Lead poisoning in children from townships in the vicinity of a lead–zinc mine in Kabwe, Zambia

Abstract

24Childhood lead poisoning is a serious public health concern worldwide. Blood lead levels

Constitutive Effects of Lead on Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Gene Battery and Protection by β‐carotene and Ascorbic Acid in Human HepG2 Cells

“…Exposure of humans to Pb is very common worldwide either via ingestion of contaminated foods, drinks, or inhalation in Pb polluted areas. Recently, Pb is encountered in many poisoning cases especially in children in many locations such as in Bagega community, Zamfara, Nigeria (Ajumobi and others ); in Kabwe, Zambia (Yabe and others ); and in Changchun, Jilin Province, China (Xu and others ). The 1st objective of this study was to investigate the constitutive effects of Pb (under relevant concentrations found in environment) on XMEs in the human HepG2 cells, especially, AhR gene battery.…”

Lead Poisoning and Measurement of Body Burdens of Lead: A Perspective

“…Despite the fact that the mine was closed it has continued to be a source of pollution because of the waste stored on-site. One of the interesting findings was that all children under 7 year old included in the study had blood lead levels above 5 μg⁄(dL), the greatest values being among children around the age of 2 years old (Yabe et al, 2015). Finally, observation of lead poisoning in bovine tissues of animals has been reported for cases in a farm in the United States (Buchweitz, McClure-Brinton, Zyskowski, Stensen, & Lehner, 2015).…”

“…Lead poisoning in children has sometimes been found to be due to ingestion of paint flakes and dust from paintwork maintained in poor conditions (Rollin, Carré, & Garnier, 2008), also in poorly-regulated toys containing lead. Recommendations for reducing risk include: avoiding contact with such paint surfaces, and encouraging diets that provide sufficient supply of calcium and iron to reduce absorption of lead (Rollin et al, 2008;Yabe et al, 2015). It must be noted that while blood lead levels greater than 5 μg/(dL) are considered to be elevated, signs of lead poisoning are not usually manifest untiltheconcentrationexceeds10μg⁄(dL).Concentrationsin excessof45μg⁄(dL)needmedicalintervention (Rollin et al, 2008;Yabe et al, 2015).…”

“…Recommendations for reducing risk include: avoiding contact with such paint surfaces, and encouraging diets that provide sufficient supply of calcium and iron to reduce absorption of lead (Rollin et al, 2008;Yabe et al, 2015). It must be noted that while blood lead levels greater than 5 μg/(dL) are considered to be elevated, signs of lead poisoning are not usually manifest untiltheconcentrationexceeds10μg⁄(dL).Concentrationsin excessof45μg⁄(dL)needmedicalintervention (Rollin et al, 2008;Yabe et al, 2015). In one reported case of lead poisoning, due to inappropriate use of Chinese medicine, a 75 year old patient developing signs including anorexia, weight loss, constipation, nausea, after a 3 month use of a herbal medicine for chronic leg ulcer.…”

Environmental Exposures and Cardiovascular Disease

“…Moreover, the artisanal use of lead in pottery has also be a source of lead exposure in Latin America and Africa 114,115,124,125 , and leaded paints are still being sold and used in some LMIC, as noted in a recent study in Cambodia 126 . Independent of the source of the lead contamination, children are often the most vulnerable population exposed to lead, with often unmeasured detriment to the present and future neurological and cardiovascular health 113,122,125,127–129 .…”