The University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.
Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan.
Chemosphere. 2015 Jan;119:941-947. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.09.028. Epub 2014 Oct 8.
Childhood lead poisoning is a serious public health concern worldwide. Blood lead levels exceeding 5 μg dL(-1) are considered elevated. In Kabwe, the capital of Zambia's Central Province, extensive Pb contamination of township soils in the vicinity of a Pb-Zn mine and posing serious health risk to children has been reported. We investigated BLLs in children under the age of 7 years in townships around the mine; where blood samples were collected and analyzed using an ICP-MS. All of the sampled children had BLLs exceeding 5 μg dL(-1). Children in these areas could be at serious risk of Pb toxicity as 18% of the sampled children in Chowa, 57% (Kasanda) and 25% (Makululu) had BLLs exceeding 65 μg dL(-1). Eight children had BLLs exceeding 150 μg dL(-1) with the maximum being 427.8 μg dL(-1). We recommend that medical intervention be commenced in the children with BLL exceeding 45 μg dL(-1).
儿童铅中毒是一个全球性的严重公共卫生问题。血铅水平超过 5μg/dL(-1)被认为是升高的。在赞比亚中央省的首府卡布韦，附近的一个铅锌矿导致了大量的 Pb 污染，对儿童构成了严重的健康风险。我们调查了矿区周围城镇 7 岁以下儿童的 BLL；在这里采集了血液样本，并使用 ICP-MS 进行了分析。所有采样的儿童的 BLL 都超过了 5μg/dL(-1)。这些地区的儿童可能面临严重的铅中毒风险，因为在 Chowa 有 18%的儿童，在 Kasanda 有 57%的儿童和在 Makululu 有 25%的儿童的 BLL 超过 65μg/dL(-1)。有 8 个儿童的 BLL 超过 150μg/dL(-1)，最高值为 427.8μg/dL(-1)。我们建议对 BLL 超过 45μg/dL(-1)的儿童进行医学干预。
