Estimating Children’s Soil/Dust Ingestion Rates through Retrospective Analyses of Blood Lead Biomonitoring from the Bunker Hill Superfund Site in Idaho

Lindern, Ian von; Spalinger, Susan M.; Stifelman, Marc; Stanek, Lindsay Wichers; Bartrem, Casey

doi:10.1289/ehp.1510144

Cited by 77 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Contributions of soil Pb levels to variability in children’s BLLs were within the range of previously published values. While our study focused on soil Pb values at the local yard scale, a recent study evaluating Pb exposure at a Superfund site in Idaho reported that soil Pb at the neighborhood and community scales contribute independently to total Pb uptake by children (von Lindern et al, 2016). Additionally, other potential sources of Pb exposure not considered in this study, including Pb in house dust or paint, would also contribute to Pb exposure.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Relationship Between Total and Bioaccessible Lead on Children’s Blood Lead Levels in Urban Residential Philadelphia Soils

Bradham

Nelson

Kelly

et al. 2017

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Relationships between total soil or bioaccessible lead (Pb), measured using an in vitro bioaccessibility assay, and children’s blood lead levels (BLL) were investigated in an urban neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, with a history of soil Pb contamination. Soil samples from 38 homes were analyzed to determine whether accounting for the bioaccessible Pb fraction improves statistical relationships with children’s BLLs. Total soil Pb ranged from 58 to 2,821 mg/kg; the bioaccessible Pb fraction ranged from 47 to 2,567 mg/kg. Children’s BLLs ranged from 0.3 to 9.8 μg/dL. Hierarchical models were used to compare relationships between total or bioaccessible Pb in soil and children’s BLLs. Total soil Pb as the predictor accounted for 25% of the variability in child BLL; bioaccessible soil Pb as the predictor accounted for 28% of BLL variability. A bootstrapping analysis confirmed a significant increase in R2 for the model using bioaccessible soil Pb as the predictor with 99.3% of bootstraps showing a positive increase. Estimated increases of 1.4 μg/dL and 1.6 μg/dL in BLL per 1,000 mg/kg Pb in soil were observed for this study area using total and bioaccessible Pb, respectively. Children’s age did not contribute significantly to the prediction of BLLs.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because Pb does not biodegrade or dissipate over time, soil Pb levels remain elevated for many years. Elevated Pb levels in soil and dust represent significant sources of exposure for children (Laidlaw et al, 2014, von Lindern et al, 2016). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship Between Total and Bioaccessible Lead on Children’s Blood Lead Levels in Urban Residential Philadelphia Soils

Bradham

Nelson

Kelly

et al. 2017

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…In addition, the efficacy of enzymatic and metabolic systems to detoxify and excrete chemicals is lower in the early years of life (Faustman et al, 2000; Sheets, 2000; Alarcon et al, 2005), resulting in higher blood levels of toxic metabolites in foetuses and young children for longer periods than in adults (Garry, 2004; Weiss et al, 2004). It is also possible that passive exposure to agricultural pesticides is higher in the youngest children due to their lower residential mobility compared with older children, with consequently higher exposure through inhalation and also due to a higher tendency at this age group for soil and dust ingestion (Moya and Phillips, 2014; von Lindern et al, 2016). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Passive exposure to agricultural pesticides and risk of childhood leukemia in an Italian community

Malagoli

Costanzini

Heck

et al. 2016

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health

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Background Exposure to pesticides has been suggested as a risk factor for childhood leukemia, but definitive evidence on this relation and the specific pesticides involved is still not clear. Objective We carried out a population-based case-control study in a Northern Italy community to assess the possible relation between passive exposure to agricultural pesticides and risk of acute childhood leukemia. Methods We assessed passive pesticide exposure of 111 childhood leukemia cases and 444 matched controls by determining density and type of agricultural land use within a 100-m radius buffer around children’s homes. We focused on four common crop types, arable, orchard, vineyard and vegetable, characterized by the use of specific pesticides that are potentially involved in childhood induced leukemia. The use of these pesticides was validated within the present study. We computed the odds ratios (OR) of the disease and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) according to type and density of crops around the children’s homes, also taking into account traffic pollution and high-voltage power line magnetic field exposure. Results Childhood leukemia risk did not increase in relation with any of the crop types with the exception of arable crops, characterized by the use of 2.4-D, MCPA, glyphosate, dicamba, triazine and cypermethrin. The very few children (n=11) residing close to arable crops had an OR for childhood leukemia of 2.04 (95% CI 0.50–8.35), and such excess risk was further enhanced among children aged < 5 years. Conclusions Despite the null association with most crop types and the statistical imprecision of the estimates, the increased leukemia risk among children residing close to arable crops indicates the need to further investigate the involvement in disease etiology of passive exposure to herbicides and pyrethroids, though such exposure is unlikely to play a role in the vast majority of cases.

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“…EPA 2002; von Lindern et al 2003, 2011, 2016). These protocols were adapted for rural Zamfara using existing institutions, employing local labor, and using familiar labor practices, technology, and equipment.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Remediation activities were adapted to local technical and institutional capabilities from protocols developed at the Bunker Hill Superfund Site (BHSS), Idaho, USA (NRC 2005; Sheldrake and Stifelman 2003; U.S. EPA 2002; von Lindern et al 2003, 2016). The mud-walled residential compounds could not be accessed by mechanical equipment and excavation was accomplished by modifying local hand labor agricultural practices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Remediation to Address Childhood Lead Poisoning Epidemic due to Artisanal Gold Mining in Zamfara, Nigeria

Tirima

Bartrem

Lindern

et al. 2016

Environ Health Perspect

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Background:From 2010 through 2013, integrated health and environmental responses addressed an unprecedented epidemic lead poisoning in Zamfara State, northern Nigeria. Artisanal gold mining caused widespread contamination resulting in the deaths of > 400 children. Socioeconomic, logistic, and security challenges required remediation and medical protocols within the context of local resources, labor practices, and cultural traditions.Objectives:Our aim was to implement emergency environmental remediation to abate exposures to 17,000 lead poisoned villagers, to facilitate chelation treatment of children ≤ 5 years old, and to establish local technical capacity and lead health advocacy programs to prevent future disasters.Methods:U.S. hazardous waste removal protocols were modified to accommodate local agricultural practices. Remediation was conducted over 4 years in three phases, progressing from an emergency response by international personnel to comprehensive cleanup funded and accomplished by the Nigerian government.Results:More than 27,000 m3 of contaminated soils and mining waste were removed from 820 residences and ore processing areas in eight villages, largely by hand labor, and disposed in constructed landfills. Excavated areas were capped with clean soils (≤ 25 mg/kg lead), decreasing soil lead concentrations by 89%, and 2,349 children received chelation treatment. Pre-chelation geometric mean blood lead levels for children ≤ 5 years old decreased from 149 μg/dL to 15 μg/dL over the 4-year remedial program.Conclusions:The unprecedented outbreak and response demonstrate that, given sufficient political will and modest investment, the world’s most challenging environmental health crises can be addressed by adapting proven response protocols to the capabilities of host countries.Citation:Tirima S, Bartrem C, von Lindern I, von Braun M, Lind D, Anka SM, Abdullahi A. 2016. Environmental remediation to address childhood lead poisoning epidemic due to artisanal gold mining in Zamfara, Nigeria. Environ Health Perspect 124:1471–1478; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1510145

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Estimating Children’s Soil/Dust Ingestion Rates through Retrospective Analyses of Blood Lead Biomonitoring from the Bunker Hill Superfund Site in Idaho

Cited by 77 publications

References 19 publications

Relationship Between Total and Bioaccessible Lead on Children’s Blood Lead Levels in Urban Residential Philadelphia Soils

Relationship Between Total and Bioaccessible Lead on Children’s Blood Lead Levels in Urban Residential Philadelphia Soils

Passive exposure to agricultural pesticides and risk of childhood leukemia in an Italian community

Environmental Remediation to Address Childhood Lead Poisoning Epidemic due to Artisanal Gold Mining in Zamfara, Nigeria

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