The blood lead level and its relationship with behavior in school-age children from rural areas of Chongqing / 中华预防医学杂志

Objective@#To explore the blood lead level and its relationship with behavior in school-age children from rural areas of Chongqing.@*Methods@#A total of 697 students from grades 3 to 6 in the fall semester of 2014 from 14 rural townships in one district of Chongqing was selected by using the random cluster sampling method. Blood were sampled to analyze the lead level. Neurobehavioral tests were performed to determine their personal cognitive and memory ability. Questionnaires and physical examinations were administered to obtain the information of confounding factors. All students were divided into Q1-Q4 groups according to the quartile of their blood lead level. The relationship between the blood lead level and behavior was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression model and restricted spline regression model.@*Results@#The mean age of 697 students was (10.07±1.36) years old, and the median (interquartile range) of their blood lead level was 44.31 (35.42) μg/L. Multivariate logistic regression model showed that after adjusting for age, gender, body mass index and maternal culture level, compared with Q1 group, the OR (95%CI) values of high digit symbol substitution test (DSST) scores and high overall memory quotient (MQ) scores in Q3 group were 1.65 (1.01-2.70) and 2.10 (1.21-3.62), and the OR (95%CI) value of high long term memory (LTM) scores in Q4 group was 0.53 (0.31-0.92). The results of the restricted spline regression model showed that the dose-response curves between the blood lead level and MQ/LTM test scores were both parabolic (P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#The blood lead level of school-age children from rural areas of Chongqing is the same as that from other areas of China, but slightly higher than that from other areas of Chongqing. Children with higher blood lead level have poor long-term memory ability.

Longitudinal trends of blood lead levels before and after leaded gasoline regulation in Korea

The objective of this study was to verify a change in the longitudinal trend of blood lead levels for the Korean population, before and after the regulation of leaded gasoline— which occurred between 1987 and 1993 in Korea. A total of 77 reports on blood lead levels among general Korean population between 1981 and 2014 were selected, and the results were summarized to have the variables of year, number of subjects, the subjects’ range in age, gender, and blood lead concentrations (arithmetic mean). The annual average atmospheric lead levels for four major cities (i.e., Seoul, Busan, Daegu and Gwangju) were collected from the Air Pollution Monitoring Database from 1991, and pilot studies from 1985 to 1990 before the national air quality monitoring system was launched in 1991. Blood lead levels were visualized in a bubble plot in which the size of each bubble represented the sample size of each study, and the annual average concentrations in ambient air were depicted on line graphs. Blood lead levels in the Korean population tended to gradually increase from the early 1980s (approximately 15-20 μg/dL) until 1990-1992 (20-25 μg/dL). Blood lead levels then began to rapidly decrease until 2014 ( < 2 μg/dL). Similar patterns were observed for both adults (≥20 years) and younger children/adolescents. The same longitudinal trend was observed in annual average atmospheric lead concentration, which suggests a significant correlation between air lead concentration and blood lead concentration in the general population. In conclusion, the regulation of leaded gasoline has significantly contributed to the rapid change in blood lead concentrations. And, the regulation of other sources of lead exposure should be considered to further decrease blood lead levels in the Korean population.

Detection and analysis of lead concentrations in the blood of children in Xiamen / 国际检验医学杂志

Objective To provide the scientific guidance for the prevention of lead poisoning in the children ,the lead concentra‐tions in the blood of children in Xiamen are investigated .Methods 11 271 cases of outpatients with the age of 0 -10 years old in maternity and child care hospital were surveyed randomly .The lead concentrations in the blood of these children were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer .Results From 2010 to 2013 ,the whole blood lead levels of 11 271 children was detected .The mean blood lead levels was 51 .0 μg/L .The boy lead poisoning rate was higher than girls in different age groups ,the difference was statistically significant (P<0 .05) .Both the above indices increased gradually with the increase of age in the range of 1-6 years old ,and the mean blood lead levels reached its peak in preschool age ,the mean blood lead did not increased in school‐age children ,and the lead poisoning rate showed the downward trend .Conclusion The lead poisoning rate of children in Xiamen is close to the average level of other cities ,however ,the blood lead level tends to increase with the increase of age .The effect of lead pollu‐tion on physical health of children shall be paid more attention to nowadays .

Intoxicação infantil por chumbo: uma análise discriminante entre os fatores de risco e de proteção / Childhood lead poisoning: a discriminant analysis between risk and protection / Los niños envenenados por plomo: análisis discriminante entre el factores de riesgo y protección

As habilidades sociais são reconhecidas como fator de proteção ao longo do desenvolvimento humano, contra os impactos dos fatores de risco. Neste estudo, considerando a situação de risco de crianças e adolescentes contaminadas por chumbo, buscou-se identificar as variáveis (habilidades sociais, práticas parentais, problemas de comportamento e competência acadêmica) que as diferenciam das não contaminadas e a possível função protetora das habilidades sociais sobre problemas de comportamento em ambos os grupos. Participaram desta pesquisa 100 crianças, suas mães e professores. Os problemas de comportamento, a competência acadêmica e as habilidades sociais das crianças foram avaliados pelo Sistema de Avaliação de Habilidades Sociais (SSRS-BR); as habilidades sociais dos adolescentes pelo Inventário de Habilidades Sociais para Adolescentes (IHSA-Del-Prette). As práticas parentais foram avaliadas pelo Inventário de Estilos Parentais (IEP). Com base nas análises de variância, discriminante e de mediação, foi possível identificar diferenças entre os dois grupos, com maior comprometimento nas crianças contaminadas, exceto para a habilidade social de assertividade autoavaliada, cujo resultado apontou maior repertório para as crianças intoxicadas por chumbo. Comprovou-se também a função mediadora das habilidades sociais minimizando o impacto da plumbemia sobre os problemas de comportamento. O conjunto dos resultados reforça a ideia de que um repertório elaborado de habilidades sociais pode estar relacionado com a competência cognitiva das crianças e adolescentes.

Social skills are recognized as protection factor during human development, against the impacts of risk factors. In this study, considering the risk of children and adolescents contaminated by lead, we sought to identify variables (social skills, parenting practices, behavior problems and academic competence) that distinguish them from uncontaminated and the possible protective role of social skills on behavioral problems in both groups. A sample of 100 children, their mothers and teachers participated in this study. Behavior problems and academic competence were assessed by Social Skills Rating (SSRS-BR); the social skills by SSRS-BR and Inventory of Social Skills for Adolescents (IHSA- Del Prette). Parenting practices were assessed by the Inventory of Parental Styles (IEP). Based on analyzis of variance, discriminant and mediation, it was possible to identify differences between the two groups, with greater impairment in children contaminated, except for the social skill self evaluation assertiveness, and the result showed the best repertoire for lead-poisoned children. It was proved also the mediating role of social skills while minimizing the impact of blood lead level on behavior problems. The overall results showed the notion that a repertoire of social skills may be related to cognitive skills of children and adolescents.

Las habilidades sociales se reconocen como factor de protección sobre el desarrollo humano, de los efectos de los factores de riesgo. En este estudio, teniendo en cuenta la situación de los niños y adolescentes intoxicados con plomo, hemos tratado de identificar las variables (habilidades sociales, prácticas parentales, problemas de conducta y de competencia académica) que las diferencian de no intoxicado y el posible papel protector de las habilidades sociales en los problemas de conducta en los dos grupos. El estudio reunió a 100 niños, sus madres y maestros. Los problemas de conducta y competencia académica se evaluaron mediante SSRS-BR; habilidades sociales por Sistema de evaluación de habilidades sociales (SSRS-BR) y Inventario de Habilidades Sociales Adolescentes (IHSA-Del-Prette). Prácticas parentales fueron evaluados por lo Inventario de Estilos Parentales (IEP). Con base en el análisis de la varianza, discriminante y la mediación fue posible identificar las diferencias entre los dos grupos, con mayor impacto en los niños infectados, a excepción de la asertividad autoavaliada, cuyo resultado mostró mejor repertorio para niños intoxicados por plomo. Se demuestra también el papel mediador de las habilidades sociales, minimizando el impacto de plomo en la sangre en los problemas de la conducta. Los resultados globales refuerzan la nocíon de que un repertorio de habilidades sociales puede estar relacionado con las habilidades cognitivas de los niños y adolescentes.

Surveillance of childhood blood lead levels in Chengdu, China in 2010-2011

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Lead poisoning has been receiving great attention around the world. The Child Hygiene Cooperation Center of the World Health Organization in China has been conducting investigations to monitor blood lead levels (BLLs) from as early as 2004. However, only several lead poisoning studies have been conducted in China since August 2009. The aim of the present study was to investigate the BLLs in children aged < 7 years and to analyse the risk factors of high BLLs in Chengdu, China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Questionnaires were distributed to children in Chengdu from 2010 to 2011. A total of 2,271 children were included in this study - 1,157 received BLL tests in 2010 and the remaining received the tests in 2011. BLL was measured using a tungsten atomiser absorption spectrophotometer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean BLL of the 2,271 children was 6.2 µg/dL and 2.03% of the children had BLLs ≥ 10 µg/dL. Mean BLL seemed to increase with age. Unhygienic habits (e.g. not washing hands frequently, biting of toys and pencils), history of pica, use of coal and residence in an industrial zone were found to be the main risk factors contributing to high BLL (p < 0.05). Children with high BLLs have a higher risk of manifesting anorexia and/or abdominal pain as compared to those with low BLLs (p < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mean BLL of children in Chengdu (i.e. 6.2 µg/dL) was found to be higher than that of children in developed countries. Childhood lead poisoning remains a public health problem.</p>

Analysis on the Results of Blood Lead of Children in Panyu,Guangzhou / 现代检验医学杂志

Objective To understand the children health care and the prevention of lead pollution in Panyu in the future by re-search on the detection result of blood lead from Panyu children during 2011 and 2012.Methods The detection of whole blood lead was by atomic absorption spectrometer from body examination in 6 308 children in Panyu Center Hospital be-tween 2011 and 2012:①The blood lead result from assigned children were divided into five age groups:infancy group (1~12 months,1 511 cases),toddler age group (1~2 years,1 558 cases),preschool age group (3~6 years,1 704 cases),school age group (7~11 years,1 076 cases)and adolescence group (12~18 years,459 cases).②Based on different age group,each group was separated by male and female.③According to the detection year,each group was also put into 2011 and 2012 re-spectively.Results The overall level of children blood lead in Panyu,Guangzhou in 2011 and 2012 was 37.01±29.18μg/L, and the total poisoning rate was 1.2 9%.Along with the growth of age,the overall level of children blood lead was in up-wards trend but the poisoning rate kept in a stable level beginning from infant stage.The blood lead level of boys in Panyu was 38.87±30.18μg/L,and the poisoning rate was 1.91%;the blood lead level of girls was 34.13±27.32μg/L,and the poisoning rate was 1.29%.The blood lead levels and the poisoning rates of boys were higher than girl’s in most of age groups.Conclusion Compared with other big cities like Guangzhou,the blood lead level of children in Panyu was declined but it’s not the standard performance,and there’s a certain extent of lead pollution.So in addition to reinforce pollution con-trol from government,parents and children should enhance the knowledge,education and precaution of lead poisoning.

Blood lead levels of Korean lead workers in 2003-2011

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to document the trend in blood lead levels in Korean lead workers from 2003 until 2011 and blood lead levels within each of the main industries. METHODS: Nine years (2003-2011) of blood lead level data measured during a special health examination of Korean lead workers and collected by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency were analyzed. Blood lead levels were determined by year, and a geometric mean (GM) was calculated for each industry division. RESULTS: The overall GM blood lead level for all years combined (n = 365,331) was 4.35 mug/dL. The GM blood lead level decreased from 5.89 mug/dL in 2003 to 3.53 mug/dL in 2011. The proportion of the results > or =30 mug/dL decreased from 4.3% in 2003 to 0.8% in 2011. In the "Manufacture of Electrical Equipment" division, the GM blood lead level was 7.80 mug/dL, which was the highest among the industry divisions. The GM blood lead levels were 7.35 mug/dL and 6.77 mug/dL in the "Manufacturers of Rubber and Plastic Products" and the "Manufacture of Basic Metal Products" division, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The blood lead levels in Korean lead workers decreased from 2003 to 2011 and were similar to those in the US and UK. Moreover, workers in industries conventionally considered to have a high risk of lead exposure also tended to have relatively high blood lead levels compared to those in other industries.

Lead Exposure and Intellectual Function: Findings from Primary School Children in Bangladesh.

Backgrounds: About 120 million people around the world are overexposed to lead which is neurotoxic and 99 percent of the most severely affected children are in the developing world including Bangladesh. Methods and Materials: The present cross-sectional ecological study was carried out to explore the impact of lead poisoning on the intelligence level among 84 primary school children of a school of Bangladesh, aged between 8 and 14 years from September 2010 through January 2011. The research instrument was an interviewer questionnaire, questionnaire for IQ test and assessment of blood lead level (inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry with collision/reaction cells) of the study subjects after obtaining permission from their parents and the school authority. Results: Data were cross-checked and frequency distribution and association using chi-square test was accomplished. Background information depicted majority (69.1%) of the children aged10-11 years (mean = 10.25 ±1.177 yrs), female (51.2%), parents having primary level of education or below (73.8% in case of father and 77.4% in mother) and from lower socioeconomics (78.6% earned BDT 10,000 or below per month). Among all, majority (56%) were found to be moron, 27.4% in borderline, while 8.3% were imbecile with the same proportion with normal level. By their blood lead level. Majority (70.2%) had blood lead level up to 10 microgram/dl and the rest (29.8%) had more than 10 microgram/ dl. Though no statistically significant association was found between IQ level of the children and their blood lead level (p>0.05), the health problems found among the respondents as abdominal pain (53.57%), impatience (14.29%), nausea (10.71%) and all other problems (loss of concentration to study, ear problem, anorexia and loss of weight) amounting for 21.43% are suggestive of chronic lead poisoning. Conclusion: Further studies in large scale with larger samples including comparative studies of inter-industrial areas have been strongly recommended.

Investigation on Whole Blood Lead Levels in 2956 Children of 1/12～13 Years old in Wenzhou / 医学研究杂志

Objective To Inves tigate the blood lead levels of children of 1/12～13 years old in Wenzhou and early diagnose lead poisoning in them.Methods The whole blood lead levels of 2956 children aged 1/12～13 years were determined by atom absorbspectral analysis.Results The mean of all blood lead levels was(63.11?30.17)?g/L (2037 boys were 65.55?31.23?g/L,919 girls were 57.72?26.78?g/L),318 children(10.77%) were with a blood lead ≥100?g/L(259 boys,59 girls).The prevalence of lead poisoning in boys(12.7%)as higher than those in girls 6.4%(?~2=18.99,P

The relationship between children attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and blood lead and blood microelements levels / 重庆医科大学学报

Objective:To investigate the relationship between blood lead and blood microelements levels and attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder.Methods:To compare the children of ADHD and control groups,levels of blood lead were analysised by anodic stripping voltammetry,and blood microelement Levels were detected by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.Results: Blood lead levels were significantly higher in ADHD than that in control group (P

Blood lead level and related factors in children from 2 kindergartens in Chongqing / 第三军医大学学报

Objective To investigate the blood lead level and its related factors in children in Chongqing and to provide evidence for the prevention and treatment of lead contamination. Methods In June 2001, the blood lead levels in 173 children(aged 2～7 2 years old) selected from 2 kindergartens representing the children in urban district and suburb were detected. At the same time, the related factors were investigated by using questionnaires. Results The highest, the lowest and the mean blood lead levels were 270 ?g/L, 18 ?g/L and 77 73 ?g/L, respectively. The blood lead level of 23 70% children investigated surpassed 100 ?g/L(the international diagnostic criterion of lead poisoning in children). Significant regional difference in blood lead level was found. The mean blood lead levels in children in Yuzhong District and Dadukou District were 111 23 ?g/L and 57 57 ?g/L, respectively. The percentages of children in the two districts with blood lead levels higher than 100 ?g/L were 52 31% and 6 48%, respectively. Blood lead level was closely correlated with the dwelling condition, the dwelling location where factories were nearby or the number of factories was large, health habits, the frequency of eating canned food and popcorn, and culture levels of the mothers. Conclusion Blood lead level of children in the urban distict is significantly higher than that in the suburb, to which more attention should be paid.

A Study on Mean Blood Lead and ZPP Levels of Children around Cheonan-city, Chungcheongnam-do

PURPOSE: Recent years have witness a dramatic increase in public awareness of the health risks associated with lead exposure-particularly concerning young children. The lead poisoning in children was considered a rarity, usually resulting from unique circumstances such as in appropriate use of lead-based body cosmetics or direct administration of lead-containing folk medicine or contaminated atmosphere. The increasing concern about children with lower levels of lead exposure has developed, but there are no data regarding the mean blood lead levels and the incidence of lead poisoning in Korean children. So, this study was conducted to measure the blood lead and ZPP(zinc protoporphyrin) levels of 125 children around Cheonan city. METHODS: 125 children around Cheonan city (from 1 month to 15 year-old, 68 males and 57 females) were studied. We analyzed the mean blood Zinc Protoporphyrin(ZPP) and lead values and excluded children with hematologic disorders in this study. RESULTS: 1) The mean blood lead level was 4.15 microgram/dl (95% CI: 3.82-4.488) and the mean ZPP level was 53.48 microgram/dl (95% CI: 48.44-58.52). Both were within normal range. 2) The mean blood lead level of 68 males was 4.23 microgram/dl and 4.06 microgram/dl in 57 females. The mean blood ZPP level was 49.88 microgram/dl in males and 57.77 microgram/dl in females. There was no significant difference in males and females. 3) There was no siginificant correlation between blood lead and ZPP concentration. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the mean blood lead level of 125 children around Cheonan city was 4.15 microgram/dl. That was within normal range and the same values with United States. It is important that there must be a national counter plan and that pediatricians continue to pay attention to lead poisoning in children.

A Study on Blood Lead Levels of Children in Ulsan

PURPOSE: Lead toxicity affects every organ system, most importantly, the central and periphral nervous systems, kidney, and blood. Not yet, there are not so many data about blood lead levels of children in Korea. The children residing in Ulsan have some risk exposured to lead because of air pollution resulted from rapid industrialization and some lead-using industries. So we estimated the blood lead levels of children in Ulsan and tried to abtain the predict values of them. METHODS: Venous blood specimens were obtained for lead levels from two groups of 60 primary school children(30 residing in suburb, near-industry, and 30 in inner-city), aged 11-12 years. We also determined serum iron, ferritin, and hemoglobin. We compared blool lead levels between two groups according to nature of housing, age of housing, using the paint, condition of paint, parent's occupation. RESULTS: 1) The mean blood lead levels of 60 chiddren was 6.20+/-2.29 g/dl. 2) The children residing in inner-city had the higher blood lead levels(7.02+/-2.29 g/dl) than near-industry, suburban children (5.38+/-1.99 g/dl) with statistical significance (p<0.01). 3) Four children had the blood lead level over 10 g/dl, but all of them below 15 g/dl, and no intellectual deficit. 4) Air lead in classroom of 2 schools was not detected. 5) The serum iron, ferritin and hemoglobin level were all within the normal range. 6) There were no significant difference of blood lead levels between two groups according to nature of husing, age of housing, using the paint, condition of paint, parent's occupations. CONCLUSIONS: The mean blood lead levels of some primary school children in Ulsan was 6.20+/-2.29 g/dl, within the acceptable ranges. Children residing in inner-city had slightly higher blood lead levels than near-industry, suburban children.

Analysis of Blood Lead Levels and Changing Trend in Children in China / 环境与健康杂志

Objective To evaluate Chinese children’s blood lead levels(BLLs) and identify the distribution features with time and to provide the data for developing the policy to control environmental lead pollution.Methods The papers on children BLLs published from 2004 to Aug.2007 with sampling time since 2001 were collected,by searching Chinese Biomedical Disk(CBMDisk),Chinese Journal Full-test Database(CJFD) and other ways.Thirty-five articles eligible for inclusion criteria were reviewed.Also,the data were compared with our former study carried out in 2004 with articles studying time between 1995 and 2003.Results The mean BLL of Chinese children between 2001 and 2007 was 80.7 ?g/L(45.5-165.3 ?g/L),and 23.9%(3.2%-80.7%)were higher than 100 ?g/L,both of which were lower than the levels in 1995 to 2003.Four of 24 provinces or cities reported had average BLLs≥100 ?g/L.Of the 24 provinces or cities,only four had higher BLL and prevalence rates of lead poisoning(BLL ≥100 ?g/L) than that in 1995 to 2003.The mean BLL of children living in industrial areas was higher than that of children in urban and suburbs areas,and the mean BLL in suburbs was higher compared with urban areas.Boys BLL was 79.3 ?g/L,significantly higher than girls(76.9 ?g/L)(P

A survey on blood lead level in 1143 Chongqing children / 重庆医科大学学报

Objective: To observe the blood lead level in 1143 Chongqing children in order to find out effective methods for prevention,diagnosis and treatment of saturnism in children.Methods: Blood lead level was determined by graphite furnace atomizer absorption spectrophotometric analysis.Results: The mean lead level of children in Chongqing was 47.34 ?g/L with 8.6% of those being abnormal.There was no significant difference in the blood lead level among each age group,while statistical differences in the rate of higher blood lead level and the mean blood lead level in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorser(ADHD) were found.Conclusion: Although blood lead level of children in Chongqing is not high,attention should be paid to the harm to children caused by increasing environmental lead pollution.