Blood-lead Declines in Wintering American Black Ducks in New Jersey Following the Lead Shot Ban

Waterfowl managers first recognized the problem of lead poisoning in ducks from the ingestion of spent lead shot (pellets) over 100 years ago. The phase-out of lead shot for waterfowl hunting began in the Atlantic Flyway in the 1970s. Lead shot was subsequently banned throughout the United States and Canada prior to 2000. We compared blood-lead levels in American black ducks Anas rubripes wintering in coastal New Jersey in 1978, prior to the lead ban, and in 2017, about 39 years after lead shot was first banned for use in Atlantic coastal marshes and 27 years after it was banned for waterfowl hunting in New Jersey. The prevalence of blood-lead > 0.2 ppm, a level commonly used to indicate lead exposure, declined nearly four-fold from 1978 (79%) to 2017 (20%). We found no significant differences in the prevalence of birds with blood-lead levels > 0.2 ppm between sexes in either year or between age classes in 2017. The prevalence of ducks with blood-lead levels > 1.0 ppm, considered clinically evident toxicity, declined from 19% in 1978 to 1% in 2017. Our study provides further evidence that the ban on the use of lead shot over 20 years ago throughout North America has resulted in lower blood-lead levels in waterfowl. Notwithstanding, we still found evidence of lead exposure in black ducks in 2017, which warrants further investigation.

Download Full-text

Blood lead level and risk of hypertension in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2016

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-82435-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Man Fung Tsoi ◽

Chris Wai Hang Lo ◽

Tommy Tsang Cheung ◽

Bernard Man Yung Cheung

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Lead Exposure ◽

Blood Lead Level ◽

Lead Level ◽

Blood Lead ◽

The United States ◽

Study Data ◽

Blood Lead Levels ◽

Environmental Lead ◽

Lead Levels

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.

Download Full-text

Treatment Guidelines for Lead Exposure in Children

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.96.1.155 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 96 (1) ◽

pp. 155-159 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Lead Exposure ◽

Chelation Therapy ◽

Environmental Control ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Blood Lead ◽

The United States ◽

Lead Intoxication ◽

Standards Of Care ◽

Blood Lead Levels ◽

Lead Levels

The recent introduction of an effective oral chelating agent for the reduction of a body burden of lead and the changing standards of care for children exposed to lead prompted the Committee on Drugs to review the therapy for lead intoxication. This statement reviews the pharmacology of available chelating agents. Screening standards and detailed discussions of environmental control and nutritional management have been previously published by the American Academy of Pediatrics.1 Lead intoxication has been a problem throughout history. In the early 1940s it was recognized that the amount of lead in the urban industrial environment had increased to the point at which a striking number of children demonstrated hematologic effects and clinical signs of acute lead intoxication. Blood lead levels in children in the United States on average have decreased, and rarely are children seen with blood lead levels of greater than 70 µg/dL. Even in patients with levels of greater than 50 µg/dL, "classic" laboratory and clinical findings of lead toxicity, such as basophilic stippling and encephalopathy, are rarely seen.2 In the past, therapy was based on the ability of chelators to reverse the hematologic effects of lead and halt the progression of lead encephalopathy. The efficacy of chelation therapy for children without the hematologic or neurologic findings has yet to be demonstrated; a decrease in blood lead concentration is the only discernible goal for chelation therapy in this setting. Eliminating the source of lead exposure also can accomplish this result. A recent study of moderately lead-exposed children receiving chelation therapy failed to demonstrate any additional benefit of CaNa2-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) compared with abatement at improving cognitive function.3

Download Full-text

Demolition Activity and Elevated Blood Lead Levels among Children in Detroit, Michigan, 2014–2018

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17176018 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (17) ◽

pp. 6018

Author(s):

Carla Bezold ◽

Samantha J. Bauer ◽

Jessie P. Buckley ◽

Stuart Batterman ◽

Haifa Haroon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lead Exposure ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Blood Lead ◽

The United States ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Blood Lead Levels ◽

Control Analysis ◽

Elevated Blood ◽

Lead Levels ◽

Elevated Blood Lead Levels

Older buildings in the United States often contain lead paint, and their demolition poses the risk of community lead exposure. We investigated associations between demolitions and elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) among Detroit children aged <6 years, 2014–2018, and evaluated yearly variation given health and safety controls implemented during this time. Case-control analysis included incident EBLL cases (≥5 µg/dL) and non-EBLL controls from test results reported to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Exposure was defined as the number of demolitions (0, 1, 2+) within 400 feet of the child’s residence 45 days before the blood test. We used logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and test effect modification by year. Associations between demolition and EBLL differed yearly (p = 0.07): 2+ demolitions were associated with increased odds of EBLLs in 2014 (OR: 1.75; 95% CI: (1.17, 2.55), 2016 (2.36; 1.53, 3.55) and 2017 (2.16; 1.24, 3.60), but not in 2018 (0.94; 0.41, 1.86). This pattern remained consistent in sensitivity analyses. The null association in 2018 may be related to increased health and safety controls. Maintenance of controls and monitoring are essential, along with other interventions to minimize lead exposure, especially for susceptible populations.

Download Full-text

Blood lead levels in patients with lead shot retained in the appendix

Acta Radiologica ◽

10.3109/02841858809171977 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 29 (6) ◽

pp. 745-746 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

H. H. T. Madsen ◽

T. Skjødt ◽

P. J. Jørgensen ◽

P. Grandjean

Keyword(s):

Blood Lead ◽

Lead Shot ◽

Blood Lead Levels ◽

Lead Levels

Download Full-text

A Study on the Association between Blood Lead Levels and Habitual Tobacco and Alcohol Use in Koreans with No Occupational Lead Exposure

Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.35371/kjoem.2008.20.3.165 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 165 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Ji Ung Park ◽

Se Won Oh ◽

Seung Hyun Kim ◽

Yang Hyun Kim ◽

Ryoung Jin Park ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Lead Exposure ◽

Blood Lead ◽

Blood Lead Levels ◽

Occupational Lead Exposure ◽

Lead Levels

Download Full-text

Low-Level Lead Exposure and Blood Lead Levels in Children: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Archives of Environmental Health An International Journal ◽

10.1080/00039890109602898 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 56 (6) ◽

pp. 501-505 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Aysha Habib Khan ◽

Amanullah Khan ◽

Farooq Ghani ◽

Muhammad Khurshid

Keyword(s):

Lead Exposure ◽

Blood Lead ◽

Blood Lead Levels ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Low Level ◽

Lead Levels

Download Full-text

Lead Levels, Home Dust, and Proximity to Lead Smelters

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.97.4.603a ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 97 (4) ◽

pp. 603-603

Author(s):

Philip J. Landrigan

Keyword(s):

Blood Lead ◽

The United States ◽

Outdoor Play ◽

Blood Lead Levels ◽

Elevated Blood ◽

Lead Smelter ◽

Soil Lead ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

Lead Levels ◽

Elevated Blood Lead Levels

The article by Kimbrough et al (Pediatrics. 1995;95:550-554) concerning a survey of blood lead levels among children residing near a closed, heavily contaminated lead smelter found that 78 of 490 preschoolers (16%) had blood lead levels at or above the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention action level of 10 µg/dL. By contrast, the prevalence of elevated blood lead levels among all preschool children in the United States is 8.9%.1 Kimbrough et al found that blood lead levels were positively correlated with home dust lead levels, soil lead levels, hours of outdoor play, and levels of lead in indoor paint.

Download Full-text