-value = 0.029) and shows the moderate closeness of the relationship with the direction of a positive relationship. The value of r = 0.346, means that the longer the person is exposed to lead, the higher the level of lead in the blood of adulterated paint  workers. The discussion of modification factors of exposure time in adulterated paint workers can influence lead exposure continuously, in the long term, absorption of lead in the body 99% which is bound to erythrocytes will accumulate in the blood, then it is distributed into the blood which is 90% binding to cells red blood cells (erythrocytes), and the rest are bound to blood plasma. Once absorbed, the lead will be stored in the blood for 35 days. For 8 hours, a worker can absorb up to 400 μg and add 20 - 30 μg / day from food, drinks, and air. The presence of lead in blood represents a reflection of the dynamic continuity between exposure, absorption, distribution, and excretion, so that it is one indicator to know and follow ongoing exposure. Keywords : Modifying Effect, Exposure Time, Relationship Strength, Blood Lead Levels


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Bellinger ◽  
Alan Leviton ◽  
Jone Sloman ◽  
Michael Rabinowitz ◽  
Herbert L. Needleman ◽  
...  

In a cohort of 170 middle and upper-middle class children participating in a prospective study of child development and low-level lead exposure, higher blood lead levels at age 24 months were associated with lower scores at age 57 months on the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities. The mean blood lead level at age 24 months was 6.8 µg/dL (SD = 6.3; 75th, 90th, and 99th percentiles: 8.8, 13.7, 23.6, respectively) and for all but 1 child was less than 25 µg/dL, the current definition of an "elevated" level. After adjustment for confounding, scores on the General Cognitive Index decreased approximately 3 points (SE = 1.4) for each natural log unit increase in 24-month blood lead level. The inverse association between lead level and performance was especially prominent for visual-spatial and visual-motor integration skills. Higher prenatal exposures were not associated with lower scores at 57 months except in the subgroup of children with "high" concurrent blood lead levels (ie, ≥10 µg/dL). The concentration of lead in the dentine of shed deciduous teeth was not significantly associated with children's performance after adjustment for confounding.


1983 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 645-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.C. Elwood ◽  
K.M. Phillips ◽  
N. Lowe ◽  
J.K. Phillips ◽  
C. Toothill

1 The effect on the blood lead levels of residents in an area in which a soft plumbo-solvent water was hardened is examined. 2 Water lead levels fell after hardening was introduced whereas there was a small rise in water lead levels in a control area monitored over the same time. 3 The blood lead levels of residents fell after hardening and the fall was slightly greater than would have been predicted on the basis of the change in water lead levels. This suggests that lead is less well absorbed from hard water than from soft water. 4 Following hardening there was a significant fall in mean blood lead level of subjects living in houses which had initially had negligible amounts of lead in the water. This suggests that hard water may interfere with the absorption of lead from sources other than water.


Author(s):  
Robert Reilly ◽  
Susan Spalding ◽  
Brad Walsh ◽  
Jeanne Wainer ◽  
Sue Pickens ◽  
...  

Background: We examined the effects of lead on kidney function in occupationally and environmentally exposed adults from a Dallas lead smelter community that was the site of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund clean-up. All subjects were African Americans—a racial group that bears a disproportionate burden of kidney disease. Methods: A two-phase health screening was conducted. Phase II included a physical examination and laboratory tests. Study subjects were African Americans residents, aged ≥19 years to ≤89 years. Of 778 subjects, 726 were environmentally exposed and 52 were both occupationally and environmentally exposed. The effects of lead exposure on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were examined in three groups: male and female smelter-community residents, as well as males with both occupational and environmental exposure. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the dependence of eGFR on log (blood lead level), duration of residence in the community, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. Results: There was a statistically significant negative effect on kidney function for all three groups. Comparison of female and male residents showed a slightly larger negative effect of blood lead level on eGFR in females versus males, with the largest effect seen in male smelter-working residents. For each unit increase (log10 10µg/dL = 1) in blood lead level, age-adjusted eGFR was reduced 21.2 mL/min/1.73 m2 in male residents, 25.3 mL/min/1.73 m2 in female residents and 59.2 mL/min/1.73 m2 in male smelter-working residents. Conclusions: Chronic lead exposure is associated with worsening kidney function in both African American male and female residents, as well as male workers in Dallas smelter communities. This effect is slightly, but not statistically significantly, worse in female residents than male residents, and significantly worse in males that both worked and resided in the smelter community.


Author(s):  
Lily D. Yan ◽  
Vanessa Rouzier ◽  
Jean Lookens Pierre ◽  
Myung Hee Lee ◽  
Paul Muntner ◽  
...  

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in lower-income countries including Haiti. Environmental lead exposure is associated with high blood pressure and cardiovascular mortality in high-income countries but has not been systematically measured and evaluated as a potential modifiable cardiovascular risk factor in lower-income countries where 6.5 billion people reside. We hypothesized lead exposure is high in urban Haiti and associated with higher blood pressure levels. Blood lead levels were measured in 2504 participants ≥18 years enrolled in a longitudinal population-based cohort study in Port-au-Prince. Lead screening was conducted using LeadCare II (detection limit ≥3.3 µg/dL). Levels below detection were imputed by dividing the level of detection by √2. Associations between lead (quartiles) and systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were assessed, adjusting for age, sex, obesity, smoking, alcohol, physical activity, income, and antihypertensive medication use. The median age of participants was 40 years and 60.1% were female. The geometric mean blood lead level was 4.73µg/dL, 71.1% had a detectable lead level and 42.3% had a blood lead level ≥5 µg/dL. After multivariable adjustment, lead levels in quartile four (≥6.5 µg/dL) compared with quartile 1 (<3.4 µg/dL) were associated with 2.42 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.36–4.49) higher systolic blood pressure and 1.96 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.56–3.37) higher diastolic blood pressure. In conclusion, widespread environmental lead exposure is evident in urban Haiti, with higher lead levels associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Lead is a current and potentially modifiable pollutant in lower-income countries that warrants urgent public health remediation. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT03892265.


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