The Blood Lead Levels of Children and the Loss of Ca2+ from Neurons Owing to Lead

In order to understand current blood lead levels (BLLs), we investigated the BLLs of children in Sichuan Province from 2011 to 2020. We then monitored the treatment effects of calcium in children with high BLLs to assess their treatment status. Finally, we explored the effects of lead on Ca2+ through in-situ experiments. Whole blood samples were used for BLL tests. The BLLs of 76,362 children aged 0–7 years were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry. The median BLL was 35 μg/L (interquartile range: 28–47). The BLLs were significantly higher in boys than in girls (p < 0.001). The BLLs generally decreased annually and increased with age. The overall prevalence of BLLs ≥ 100 μg/L was 1.20%. The children with high BLLs received subsequent check-ups, and the median time required for effective treatment was 18 months. We observed that lead exposure led to a gradual and persistent loss of Ca2+ levels in neurons of mice brain slices, and the effect did not subside immediately even after the lead was removed. China has made rapid progress in pediatric healthcare, but the treatment status remains unsatisfactory. Because lead causes an irreversible loss of Ca2+, there is an urgent need to develop new standardized treatments to reduce the treatment duration.

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P.1.04 Correlation between scalp hair lead levels and blood lead levels of lead battery manufacturing workers

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oem-2019-epi.210 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 76 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. A78.2-A78

Author(s):

Kate Chaivatcharaporn

Keyword(s):

Cloud Point Extraction ◽

Scalp Hair ◽

Blood Lead ◽

Absorption Spectrometry ◽

Blood Lead Levels ◽

Acid Digestion ◽

Sample Collection ◽

Lead Battery ◽

Flame Atomic Absorption ◽

Lead Levels

A group of 107 lead battery manufacturing workers, whose blood lead levels were above 30 mcg/dl, have been monthly tested for blood lead levels due to the company health policy since 2016. In 2018, 83 workers were enrolled in the scalp hair lead analysis project using cloud point extraction (CPT), ultrasonic acid digestion (UAD) and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). This study aimed at finding correlation between hair lead levels and serial blood lead levels. Data were obtained with permission from each workers and were analyzed using paired t-test.All subjects were male workers at the age of 25–58. The working period in this factory ranged from 1–34 years. Latest blood lead levels range from 31.22–58.7 mcg/dl. Hair lead levels ranged from 10.79–712.09 mcg/g in proximal hair segment (n=83) and 41.47–688.64 mcg/g in distal hair segment (n=15). Mean hair lead levels were 163.98 and 259.18 mcg/g in proximal and distal hair segment.The correlation between hair lead levels and 5 consecutive months blood lead levels before the time of hair sample collection were found to be statistically significant (p 0.008, p 0.030, p 0.021, p 0.009, p 0.019). Lead levels of distal hair segment were 9.72 mcg/g higher than proximal hair segment (p 0.002). Furthermore, significant correlation between distal hair segment lead levels and blood lead levels at some months during 3 year-period were found, but not for the prior 5 consecutive months.

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Urinary Biomarkers of Phthalates Exposure, Blood Lead Levels, and Risks of Thyroid Nodules

Toxics ◽

10.3390/toxics9030068 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 68

Author(s):

Jingsi Chen ◽

Yi Chen ◽

Shaojie Liu ◽

Bo Chen ◽

Yingli Lu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thyroid Nodules ◽

Positive Association ◽

Blood Lead ◽

Absorption Spectrometry ◽

Blood Lead Levels ◽

Phthalate Metabolites ◽

Spot Urine ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Lead Levels

Thyroid nodules (TNs) are becoming increasingly prevalent. However, few studies have reported the effects of phthalates and lead (Pb) on TNs. In this study, we aimed to explore the associations of phthalates and Pb with the risks of TN. We sex-age-matched 220 TNs patients and 220 healthy controls from Zhejiang Shangyu, China. We measured 13 phthalate metabolites in spot urine samples. Blood lead levels (BLLs) were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between urinary phthalate metabolites and BLLs and the risks of TNs. We found BLLs were associated with increased risk of TNs in total population. Female-specific positive associations of mono-2-ethyl-5-carboxypentylphthalate (MECPP), mono-2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexylphthalate (MEHHP), mono-2-ethyl-5-oxohexylphthalate (MEOHP), mono-2-carboxymethyl-hexyl phthalate (MCMHP), and mono-isononyl phthalate (MiNP) with increased risk of TNs were also observed. Moreover, the positive association between phthalates and TNs was modified by BLLs. At the highest tertile of BLLs, monoethylphthalate (MEP), MECPP, MEHHP, MEOHP, and MiNP were significantly associated with increased risk of TNs. Our results indicated that certain phthalate metabolites and BLLs may contribute to increased risks of TNs.

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