Acute lead poisoning associated with backyard lead smelting in Jamaica

Lalor, G. C.; Vutchkov, M. K.; Bryan, Sean; Christie, Celia D. C.; Donaldson, D.; Young, J. R.; Chambers, Santiago

doi:10.1590/s0043-31442006000600005

Cited by 15 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…However the actual levels of exposure and their health effects are often unknown due to lack of health surveillance programs and research. The paradigm for understanding exposure sources of toxic metals, metalloids, and metallic elements and the research on cognitive and health effects of these exposures occurs in wealthier countries; yet due to vast differences in housing conditions, urban development and zoning laws, drainage, sanitation, and home-based industry [12], there are likely very different risk factors for exposure and more dangerous exposure patterns facing children in poorer countries. Little is known about toxic metal exposures to young children in Uganda [13,14] or their effect on stunting in low-and middle-income countries in general [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental exposure to metal mixtures and linear growth in healthy Ugandan children

et al. 2020

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Background Stunting is an indicator of poor linear growth in children and is an important public health problem in many countries. Both nutritional deficits and toxic exposures can contribute to lower height-forage Z-score (HAZ) and stunting (HAZ <-2). Objectives In a community-based cross-sectional sample of 97 healthy children ages 6-59 months in Kampala, Uganda, we examined whether exposure to Pb, As, Cd, Se, or Zn were associated with HAZ individually or as a mixture. Methods Blood samples were analyzed for a mixture of metals, which represent both toxins and essential nutrients. The association between HAZ and metal exposure was tested using multivariable linear regression and Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regression, which uses mixtures of correlated exposures as a predictor. Results There were 22 stunted children in the sample, mean HAZ was-0.74 (SD = 1.84). Linear regression showed that Pb (β =-0.80, p = 0.021) and Se (β = 1.92, p = 0.005) were significantly associated with HAZ. The WQS models separated toxic elements with a presumed negative effect on HAZ (Pb, As, Cd) from essential nutrients with presumed positive effect on HAZ (Se and Zn). The toxic mixture was significantly associated with lower HAZ (β =-0.47, p = 0.03), with 62% of the effect from Pb. The nutrient WQS index did not reach statistical significance (β =-0.47, p = 0.16).

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental exposure to metal mixtures and linear growth in healthy Ugandan children

et al. 2020

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“…The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that lead poisoning causes 0.6% of the global burden of disease and contributes to approximately 600,000 cases of intellectual disability in children annually (WHO 2010). During the past 20 years, moderate to high elevations of BLLs have been documented globally in clusters of children living in mining and smelting communities or areas where lead batteries are reclaimed (Brown et al 2010; Garcia Vargas et al 2001; Kaul et al 1999; Lalor et al 2006). However, only one report found in recent literature documents fatalities from childhood lead poisoning; in 2008 in Senegal, informal battery recycling was determined to be the likely cause of death of 18 children (Haefliger et al 2009).…”

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confidence: 99%

Outbreak of Fatal Childhood Lead Poisoning Related to Artisanal Gold Mining in Northwestern Nigeria, 2010

Dooyema

Neri²,

Lo³

et al. 2012

Environ Health Perspect

204

136

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Background: In May 2010, a team of national and international organizations was assembled to investigate children’s deaths due to lead poisoning in villages in northwestern Nigeria.Objectives: Our goal was to determine the cause of the childhood lead poisoning outbreak, investigate risk factors for child mortality, and identify children < 5 years of age in need of emergency chelation therapy for lead poisoning.Methods: We administered a cross-sectional, door-to-door questionnaire in two affected villages, collected blood from children 2–59 months of age, and obtained soil samples from family compounds. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed with survey, blood lead, and environmental data. Multivariate logistic regression techniques were used to determine risk factors for childhood mortality.Results: We surveyed 119 family compounds. Of 463 children < 5 years of age, 118 (25%) had died in the previous year. We tested 59% (204/345) of children < 5 years of age, and all were lead poisoned (≥ 10 µg/dL); 97% (198/204) of children had blood lead levels (BLLs) ≥ 45 µg/dL, the threshold for initiating chelation therapy. Gold ore was processed inside two-thirds of the family compounds surveyed. In multivariate modeling, significant risk factors for death in the previous year from suspected lead poisoning included the age of the child, the mother’s work at ore-processing activities, community well as primary water source, and the soil lead concentration in the compound.Conclusion: The high levels of environmental contamination, percentage of children < 5 years of age with elevated BLLs (97%, > 45 µg/dL), and incidence of convulsions among children before death (82%) suggest that most of the recent childhood deaths in the two surveyed villages were caused by acute lead poisoning from gold ore–processing activities. Control measures included environmental remediation, chelation therapy, public health education, and control of mining activities.

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“…In these studies, 59% of children in Jamaica, 80% of children in Nicaragua and 91% of children from Haina, Dominican Republic were found to have a BLL >10 μg/dL. 8 , 14 , 23 It is likely that the difference in BLL is associated with the lead smelter located in Owino Uhuru settlement. There were significant elevations in soil lead concentration in Owino Uhuru.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Environmental Assessment and Blood Lead Levels of Children in Owino Uhuru and Bangladesh Settlements in Kenya

Etiang

Arvelo

Galgalo

et al. 2018

Journal of Health and Pollution

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Background.Lead exposure is linked to intellectual disability and anemia in children. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends biomonitoring of blood lead levels (BLLs) in children with BLL ≥5 μg/dL and chelation therapy for those with BLL ≥45 μg/dL.Objectives.This study aimed to determine blood and environmental lead levels and risk factors associated with elevated BLL among children from Owino Uhuru and Bangladesh settlements in Mombasa County, Kenya.Methods.The present study is a population-based, cross-sectional study of children aged 12–59 months randomly selected from households in two neighboring settlements, Owino Uhuru, which has a lead smelter, and Bangladesh settlement (no smelter). Structured questionnaires were administered to parents and 1–3 ml venous blood drawn from each child was tested for lead using a LeadCare ® II portable analyzer. Environmental samples collected from half of the sampled households were tested for lead using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy.Results:We enrolled 130 children, 65 from each settlement. Fifty-nine (45%) were males and the median age was 39 months (interquartile range (IQR): 30–52 months). BLLs ranged from 1 μg/dL to 31 μg/dL, with 45 (69%) children from Owino Uhuru and 18 (28%) children from Bangladesh settlement with BLLs >5 μg/dL. For Owino Uhuru, the geometric mean BLL in children was 7.4 μg/dL (geometric standard deviation (GSD); 1.9) compared to 3.7 μg/dL (GSD: 1.9) in Bangladesh settlement (p<0.05). The geometric mean lead concentration of soil samples from Owino Uhuru was 146.5 mg/Kg (GSD: 5.2) and 11.5 mg/Kg (GSD: 3.9) (p<0.001) in Bangladesh settlement. Children who resided <200 m from the lead smelter were more likely to have a BLL ≥5 μg/dL than children residing ≥200 m from the lead smelter (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 33.6 (95% confidence interval (CI): 7.4–153.3). Males were also more likely than females to have a BLL ≥5 μg/dL (39, 62%) compared to a BLL<5 μg/dL [aOR: 2.4 (95% CI: 1.0–5.5)].Conclusions.Children in Owino Uhuru had significantly higher BLLs compared with children in Bangladesh settlement. Interventions to diminish continued exposure to lead in the settlement should be undertaken. Continued monitoring of levels in children with detectable levels can evaluate whether interventions to reduce exposure are effective.Participant Consent.ObtainedEthics Approval.Scientific approval for the study was obtained from the Ministry of Health, lead poisoning technical working group. Since this investigation was considered a public health response of immediate concern, expedited ethical approval was obtained from the Kenya Medical Research Institute and further approval from the Mombasa County Department of Health Services. The investigation was considered a non-research public health response activity by the CDC.Competing Interests.The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Acute lead poisoning associated with backyard lead smelting in Jamaica

Cited by 15 publications

References 11 publications

Environmental exposure to metal mixtures and linear growth in healthy Ugandan children

Environmental exposure to metal mixtures and linear growth in healthy Ugandan children

Outbreak of Fatal Childhood Lead Poisoning Related to Artisanal Gold Mining in Northwestern Nigeria, 2010

Environmental Assessment and Blood Lead Levels of Children in Owino Uhuru and Bangladesh Settlements in Kenya

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