Elevated Blood Lead Levels in Infants and Children in Haiti, 2015

Abstract

Objective: Few studies have reported blood lead levels (BLLs) in Haitian children, despite the known presence of lead from environmental factors such as soil, water, leaded paint and gasoline, improperly discarded batteries, and earthquakes. We sought to determine the prevalence of elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) among healthy Haitian children. Methods: We enrolled children aged 9 months to 6 years from 3 geographic areas in Haiti (coastal, urban, and mountain) from March 1 through June 30, 2015. We obtained anthropometric measurements, household income, potential sources of lead exposure, and fingerstick BLLs from 273 children at 6 churches in Haiti. We considered a BLL 5 mg/dL to be elevated. Results: Of 273 children enrolled in the study, 95 were from the coastal area, 78 from the urban area, and 100 from the mountain area. The median BLL was 5.8 mg/dL, with higher levels in the mountain area than in the other areas (P < .001). BLLs were elevated in 180 (65.9%) children. The prevalence of EBLL was significantly higher in the mountain area (82 of 100, 82.0%; P < .001) than in the urban area (42 of 78, 53.8%) and the coastal area (56 of 95, 58.9%; P < .001). Twenty-eight (10.3%) children had EBLLs 10 mg/dL and 3 (1.1%) children had EBLLs 20 mg/dL. Exposure to improperly discarded batteries (P ¼ .006) and living in the mountain area (P < .001) were significant risk factors for EBLLs. Conclusions: More than half of Haitian children in our study had EBLLs. Public health interventions are warranted to protect children in Haiti against lead poisoning.

Environmental assessment of pediatric Lead exposure in Tehran; a prospective cross-sectional study

“…Lead poisoning has irreversible effects on brain development and children’s height leading to high burdens on health systems [ 15 , 25 , 50 , 51 ]. We did not notice a significant decrease in participant’s height and mental function.…”

“…The most common signs or symptoms are constipation, abdominal pain, anemia, fatigue, weakness, irritability, renal dysfunction, and neuropathies [2,21]. Neurological symptoms like learning impairment, irritability, attention-deficit/ hyperactive disorder, and lower IQ scores are identified in children who may also have poor socio-economic support, reinforcing the importance of lead poisoning [22][23][24][25].…”

Advancing Knowledge to Reduce Lead Exposure of Children in Data-Poor Low- and Middle-Income Countries

“…56,57 An estimated one in nine people globally are malnourished, 58 and rural versus urban populations in LMICs are more likely to have poor nutrition. 59 Figure 2e plots in a similar fashion childhood BLLs versus mean annual fine particulate matter pollution (PM 2.5 ), 60 showing a positive relationship; PM 2.5 is considered the most important proxy for health effects from air pollution 61 and typically trends with other exposure routes caused by industry and lack of regulation (e.g., contaminated water). 62 Additionally, airborne lead is the primary source of lead-contaminated soil and household dust, 63 and it is hypothesized that lead repeatedly undergoes the transition between air and soil/dust.…”

Childhood Blood Lead Levels and Environmental Risk Factors in Madagascar

“…Univariate logistic regression was employed with a dichotomous outcome de ned as elevated BLL status, here using the current CDC reference value (i.e., <5 vs. ≥5 ug/dL), similar to previous assessments of childhood BLLs in LMICs (Carpenter et al, 2019). Comparisons were also made at the former CDC "level of concern" (i.e., <10 vs. ≥10 ug/dL) (Albalak et al, 2003, Kaiser et al, 2001, Carpenter et al, 2019, with these results summarized in the Appendix and brie y discussed in the main text. Therefore, the focus of this manuscript is those children with elevated BLL as de ned using the current CDC reference value (≥5 ug/dL).…”