Alluvial and riparian soils as major sources of lead exposure in young children in the Philippines: the role of floods

Abstract

The objective of this paper was to determine the prevalence and sources of high lead (Pb) exposure among children in Bulacan, Philippines. A total of 150 children (6-7 years old) and their caregivers were studied. Lead was analyzed in children hair and deciduous teeth. Sources of lead exposure were determined by caregiver interview and Pb analysis of house soil, drinking faucet water, air, and water from seven Bulacan rivers. Lead was positive in 91.3% of children's hair (MC or median concentration = 8.9 μg/g; range = 0-38.29), in 46.2% of the teeth (MC = 0.000 μg/mg in positive samples; range = 0.00-0.020), in 100% of soil (MC = 27.06 mg/kg; range = 3.05-1155.80), in 21.1% of air (MC = 0 μg/Ncm; range = 0-0.10), in 4% of house, faucet water (MC = 0.0 ppm; range = 0-40). There was a significant correlation (Spearman's rho) between Pb in children's hair and soil (r = 0.195; p = 0.017) and between Pb in house water and outdoor air (r = 0.616; p = 0.005). There is no significant correlation between Pb in children's hair and teeth. None of the potential sources of Pb from interview were related to lead exposure in the children. Water from seven Bulacan rivers was 100% positive for lead (MC = 70.00 ppb; range = 30-90). Widespread flooding with river overflow occurred in Bulacan in 2009 which likely caused lead contamination of the soil. There was no significant difference in the lead concentration of the soil whether near or far from the river (p = 0.205, Mann-Whitney U test). High lead exposure in children in Bulacan is likely from soil contaminated by lead-polluted rivers during flooding. In areas where flooding is common, alluvial and riparian soils from polluted rivers are important sources of lead exposure in children.

Adverse Effect of Pre- and Postnatal Exposure to Carbamate and Pyrethroid Pesticides on Cognition in Children at 4 and 6 Years of Age: A Prospective Study

“…On the other hand, there was no significant correlation between Pb in children's hair and teeth (Spearman's rho = -0.001; p=0.993) and between Pb in teeth and soil, faucet water, and outdoor air. (Ostrea et al, 2015). Although the children's exposure to lead from the environment, predominantly from the soil, was high, we did not observe a significant correlation between lead in hair and teeth and the children's IQ at 4 and 6 years.…”

“…The highest lead level in the soil was 1155.80 mg/kg. The most likely cause of the high lead content in the soil was the overflow of lead-contaminated water from rivers surrounding the region (Ostrea et al, 2015). The air (N=19) was 21% positive for lead, and home faucet water (N=150) was 4% positive for lead.…”

Relationship of lead and essential elements in whole blood from school-age children in Nanning, China

“…Environmental lead exposure, affecting both adults and children, is increasingly becoming a healthy concern [2,3]. Pb enters into the body mainly through the respiratory system and the digestive tract, and causes a series of documented adverse effects particularly in the nervous systems [4][5][6], such as developmental delays, insomnia, irritability, tremors, hearing loss, deficits in behavioral functioning, impaired cognitive and learning abilities, and social withdrawal [7][8][9].…”

The Lead [Pb(II)] tolerance and uptake ability of four fungal species, two from the genus Penicillium and two from the genus Talaromyces were investigated in this study. The species were isolated from a polluted tributary and identified to be closest to P. canescens, P. simplicissimum, T. macrosporus and another Talaromyces sp. via PCR targeting their internal transcribed spacer 1 and 4 sequences. All isolates have tolerances for up to 2000 µg/mL and 3000 µg/mL Pb(II) on solid and liquid medium, respective

“…Soil and water samples were collected at a depth of 5-10 cm from a small tributary creek (14°46'21"N, 121°1'37"E) of the Marilao River within the Meycauayan-Marilao-Obando River system (MMORS). This area was within range of a health status report that indicated Pb(II) exposure to the residential areas nearby (Ostrea et al, 2015). Each of the soil samples was diluted with sterile distilled water (sdH 2 O) in a 1 g: 9 mL ratio.…”