Reductions in blood lead levels among school children following the introduction of unleaded petrol in South Africa

Mathee, Angela; Röllin, Halina B.; Schirnding, Yasmin von; Levin, Jonathan; Naik, Inakshi

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2005.08.001

Cited by 59 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Table 3 summarizes some of the recent data on BPb of children reported in other countries, though year of sampling and age of subject children vary among these reports [15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. The lower BPb in Japanese children may be due to lack of apparent Pb exposure sources such as leaded gasoline and residential Pb-based paint, which are well-known contributors to Pb contamination of children in many countries.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blood lead levels of contemporary Japanese children

Yoshinaga

Takagi

Yamasaki

et al. 2011

Environ Health Prev Med

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Objectives Lead concentrations in whole blood (BPb) of Japanese children were measured to obtain insight into the sources of variation and to estimate health risk. Methods Blood samples were taken from 352 children (aged 1-14 years) at pediatric clinics/hospitals in 3 regions of Japan (Tokyo, Shizuoka, and Osaka) during [2005][2006] (Shizuoka only) and 2008-2010 (3 regions), and BPb was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after acid digestion. Results Geometric mean BPb of the 352 children was 1.07 lg/dL, among the lowest in the world. Based on this result, the probability of exceeding BPb 10 lg/dL, the action level proposed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in general Japanese children was estimated to be negligible. There was a significant negative correlation between BPb and age, while sex difference was not significant. BPb was significantly lower in subjects in Tokyo than in the other two regions. Age-adjusted mean BPb was significantly higher in children with a family member who smoked in their presence than in those who did not have such a family member, indicating that passive smoking had a significant effect on BPb.Conclusions Health risk of lead exposure is minimal in Japanese children. To lower the exposure level further, reduction of passive smoking is suggested as one of the effective measures.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blood lead levels of contemporary Japanese children

Yoshinaga

Takagi

Yamasaki

et al. 2011

Environ Health Prev Med

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“…These were the same towns and schools included in previous such studies. [1,5,13] Cape Town, the largest coastal city in Western Cape Province, covers ~2 400 km 2 with a population of ~3.4 million in 2007. Johannesburg, in Gauteng Province, covers ~2 300 km 2 with a population of 3.8 million; it is one of the fastest growing cities in the world.…”

Section: Study Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In South Africa (SA), incremental reductions in the maximum lead content of petrol commenced in 1986, with the use of leaded petrol discontinued in 2006. [1] In 2009, legislation was passed banning the use of lead in paint used in homes and for children's toys and furniture. [2] However, the use of lead continues in many other products and services, e.g.…”

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confidence: 99%

A follow-up cross-sectional study of environmental lead exposure in early childhood in urban South Africa

2013

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Background. Lead exposure has significant detrimental effects on the health and wellbeing of children. In resource-poor countries, information on the extent of lead exposure is often inadequate owing to the lack of surveillance and screening programmes. Objective. To determine the degree of lead exposure in children residing in South African urban areas. Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in schools in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Kimberley in 2007 -2008. Blood lead levels were assessed in a total of 1 349 grade 1 children using the LeadCare Analyser system. Parents completed a structured questionnaire on sociodemographic profiles and risk factors to provide information about socioeconomic status and other risk factors for lead exposure.Results. Blood lead levels ranged from 0.8 -32.3 µg/dl. The mean blood lead level in the total sample was 7.97 µg/dl; 74% had blood lead levels ≥5 µg/dl. The highest proportion (84%) of children with blood lead levels ≥5 µg/dl was in Johannesburg. In the multivariate analysis, socioeconomic status was significantly associated with blood lead levels ≥5 µg/dl. Conclusion. Lead exposure in South African urban areas remains widespread. The risk of lead poisoning in some areas and certain groups of children may be increasing despite the phasing out of lead-containing petrol. Children living in poverty continue to be the most vulnerable.

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“…1,2 Although adverse health effects of these metals are well understood, exposures are continuing and even increasing in some parts of the world, especially in less developed countries. Due to stringent control measures, recent data indicate that emissions of these metals have declined in most of the developed countries, but due to their chemical stability, these elements can persist in the environment for many years, even after cessation of the main sources of contamination.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxic and essential elements in blood from delivering women in selected areas of São Paulo State, Brazil

et al. 2011

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This study was designed to evaluate the degree of environmental contamination and possible exposure of pregnant women to toxic elements in seven selected areas of São Paulo State, Brazil. The overall median concentration of Mo in maternal blood was 0.53 mg L À1 , highly significant differences found between sites (p < 0.0001). Cd was found to be low overall À 0.09 mg L À1 (0.01-0.58 mg L À1 ) -with mothers from the Coastal and Rural 1 sites having the highest levels (p < 0.016). Median Hg concentration was 0.60 mg L À1 (0.06 mg L À1 -4.35 mg L À1 ); median Pb level was 16.2 mg L À1 (3.5-57.7 mg L À1 ) and no differences between sites were observed for both metals. Median Mn level was 16.7 mg L À1 (7.0-39.7 mg L À1 ), being highest in Urban 2 site (p<0.016). Concentrations of maternal Co were found to range between 0.06 mg L À1 and 1.1 mg L À1 (median 0.25 mg L À1 ) and As level was 0.60 mg L À1 (0.10-3.8 mg L À1 ) overall, with no statistical significance between sites for Co and As. Median Se concentrations were found to be 64 mg L À1 (36-233 mg L À1 ), with the highest median levels found in Urban 3 site; site differences were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Correlation for each element (between paired maternal and cord blood) was measured only in Rural site 1; significant correlation was shown for Hg, Pb, Mn and Co (p<0.05). These findings may be interpreted as indicating low environmental contamination in São Paulo State, Brazil. These findings could also indicate that pregnant women have little or no contact with pollutants, possibly due to awareness campaigns carried out by public health practitioners.

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Reductions in blood lead levels among school children following the introduction of unleaded petrol in South Africa

Cited by 59 publications

References 12 publications

Blood lead levels of contemporary Japanese children

Blood lead levels of contemporary Japanese children

A follow-up cross-sectional study of environmental lead exposure in early childhood in urban South Africa

Toxic and essential elements in blood from delivering women in selected areas of São Paulo State, Brazil

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