scholarly journals Lead Levels in Tissues of Local Scavenger Chickens in Maiduguri, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 38-42
Author(s):  
H. I. Gambo ◽  
S. U. Hassan ◽  
I. O. Igbokwe ◽  
Y. A. Geidam

Mineral mining activities with environmental pollution in Nigeria resulted in lead intoxication in humans and livestock. The likelihood of lead contamination of the environment from non-mining sources may exist in Maiduguri, Borno state, Nigeria. The study was carried out to evaluate the bioaccumulation of lead in extensively reared local scavenger chickens-LSC (Gallus gallusdomesticus) in Maiduguri. Two hundred samples each of the liver, kidney, intestine, muscle and blood were tested for lead using standard methods in toxicologic evaluation. There were significant (p<0.05) variations in lead levels in the kidney, liver, muscle, intestine and blood of local scavenger chickens. The highest mean lead level (17.0±12.0µg/kg) was observed in the liver, and the lowest leadlevel (4.0±7.0µg/kg) was in the blood. No significant (p>0.05) sex differences existed in the frequency of lead detection. Mean lead level in the liver of males was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of females with the highest and lowest mean lead levels occurring in the liver and kidney of male chickens, respectively. The highest lead level detected was 414 µg/kg; in the kidney of a female LSC. It was therefore concluded that environmental pollution with lead may be detected in LSCthat bioaccumulate lead; with the liver having the highest affinity.

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed M. Almalki ◽  
Jamaan Ajarem ◽  
Ahmed A. Allam ◽  
Hamed A. El-Serehy ◽  
Saleh N. Maodaa ◽  
...  

Environmental pollution with heavy metals (HMs) is of serious ecological and public health concern worldwide. Mining is one of the main sources of HMs and can impact the environment, species diversity, and human health. This study assessed the value of Spilopelia senegalensis as a biomonitor of environmental contamination with metal(loid)s caused by mining activities. S. senegalensis was collected from a gold mining site and a reference site, and metal(loid)s and biochemical parameters were determined. Lead, cadmium, mercury, vanadium, arsenic, copper, zinc, and iron were significantly increased in the liver, kidney, and lung of S. senegalensis from the mining site. Serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, and urea were significantly elevated in S. senegalensis from the mining site. Lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide were increased, whereas glutathione and antioxidant enzymes were diminished in the liver and kidney of S. senegalensis from the mining site. In addition, multiple histological alterations were observed in the liver, kidney, and lung of S. senegalensis. In conclusion, mining activities provoke the accumulation of metal(loid)s, oxidative stress, and tissue injury in S. senegalensis. Therefore, S. senegalensis is a valuable biomonitor of environmental pollution caused by mining activities and could be utilized in epidemiological avian studies of human health.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle Moon ◽  
Meghanne Tighe ◽  
Joshua Brooks ◽  
J. Mike Coman ◽  
Heidi Beidinger-Burnett ◽  
...  

Communities across the US face challenges from legacy lead contamination. In South Bend, Indiana, over 68,000 homes were built before 1978, and most contain leaded paint. When these homes are repainted, repaired, or renovated, failure to use lead-safe practices can contaminate the surrounding soil with lead paint flakes and dust. In this study, we used X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to measure soil lead levels surrounding a home with exterior leaded paint (about 10% Pb w/w) after it was repainted in fall of 2019. The painted wooden exterior was prepared for painting by dry scraping without the use of tarps or plastic barriers. A total of 220 soil samples were collected from the home and its immediate neighbors, and an additional 102 samples were collected from 34 homes in the same neighborhood. The median lead level in dripline soil samples across the neighborhood was 434 ppm, but in the recently repainted house, the median soil lead was 1808.9 ppm, and it was 1,346.4 ppm in the four neighboring homes. The repainted house and its four neighbors were mulched by covering all bare soil to a 4-6 inch depth with chipped wood mulch. Two months later, another 100 soil samples were collected and analyzed. The surface lead level around the target house dropped to 13.8 ppm, showing that mulching is an effective strategy for interim control of high soil lead levels.


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.


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.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-217
Author(s):  
Susana Rey-Alvarez ◽  
Theresa Menke-Hargrave

Deleading is a dangerous process which, if improperly done, can result in acute lead intoxication. The following case report illustrates what happened to an already-lead-poisoned child's lead level when he was not excluded from his apartment during deleading. Supportive evidence is provided from 12 additional cases recently seen by the same pediatric practice. The issues behind the failure of these families to vacate their apartments during deleading are discussed, and the need for lead-poisoning prevention programs to address these issues, particularly that of providing alternative shelter during deleading, is stressed. Society should adequately fund such programs so that they become a reality.


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.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 372-377
Author(s):  
James R. Campbell ◽  
Stanley J. Schaffer ◽  
Peter G. Szilagyi ◽  
Karen G. O'Connor ◽  
Peter Briss ◽  
...  

Objectives. In 1991, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) decreased the blood lead level of concern to 10 µg/dL (0.48 µmol/L) and recommended universal screening. Because these guidelines continue to provoke controversy, we conducted a study to:1) estimate the proportion of pediatricians who are members of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) who report screening for elevated blood lead levels; 2) describe their clinical practices regarding screening for elevated blood lead levels; 3) compare attitudes of universal screeners, selective screeners, and nonscreeners; and 4) identify characteristics of pediatricians who universally screen. Design. Confidential, cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative random sample of 1610 pediatricians conducted through the AAP Periodic Survey. Subjects. The study included 1035 responders (64% response rate). Analysis was limited to the 734 pediatricians who provide well-child care (ie, primary-care pediatricians). Results. Fifty-three percent of pediatricians reported screening all their patients aged 9 to 36 months, 39% reported screening some, and 8% reported screening none. Among those who screen, 96% use a blood lead assay. The primary risk factors for which selective screeners screen are: history of pica (94%); living in an older home with recent renovations (92%); living in an older home with peeling paint (93%); and having a sibling who had an elevated blood lead level (88%). Among primary-care pediatricians, 73% agree that blood lead levels ≥10 µg/dL should be considered elevated, and 16% disagree. However, 89% of primary-care pediatricians believe that epidemiologic studies should be performed to determine which communities have high proportions of children with elevated blood lead levels, and 34% of primary-care pediatricians believe that the costs of screening exceed the benefits. Conclusions. Three years after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidelines for the management of elevated blood lead levels, a slight majority of primary-care pediatricians in the United States who are members of the AAP report that they universally screen their appropriately aged patients, while most of the remaining pediatricians report screening high-risk patients. Many pediatricians may want additional guidance about circumstances under which selective screening should be considered.


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