Blood Lead Levels in South African Inner-City Children

Abstract

Little is knuwn about chidkood lead absorption in Souffi Africa. In this study acrosssectional analytic survey wascarried out to determine the blood lead levels and associated risk factors for inner-city, rfst-grade schoolchildren. Blood lead analyses, hematological and anthropometric measurements were conducted, and a pretested questionnaire was administered to parents to identify risk factors forlead exposure. In a detled environmental study, daily air and dust samples were collected over a period of 1 year from several sites in the study area, contemporaneously with the blood and questionnaire surveys. Spatial and temporal variations in atmospheric lead were determined.It was found that 13% ofmi,oed race children, but no whitechildren, had blood lead levels 2 25 ug/dL, the U.S. action klvel. Air lead levels averaged around 1 pg/n3, and dust lead levels ranged from 410 to3620 ppm. Environmental lead levels were significantly elevated near heavy trafic, where Environmental Protection Agency standards were exceeded mainly during winter months. Baselne osurewasof ae in i blood lead l s of childm attending sc in direct prximity to heavy taffic, where blood lead levels wereeevated iective ofother influening to. imary and secondary preventive measures are urgently needed in South Africa to reduce environmental lead exposure. At the time of the study, South Africa had one ofthe highest levels oflead in gasoline in the Western World, namely, 0.836 g/L.Although levels have subsequently been reduced, this is typical of the situation in many African countries today.

Environmental lead exposure in a population of children in northern France: Factors affecting lead burden

“…On account of the diversity of its environmental sources, lead poisoning remains a problem in most industrialized countries [Von Schirnding et al, 1991;Brody et al, 1994;Snyder et al, 1995;Zejda et al, 1997;Ledrans et al, 1997;Lanphear et al, 1998]. The factors associated with children's lead burden vary according to age and type of exposure (general urban and vehicular, water, industrial, or environmental pollution) [Walter et al, 1980].…”

Biological monitoring of lead exposure in high risk groups in Berat, Albania

“…[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Results of surveys on biological monitoring of blood concentrations in children in various countries have been published. [10][11][12][13][14] Additonally, relevant investigations in children living around point sources have been carried out. [15][16][17][18] Fetuses constitute another high risk group for lead exposure and intoxications, and have been often studied.…”

Lead ingestion as a potential contributing factor to the decline in vulture populations in southern Africa

“…With the correlation between whole blood lead concentrations and soil lead concentrations being poor, it is unlikely that exposure to soil contaminated carcasses alone is a likely cause for the higher exposures. With regards to air borne exposure, with previous studies demonstrating that lead exposures were much higher in children living closer to highways (von Schirnding et al, 1991), as well as that persons living in mining towns had higher whole blood lead concentrations than those living some distance away (von Schirnding et al, 2003). We evaluated air exposure by looking at the relationship of whole blood lead concentration to population densities (and thus indirectly lead arising from fuel emissions), and to the presence of mining activity in the area of sampling.…”