Blood lead levels in the general population of Taiwan, Republic of China

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the environmental lead exposure of the general population in Taiwan. A total of 2919 residents of Taiwan were selected by multistage sampling methods. The participants were characterized by questionnaires and 10 ml venous blood was collected for blood lead measurement. A quality assurance/quality control program was designed during the analysis of blood lead levels. The mean blood lead level of 2719 residents without occupational lead exposure was 8.29 +/- 5.92 micrograms/dl. After adjustment for age and sex distribution to the Taiwan general population, the mean blood lead level was 8.10 micrograms/dl. Adjusted for an 11% underestimation of blood lead levels among the six laboratories, the mean blood lead level was estimated to be 8.99 micrograms/dl. This study also found that blood lead levels were associated with personal characteristics, i.e., gender, ethnic group, education level; lifestyle factors, i.e., smoking, alcohol consumption, sources of drinking water; and residential location, i.e., levels of urbanization, distance of house from the road. However, age, floor of residence, milk consumption, betel nut consumption, and Chinese herbal drug consumption were not found to be associated with blood lead levels. These results show that blood lead levels in Taiwan residents were not higher than in most developed and developing countries. Environmental lead pollution does not seem to be a serious problem in Taiwan.

Association between blood levels of lead, blood pressure and risk of diabetes and heart disease in workers

“…It should be noted that most of the industrial workers were not aware of lead exposure in the workplace. In the present study, BLL for industrial workers (median 80.9 and GM 62.0 lg/dl) is higher than has been reported from studies in China (Liou et al 1994), Taiwan (Wu et al 1996), South Africa (Ehrlich et al 1998, Italy (Mutti and Smargiassi 1998), and the United States (Bleecker et al 1997). Additionally, the levels tend in the present study to exceed the WHO (1987) acceptable maximum level (48 lg/dl) for occupational lead exposure, whereas, BLL for non-industrial workers (median 11.0 and GM 13.3 lg/dl) is within acceptable, WHO standards for the adult population without occupational lead exposure.…”

Lead and cadmium levels in daily foods, blood and urine in children and their mothers in Korea

“…After numerous programs and campaigns by the government (e.g., use of unleaded gasoline and separate treatment of Pb-contaminated industrial wastes), Pb levels in ambient air have been steadily decreasing, from 0.2471 lg Pb/m 3 in 1991 to 0.1004 lg Pb/m 3 in 2000 (means of concentrations measured at four locations once a month in Busan each year; Ministry of Environment and National Institute of Environmental Research 2001). Other potential exposure sources for children in Korea may include traditional remedies (herbal medicine; Cheng et al 1998;Lieu et al 1994), passive smoking at home, and Pb as a paint component. No trials were possible in the present study, however, to make quantitative assessment of such exposures.…”

Sister chromatid exchange induced by chromium compounds in human lymphocytes

“…All Cr and NiCr workers had at least 6 months of experience with electroplating at the start of the study. The control group consisted mostly of administrative workers who had been participants in another study (Liou et al 1994). These participants were free of exposure to heavy metal and organic solvents.…”