scholarly journals Child Exposure to Lead in the Vicinities of Informal Used Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Operations in Nairobi Slums, Kenya

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 15-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureene Auma Ondayo ◽  
Gelas Muse Simiyu ◽  
Phillip Okoth Raburu ◽  
Faridah Hussein Were
Keyword(s):  
Lead Concentration ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Blood Lead Levels ◽  
Lead Acid Battery ◽  
Child Exposure ◽  
Battery Recycling ◽  
Preparatory Schools ◽  
Lead Levels ◽  
Floor Dust

Background. Child exposure to lead from informal used lead-acid battery (ULAB) recycling operations is a serious environmental health problem, particularly in developing countries. Objectives. We investigated child exposure to lead in the vicinities of ULAB recycling operations in the Dandora, Kariobangi and Mukuru slums in Nairobi between January and August 2015. Methods. Top soil (n = 232) and floor dust (n = 322) samples were collected from dwelling units (n = 120) and preparatory schools (n = 44) and analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer at the Mines and Geological Department Laboratory in the Ministry of Mining, Nairobi. From the obtained lead levels in soil and house dust, child blood lead levels were subsequently predicted using the Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic Model for Lead in Children (IEUBK), Windows version. Results. Lead loadings in all the floor dust samples from the Dandora, Kariobangi and Mukuru slums exceeded the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guidance value for lead on floors with a range of 65.2 – 58,194 μg/ft2. Control floor dust samples recorded lower lead loadings compared to the Dandora, Kariobangi and Mukuru slums. Lead concentration in 70.7% of the soil samples collected from waste dumps, industrial sites, residential areas, playgrounds and preparatory schools in Dandora, Kariobangi and Mukuru exceeded the respective USEPA guidance values for lead in soils. Lead concentration in 100% of control soil samples were below the respective USEPA limits. The IEUBK model predicted that nearly 99.9% of children ≤ 7 years old living near informal ULAB recycling operations in Dandora, Kariobangi and Mukuru were at risk of being lead poisoned, with predicted blood lead levels (BLL) above the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reference value for blood lead. A total of 99.9% of exposed children living in the Mukuru slums are likely to have BLL above 34 μg/dL. Conclusions. There is a need for coordinated efforts to decrease lead emissions from informal battery recycling in Nairobi slums and to remediate existing soils, particularly around battery workplaces and dumpsites. The BLL of local children should be clinically tested and appropriate intervention measures taken.

scholarly journals Assessing Levels of Lead Contamination in Soil and Predicting Pediatric Blood Lead Levels in Tema, Ghana

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 7-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Innocent Joy Kwame Aboh ◽  
Manukure Atiemo Sampson ◽  
Leticia Abra-Kom Nyaab ◽  
Jack Caravanos ◽  
Francis Gorman Ofosu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Lead ◽  
Blood Chemistry ◽  
Lead Contamination ◽  
Blood Lead Levels ◽  
Lead Acid Battery ◽  
Battery Recycling ◽  
Industrial Soil ◽  
Regulatory Limits ◽  
Lead Levels ◽  
The U.S

Background. Tema, Ghana's main industrial city, has many areas that are suspected to be contaminated by lead. Elevated lead levels can affect, among many other issues, mental development, kidney function and blood chemistry. Children are particularly at risk. Objectives. The objective of this study was to determine the concentration of lead in soil from selected sites in Tema and how these levels relate to local pediatric blood lead predictions. Methods. A total of 47 surface soil samples were taken from 9 different sites. Energy dispersive X-ray technique was employed to determine the levels of lead. Pediatric blood lead levels were estimated using the Integrated Exposure Uptake Bio-Kinetic Model For Lead in Children, developed by the U.S. EPA. Results. The study revealed that the selected sites are highly contaminated by lead. In particular, the concentration of Pb in soil at a used lead acid battery recycling facility exceeded regulatory limits for industrial soil as set by the U.S. EPA. The model for predicting concentrations of lead in the blood of age-specific children showed extremely high probabilities of BLLs exceeding regulatory limits. Conclusions. Based on the results of soil testing, sites that were expected to reveal lead exposure positively demonstrated high levels of contamination, in some areas exceeding U.S. and other national regulatory limits. This information is expected to help authorities make informed clean-up decisions.

scholarly journals Screening Housing to Prevent Lead Toxicity in Children

2005 ◽  
Vol 120 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce P. Lanphear ◽  
Richard Hornung ◽  
Mona Ho
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Value ◽  
Lead Concentration ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
Housing Condition ◽  
Blood Lead Concentration ◽  
Blood Lead Levels ◽  
Housing Characteristics ◽  
Lead Levels ◽  
Floor Dust ◽  
Lead Hazards

Objective. Screening children to identify those with blood lead levels ⩾10 μg/d fails to protect children from lead-associated cognitive deficits and behavioral problems. To broaden our efforts at primary prevention, screening criteria are needed to identify lead-contaminated housing before children are unduly exposed. The purpose of this study was to identify and validate housing characteristics associated with children having elevated blood lead levels (⩾10 μg/dl). Methods. Two existing studies were used to examine housing characteristics linked with undue lead exposure: a cross-sectional study of 205 children aged 12 to 31 months, and a random sample from a longitudinal study of 276 children followed from 6 to 24 months of age. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association of children's blood lead levels >10 μg/dl. Results. The mean age of the 481 children was 17.8 months; 99 (20.6%) had a blood lead concentration of 10 μg/dl or higher. The following characteristics were associated with blood lead concentration >10 μg/dl: floor lead loading >15 μg/ft2 (odds ratio [OR]=2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3, 3.8); rental housing (OR=3.2; 95% CI 1.3, 7.6); poor housing condition (OR=2.1; CI 1.2, 3.6); African American race (OR=3.3; CI 1.9, 6.1); paint chip ingestion (OR=5.8; CI 1.3, 26.5); and soil ingestion (OR=2.2; CI 1.1, 4.2). Housing characteristics including rental status, lead-contaminated floor dust, and housing condition had a range of sensitivity from 47% to 92%; specificity from 28% to 76%; a positive predictive value from 25% to 34%; and a negative predictive value of 85% to 93%. Conclusions. Housing characteristics and floor dust lead levels can be used to screen housing to identify lead hazards prior to occupancy, before purchasing a home, or after renovation to prevent children's exposure to lead hazards.

Air and Blood Lead Levels in Lead Acid Battery Recycling and Manufacturing Plants in Kenya

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 340-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faridah H. Were ◽  
Geoffrey N. Kamau ◽  
Paul M. Shiundu ◽  
Godfrey A. Wafula ◽  
Charles M. Moturi
Keyword(s):  
Blood Lead ◽  
Blood Lead Levels ◽  
Lead Acid Battery ◽  
Manufacturing Plants ◽  
Battery Recycling ◽  
Lead Levels ◽  
Lead Acid

Predicting the Children's Blood Lead Level in a Lead and Zinc Smelting Area Based on IEUBK Model

2015 ◽  
Vol 1092-1093 ◽  
pp. 687-691
Author(s):  
Fei Chen ◽  
Hong Guang Cheng ◽  
Xiang Fen Cui
Keyword(s):  
Lead Concentration ◽  
Lead Level ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
Blood Lead Concentration ◽  
Blood Lead Levels ◽  
Prediction Ability ◽  
Environmental Lead ◽  
Lead And Zinc ◽  
Zinc Smelting ◽  
Lead Levels

According to environmental lead exposure data and dietary survey data of lead and zinc smelting area,blood lead levels of children (2~7years old) in study area were predicted with IEUBK model. The children's blood lead concentration predicted value was compared with the corresponding measured value,by comparing the differences, measured the prediction ability of model. The results showed that predicted value and measured value of 2~7 years old children's blood lead concentration in A village were higher than the other villages, they were 33.5μg/dL,30.8μg/dL, respectively; predicted value and measured value of 2~7 years old children's blood lead concentration in I village were the lowest among all villages,they were14.5μg/dL,13.1μg/dL, respectively.By paired T-test showed that the predicted value were higher than the measured value about 1.4~3.4μg/dL,model calculation results slightly overestimated the children's blood lead level.But in general, the predicted value and measured value had a good consistency,through the model prediction could better reflect the children's blood lead levels in the study area.

scholarly journals Blood Lead Levels in Children Living Near an Informal Lead Battery Recycling Workshop in Patna, Bihar

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (25) ◽  
pp. 200308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamal Akhtar Ansari ◽  
Abbas Ali Mahdi ◽  
Promila Sharma Malik ◽  
Tabrez Jafar
Keyword(s):  
Lead Toxicity ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
Blood Lead Levels ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Lead Battery ◽  
Informal Recycling ◽  
Battery Recycling ◽  
Financial Interests ◽  
Lead Levels ◽  
Calcium Iron

Background. Lead can cause significant biological and neurologic damage, even at small concentrations, and young children are at higher risk. Informal recycling of lead batteries and lead-based workshops/industries have increased the burden of lead toxicity in developing countries, including India. Many informal recycling lead battery workshops have been established by the local people of Patna, Bihar as self-employment opportunities. However, most of the residents are not aware of the risk factors associated with lead poisoning. Objectives. The present pilot study aimed to assess blood lead levels (BLLs) and hemoglobin levels among children aged between 3 to 12 years in the settlement of Karmalichak near Patna, India. Materials and Methods. Children residing near the informal lead battery manufacturing unit were selected for BLL assessment. A total of 41 children were enrolled in the questionnairebased survey. Results. All the children in the present study had detectable lead concentrations in their blood. Only 9% of the studied children had a BLL ≤5 μg/dl, while 91% children had a BLL above >5 μg/dl. Conclusions. The present study carried out in children of Karmalichak region of Patna, India was an attempt to better understand the problem of lead toxicity, describe the epidemiology of its adverse effects, identify sources and routes of exposure, illustrate the clinical effects and develop strategies of prevention so that remedial measures may be taken by government agencies and regulatory bodies. In view of the high lead levels in children in the study area, attempts are being made to develop strategies for future prevention by relocating the informal battery recycling workshops from the area. Moreover, parents have been advised to increase nutritional supplementation of children by providing calcium-, iron- and zinc-rich foods, including milk and vegetables. Participant Consent. Obtained Ethical Approval. The study was approved by the ethical committee of Era's Lucknow Medical College & Hospital, Era University, Lucknow (India). Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Fetal and Infant Lead Exposure: Effects on Growth in Stature

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 604-612
Author(s):  
Rakesh Shukla ◽  
Robert L. Bornschein ◽  
Kim N. Dietrich ◽  
C. R. Buncher ◽  
Omer G. Berger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Longitudinal Analysis ◽  
Lead Exposure ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Lead Concentration ◽  
Blood Lead ◽  
Maternal Blood ◽  
Blood Lead Concentration ◽  
Blood Lead Levels ◽  
Lead Levels

The growth of a cohort of 260 infants was prospectively followed up from birth. Blood lead and stature measurements were obtained every 3 months until 15 months of age. Fetal lead exposure was indexed by measuring lead in maternal blood during pregnancy. A longitudinal analysis revealed that covariate adjusted growth rates in stature were negatively related to the infants' postnatal blood lead concentration, as indexed by increase in average blood lead values from 3 to 15 months. However, this relationship between growth rate and change in blood lead concentration was evidenced only among those infants whose mothers had prenatal blood lead levels greater than the maternal cohort median of 7.7 γg/dL (P = .01). The expected stature of a child born to a mother with a prenatal blood lead concentration more than 7.7 γg/dL is about 2 cm shorter at 15 months of age if, postnatally, the infant incurred a 10-γg/dL blood lead increase during the 3-to 15-month interval of life, compared with an infant who has no increase.

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