An Overview of Lead Poisoning in South African Children: The Hazard Is at Home

Mathee, Angela; Schirnding, Yasmin von; Montgomery, Mary W; llin, H B R; Norris, Susan L.; Naik, Inakshi

doi:10.1097/00001648-200509000-00344

Cited by 13 publications

(17 citation statements)

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“…Many previous studies have consistently highlighted the role of low socioeconomic status in increasing the risk of lead exposure. [5,16] People in poor communities have a greater likelihood of having jobs involving lead (and a higher risk of para-occupational exposure), a higher level of involvement in cottage industries (potentially leading to lead exposure in the home setting), poorer levels of nutrition that may exacerbate the effects of lead exposure, and fewer resources to prevent lead exposure and mitigate the health effects, especially the sociobehavioural problems, that arise from lead exposure. [17] It bears noting that there is a large, and growing, gap between the rich and poor in SA, which is among the most unequal societies in the world.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[6,7,9] However, in Cape Town in 2002, 10% of children in the same schools had BLLs >10 µg/dl compared with 18% in 2007, [15] representing an 8% increase in BLLs, which may be due to the residual effects of past usage of leaded petrol, and leaded paint in homes, toys, playground equipment and informal industries. [5,14] It must also be noted that different methods were used to assess BLLs in 2002 compared with the 2007 survey; however, previous studies have found the LeadCare system to be comparable to formal laboratory analytical methods. [4] There may be pockets of children in urban SA that continue to be at risk, despite the removal of major sources of exposure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These were the same towns and schools included in previous such studies. [1,5,13] Cape Town, the largest coastal city in Western Cape Province, covers ~2 400 km 2 with a population of ~3.4 million in 2007. Johannesburg, in Gauteng Province, covers ~2 300 km 2 with a population of 3.8 million; it is one of the fastest growing cities in the world.…”

Section: Study Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Approximately 10% of children had BLLs ≥10 µg/dl in 2002. [5] In Mumbai, India, after the phasing out of leaded petrol, the proportion of children with very high BLLs (≥10 µg/dl) dropped from 60% in 1997 to 37% in 2002. [6] However, a recent study of children aged 6 -7 years in Chennai, India, showed that 54.5% had BLLs ≥10 µg/dl, with a mean BLL of 11 µg/dl.…”

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confidence: 99%

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A follow-up cross-sectional study of environmental lead exposure in early childhood in urban South Africa

2013

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Background. Lead exposure has significant detrimental effects on the health and wellbeing of children. In resource-poor countries, information on the extent of lead exposure is often inadequate owing to the lack of surveillance and screening programmes. Objective. To determine the degree of lead exposure in children residing in South African urban areas. Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in schools in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Kimberley in 2007 -2008. Blood lead levels were assessed in a total of 1 349 grade 1 children using the LeadCare Analyser system. Parents completed a structured questionnaire on sociodemographic profiles and risk factors to provide information about socioeconomic status and other risk factors for lead exposure.Results. Blood lead levels ranged from 0.8 -32.3 µg/dl. The mean blood lead level in the total sample was 7.97 µg/dl; 74% had blood lead levels ≥5 µg/dl. The highest proportion (84%) of children with blood lead levels ≥5 µg/dl was in Johannesburg. In the multivariate analysis, socioeconomic status was significantly associated with blood lead levels ≥5 µg/dl. Conclusion. Lead exposure in South African urban areas remains widespread. The risk of lead poisoning in some areas and certain groups of children may be increasing despite the phasing out of lead-containing petrol. Children living in poverty continue to be the most vulnerable.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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A follow-up cross-sectional study of environmental lead exposure in early childhood in urban South Africa

2013

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“…Lead presents hazard namely for pregnant women and children (34). Research has shown that blood lead levels in pregnant women of 100 micrograms per liter can cause miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, and subsequent developmental delays in their children.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic Lead Toxicology

Patočka

Cerný

2008

Acta Med. (Hradec Kralove, Czech Repub.)

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Summary:Lead is one of the oldest known and most widely studied occupational and environmental poison. Despite intensive study, there is still debate about the toxic effects of lead, both from low-level exposure in the general population owing to environmental pollution and historic use of lead in paint and plumbing and from exposure in the occupational setting. Significant position have organic lead compounds used more than 60 years as antiknock additives in gasoline. Chemical and toxicological characteristics of main tetraalkyl leads used as gasoline additives are discussed in this article. The majority of industries historically associated with high lead exposure have made dramatic advances in their control of occupational exposure. However, cases of unacceptably high exposure and even of frank lead poisoning are still seen, predominantly in the demolition and tank cleaning industries. Nevertheless, in most industries blood lead levels have declined below levels at which signs or symptoms are seen and the current focus of attention is on the subclinical effects of exposure. The significance of some of these effects for the overt health of the workers is often the subject of debate. Inevitably there is pressure to reduce lead exposure in the general population and in working environments, because current studies show that no level of lead exposure appears to be a 'safe' and even the current 'low' levels of exposure, especially in children, are associated with neurodevelopmental deficits.

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Fifty years of articles in JEQ on trace elements in the environment and future outlook

Strawn

Hettiarachchi

2021

J of Env Quality

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Fifty years ago, the Journal of Environmental Quality (JEQ) was launched to provide an outlet for publication of research on the impacts of agriculture on the environment, and vice versa. A core concept of JEQ is advancement of environmental science, with emphasis on understanding factors that affect the fate, risks, and quality of soil, water, and atmospheric systems, and how these system processes affect plants, microbes, and animals. Trace elements are a focus area of JEQ because when present at higher than natural concentrations, they may pose risks to environmental quality and ecosystem health, depending on their bioavailability. Trace element biogeochemical cycling is affected by anthropogenic influences on land, air, and water, including land management practices such as agriculture and mining. The Journal of Environmental Quality has published a prolific catalog of scientific research publications on trace elements and their risks to humans, soil health, water quality, and the environment. In this review, research on trace elements and their impacts on environmental quality is presented, with a special focus on work published in JEQ.

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An Overview of Lead Poisoning in South African Children: The Hazard Is at Home

Cited by 13 publications

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A follow-up cross-sectional study of environmental lead exposure in early childhood in urban South Africa

A follow-up cross-sectional study of environmental lead exposure in early childhood in urban South Africa

Organic Lead Toxicology

Fifty years of articles in JEQ on trace elements in the environment and future outlook

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