Department of Biochemistry, Nepal Medical College, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Department of Surgery, NAMS, Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2021 Oct 15;59(242):1012-1016. doi: 10.31729/jnma.6858.
Lead is naturally available toxic heavy metal which is one of the main causes of environmental pollution and produces detrimental effects on health, particularly young children. Lead toxicity has become an emerging global burden of disease varying with the age, socio-economic status, occupation, industrialization, social customs and behaviours. The objective of this study was to find out the baseline blood lead level among children between 8-18 years.
A descriptive study was conducted in Gokarneshwor Municipality, Kathmandu with a total of 160 children between 8-18 years of age from 2018 to 2019 after taking ethical approval from Research and Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 17-074/075). Informed written consent was taken from the principal along with their respective parents and semi structured questionnaires were asked to students. Sample size was calculated and simple random sampling was done. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science version 16. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and descriptive statistics.
The mean blood lead level of the children was 4.39±7.35 µg/dl. Mean hemoglobin being 12.63g/dl; out of 160 children 30 (18.75%) children had blood lead levels. Children with elevated blood lead level had mean haemoglobin level within normal range (13.05gm/dl), however out of 30 children, 8 (27%) had haemoglobin level below normal.
Lead exposure in the children of urban area of Nepal is considerably high as compared to similar studies coducted in similar settings.
铅是一种天然存在的有毒重金属，是环境污染的主要原因之一，对健康，尤其是儿童健康产生有害影响。铅毒性已成为一种新兴的全球疾病负担，其变化与年龄、社会经济地位、职业、工业化、社会习俗和行为有关。本研究的目的是了解 8-18 岁儿童的基础血铅水平。
在加德满都戈卡内什沃尔市进行了一项描述性研究，共有 160 名 8-18 岁的儿童参与，研究时间为 2018 年至 2019 年，研究获得了研究和机构审查委员会的伦理批准（参考编号：17-074/075）。从校长那里获得了他们各自父母的知情书面同意，并向学生询问了半结构化问卷。计算了样本量并进行了简单随机抽样。使用社会科学统计软件包 16 版分析数据。计算了 95%置信区间的点估计值以及频率和描述性统计数据。
儿童的平均血铅水平为 4.39±7.35µg/dl。平均血红蛋白为 12.63g/dl；在 160 名儿童中，有 30 名（18.75%）儿童血铅水平升高。血铅水平升高的儿童的平均血红蛋白水平在正常范围内（13.05gm/dl），然而，在 30 名儿童中，有 8 名（27%）的血红蛋白水平低于正常。
与在类似环境中进行的类似研究相比，尼泊尔城市地区儿童的铅暴露水平相当高。
