ISSN:
1572-8773
Keywords:
children
;
lead
;
toxicity
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Abstract Lead is a highly toxic metal, the main source of which iscontamination from combustion of unleaded petrol.The aims of this work were todetect the degree of lead exposure in a large sample of children; determinetherelationship between blood lead levels (BPb) and age, sex, habitat and season of the year;andcorrelate BPb with zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) values. A cross-sectional study wascarried out. Blood fromroutine extractions drawn at our centre was used. BPb and ZPP weremeasured by atomic absorptionspectrophotometry and haematofluorimetry,respectively. We analysed 1158 blood samples from children.BPb (mean ± SEM): 0.22 ±0.04 μmol l . Correlation BPb-age: BPb = 0.19 + 0.086 x age (months),r =0.129, P 〈 0.0001. BPb was greater in boys (0.23 ± 0.007 versus 0.20 ±0.006 μmol l , P 〈 0.0002).No differences were observed between habitats(urban versus rural). BPb were higher in the warm months(0.24 ± 0.013versus 0.21 ± 0.007 μmol l , P 〈 0.0001). Prevalence of lead intoxication (BPb 〉 0.48 μmol l )was 4.2%. No differences in prevalence were found among the different groups. The correlationbetweenBPb and ZPP showed r = 0.0969, P = 0.0024. Utility for screening:sensitivity of 53.7% and specificity of 59.3% (cut-off point of 60 μmol ZPPmol haem). We can conclude that lead exposure in children inoursample was in the range reported in similar studies in other areas andcountries, and below the toxic limit.None of the factors analysed significantlyinfluenced lead intoxication prevalence. There was no goodcorrelationbetween ZPP and BPb in our sample and the ZPP cut-off point used did not presentgoodspecificity and sensitivity values.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1009253611000
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