Predicting children's blood lead levels from exposure to school drinking water in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract Human beings could be exposed to impacts associated with heavy metals such as lead (Pb) through drinking water. The objective of this study was to evaluate quality of water consumed by kindergarten school children in Addis Ababa city, who are highly susceptible to issues related to heavy metals in water. Through conducting chemical analysis, using microwave plasma atomic emission spectrophotometry (MP-AES), the level of lead (Pb) was measured at 38 selected schools in the city. Drinking water samples were taken from three water supply sub-systems: Akaki, Legedadi, and Gefersa. Results revealed the average Pb concentration in the city was 62.37 μg/L which is significantly higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended threshold value of 10 μg/L. The children's blood lead levels and exposure to Pb were also calculated using the integrated exposure uptake bio-kinetic (IEUBK) model as per USEPA guidelines. Estimated geometric mean blood lead levels (BLLs) for each school ranged from 4.4 to 13.2 μg/dL. On average, the model predicted that 20% of children in the city will have blood lead levels above the WHO recommended 10 μg/dL. The study can be considered as an unprecedented piece of work as it addresses critical issues and methods to mitigate problems caused by high concentration of Pb in water supply distribution infrastructure.

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Drinking water lead and socioeconomic factors as predictors of blood lead levels in New Jersey's children between two time periods

Environmental Research ◽

10.1016/j.envres.2018.11.016 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 169 ◽

pp. 409-416 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jessie A. Gleason ◽

Jaydeep V. Nanavaty ◽

Jerald A. Fagliano

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Socioeconomic Factors ◽

Blood Lead ◽

Blood Lead Levels ◽

Lead Levels ◽

Time Periods

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Assessment of Some Heavy Metals in Drinking Water Samples of Tunceli, Turkey

E-Journal of Chemistry ◽

10.1155/2011/370545 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 276-280 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Olcay Kaplan ◽

Nuran Cikcikoglu Yildirim ◽

Numan Yildirim ◽

Nilgun Tayhan

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Drinking Water ◽

Water Samples ◽

World Health ◽

Environment Protection ◽

Protection Agency ◽

Supply Networks ◽

Health Organization ◽

The City ◽

Drinking Water Samples

The drinking water quality is associated with the conditions of the water supply networks, the pollution and the contamination of groundwater with pollutants of both anthropogenic and natural origin. In this study, water samples were taken from four different waterworks in Tunceli, Turkey and heavy metals concentrations (As, Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni and Hg) were measured. Four sampling sites were pre-defined in different locations of the city. The obtained results showed that, the heavy metals concentrations in water samples did not exceed the values of WHO (World Health Organization), EC (Europe Community), EPA (Environment Protection Agency) and TSE-266 (Turkish Standard) guidelines.

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Modeled Impacts of Drinking Water Pb Reduction Scenarios on Children’s Exposures and Blood Lead Levels

Environmental Science & Technology ◽

10.1021/acs.est.0c00479 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 54 (15) ◽

pp. 9474-9482

Author(s):

Lindsay W. Stanek ◽

Jianping Xue ◽

Claire R. Lay ◽

Erik C. Helm ◽

Michael Schock ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Blood Lead ◽

Blood Lead Levels ◽

Lead Levels

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Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Blood Lead Levels among Mexican-American Children and Adolescents in the United States

Public Health Reports ◽

10.1177/003335490512000412 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 120 (4) ◽

pp. 448-454 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Leo S. Morales ◽

Peter Gutierrez ◽

Jose J. Escarce

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Drinking Water ◽

Mexican American ◽

Family Income ◽

Blood Lead ◽

The United States ◽

Blood Lead Levels ◽

Mexican American Youth ◽

Lead Levels ◽

American Children

Objective. This study was designed to assess demographic and socioeconomic differences in blood lead levels (BLLs) among Mexican-American children and adolescents in the United States. Methods. We analyzed data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–1994, for 3,325 Mexican-American youth aged 1 to 17 years. The main study outcome measures included a continuous measure (μg/dL) of BLL and two dichotomous measures of BLL (⩾5 μg/dL and ⩾10 μg/dL). Results. The mean BLL among Mexican-American children in the United States was 3.45 μg/dL (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.07, 3.87); 20% had BLL ⩾5 μg/dL (95% CI 15%, 24%); and 4% had BLL ⩾10 μg/dL (95% CI 2%, 6%). In multivariate analyses, gender, age, generational status, home language, family income, education of head of household, age of housing, and source of drinking water were statistically significant independent predictors ( p<0.05) of having higher BLLs and of having BLL ⩾5 μg/dL, whereas age, family income, housing age, and source of drinking water were significant predictors ( p<0.05) of having BLL ⩾10 μg/dL. Conclusions. Significant differences in the risk of having elevated BLLs exist among Mexican-American youth. Those at greatest risk should be prioritized for lead screening and lead exposure abatement interventions.

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A Simple Probabilistic Modelling Tool to Estimate Children's Blood Lead Levels Resulting from High Variations of Daily Exposure through Drinking Water in Schools and Daycares

ISEE Conference Abstracts ◽

10.1289/isesisee.2018.o03.02.43 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mathieu Valcke ◽

Marie-Hélène Bourgault

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Blood Lead ◽

Blood Lead Levels ◽

Probabilistic Modelling ◽

Daily Exposure ◽

Lead Levels

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Higher Blood Lead Levels among Childbearing Women in Nearby Addis Ababa-Adama Highway, Ethiopia

Advances in Toxicology ◽

10.1155/2016/7569157 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Daniel Haile Chercos ◽

Haimanot Gebrehiwot Moges

Keyword(s):

Study Design ◽

Blood Lead Level ◽

Addis Ababa ◽

Lead Level ◽

Blood Lead ◽

Blood Lead Levels ◽

Study Group ◽

Lead Levels ◽

Comparative Group ◽

Childbearing Women

Objective. The aim of this research was to compare blood lead level of childbearing women near Addis Ababa-Adama highway with those who live far from it. Study Design. A comparative cross-sectional study design was used to compare blood lead levels of 40 childbearing women (study group) who lived relatively near Addis Ababa-Adama highway and other 36 childbearing women (comparative group) who lived relatively far (10 km) from the highway. Methods. In the study, women having a fertile age within 15–49 years were considered as “childbearing women.” Blood samples were collected from each group and analyzed for blood lead level comparison. Result. The study indicated significant blood lead level difference (p<0.001) between the groups. The study group had higher blood lead level (34.32 ± 6.39 μg/dL) than the comparative group (8.47 ± 3.01 μg/dL). The mean blood lead level of both groups was higher than the advised blood lead concentration for a woman to avoid occupational or vocational lead exposure. Conclusion. This study concluded that blood lead level of women who lived relatively near Addis Ababa-Adama highway was significantly higher than those who lived relatively far from the road.

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