Lead exposure and its adverse health effects among occupational worker’s children

Abstract

Lead exposure is an important environmental health problem particularly affecting the children of occupational workers living in the lead-contaminated environment. The objectives of the study were to find out the frequency, potential sources and adverse health effects of elevated blood lead level (BLL) in the children of lead-related occupational workers. It was a comparative cross-sectional study. A total of two hundred forty six children aged 1-6 years, comprising an equal number (n = 123) from lead smelters/battery recycle plant workers living close to the industries at Wah/Gujranwala, Pakistan (lead-exposed group) and those living 30 km away from the industrial area (controls) were included. Demographic and clinical data of each subject was collected. Blood lead analysis was carried out by using kits on the lead analyzer (3010 B ESA, USA). Biochemical tests of renal and hepatic profile were analyzed on Selectra E auto analyzer. The median age of children was 4 years; comprising of 69 boys and 54 girls. The lead-exposed children had significantly high BLLs median (range) 8.1 (1-20.9) microg/dL as compared to controls 6.7 (1-13.3) microg/dL (p <or= 0.01). The children of occupational workers had elevated BLL (>10 microg/dL) in 38 (31%) as compared with 14 (11%) in controls. Hematopoietic, renal, and hepatic functions were significantly impaired in the lead-exposed children. In conclusion, the children of lead-related occupational workers have significantly increased frequency (31%) of lead poisoning. The potential source of lead overexposure in these children may be indirect through father's clothes and contaminated environment at home. Increased lead accumulation adversely affects health of these children.

Environmental and Occupational Lead Exposure Among Children in Cairo, Egypt

“…Although the mean BLLs in Cairo were not statistically different between sexes, the prevalence of males having an elevated BLL was higher than females. Similar results were seen in studies conducted in Egypt, 18 Pakistan, 27 Thailand, 28 and Bangladesh. 17 Traditional male and female roles in our society with increased outdoor activities for boys have been involved in this sex-related difference; however, the exact reason is still not clear.…”

Lead Exposure Assessment among Pregnant Women, Newborns, and Children: Case Study from Karachi, Pakistan

“…Comparatively higher blood lead levels were reported from the megacity Karachi (range 7.2–38.2 µg/dL) and Islamabad with less dense traffic (3.22–2.3 µg/dL) [12,13,14,15,16,17,18]. Moreover, higher blood lead levels have also been reported among children of industrial workers [19]. …”

Environmental exposures and pediatric kidney function and disease: A systematic review

“…A cross-sectional study of 196 children in Morocco found no significant correlations between blood lead and urine RBP and albumin levels (Laamech et al, 2014). A cross-sectional study of 246 children in Pakistan also found no significant difference in serum urea or serum creatinine levels between exposed (children of lead-exposed industrial workers) and unexposed (children of non-exposed workers) groups (Khan et al, 2010). A cross-sectional study of 151 children in Romania found no significant increases in biomarkers associated with blood lead, except for an increase in urine NAG (Verberk et al, 1996).…”

“…Some publications were considered together (Bellinger et al, 2006; Geier et al, 2013; Hawkesworth et al, 2013; Barregard et al, 2008; DeRouen et al, 2006; Skroder et al, 2015; Woods et al, 2008; Kooijman et al, 2015; Taal et al, 2011), as they used the same study population and provided complementary information. Most studies were from non-occupationally-exposed populations, one included children of occupationally exposed parents (Khan et al, 2010). The studies were conducted in the United States, Canada, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Kosovo, Pakistan, Senegal, Belgium, Morocco, France, Portugal, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Mexico, Thailand, Egypt, and Netherlands.…”