Blood lead level of outpatient children in Anqing from 2015 to 2018 / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To analyze blood lead levels of children aged 0-14 in Anqing City during 2015 to 2018, to provide basic data for child poisoning prevention and control.@*Methods@#Using questionnaire surveys, physical examination, and laboratory tests to assess blood lead, age, height, weight, personal habits, environmental factors and other relevant information, to analyze associated factors of elevated blood lead levels.@*Results@#From 2015 to 2018, among the 4 406, 4 177, 3 833 and 3 381 children aged 0-14 in the pediatric outpatient, 662, 326, 225, and 56 cases were found with elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs), with the detection rate of 15.02%, 7.80%, 5.87%, and 1.66%, respectively. Detection rate in boys (16.54%, 7.31%, 6.18% and 1.88%) was similar with that of girls (16.04%, 8.51%, 5.42% and 1.33%) ( χ 2= 2.47 , 2.00, 0.99,1.53, P >0.05). Children in any age groups of 0-14 years might have EBLLs, highest in 14-year-old group in the year of 2015 and 2017. Personal behaviors associated with EBLLs included less meat and dairy products consumption, high frequent exposure to soil dust. In contrast, children who wash their hands before meals and wash toys ≥1 time/week were less likely to suffer from EBLLs ( χ 2=13.58，8.91，7.63，9.22， P <0.05). Environmental factors associated with EBLLs included were less than 50 m between the main road with residency, family members smoke, and parents engaged in construction, welding, automobile maintenance and other industries are more likely to have EBLLs, and the difference is statistically significant ( χ 2=4.92，10.63，22.95， P <0.05).@*Conclusion@#The detection rate of EBLLs in Anqing City from 2015 to 2018 depressed by year. Washing hands before meals and cleaning toys frequently could reduce the risk of EBLLs.