serum lead level of childern in emergency ward

ABSTRACT

Lead is neurotoxic metal and particularly harmful to the developing nervous system of young children. The U.S. Department of Health and Human services established a National goal to eliminate blood lead level more than 100 Microgram/lit in children age<7 years by 2010. Our perpous was to evaluate the serum lead blood level of 1-7 years old children in khorasan province. This cross sectional - descriptive study performed on 206 children aged one to seven years who were referred to pediatric out patients clinic and pediatric emergency service of Emam Reza medical center.Mashhad Iran from Jan. 200 1 - 2002 children age and blood lead levels were collected in special form. From all children before entrance to study 3 cc blood had been taken for blood lead level. Blood lead levels in all samples were measured by the same lab and same technician. Collected data were processed by descriptive statistics and frequency tables. In this study we measure blood lead levels in 206 children aged one to six years in Emam Reza Medical center pediatrics emergency service and out patients clinic. The mean age of children was 40/04 +/- 1 8/66 months and the mean blood lead level was 121/95 +/- 33/54 Mcg/lit and in 74/8% of children the lead levels were more than 100 Mc/lit. study showed the lead levels are more than other countries studies. Further epidemiologic studies should be performed for this very important heath problem of Mashhad children