Department of Laboratory Diagnostic and Investigative Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Chemical Pathology Unit, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Department of Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.
BMC Pediatr. 2023 Feb 10;23(1):72. doi: 10.1186/s12887-023-03886-6.
Elemental lead (Pb) toxicity in children, irreversibly affects their growth and development. We assessed the prevalence of high blood Pb levels (BLL) in children living in a potentially high risk residential area and also assessed Pb levels in environmental specimens.
This cross sectional study measured blood lead levels (BLL) in 86children living in Mbare, a densely populated suburb in Harare, Zimbabwe, characterised by dwellings progressively constructed from 1907 through to the 1940s, before the ban of leaded paint. Study participants of both genders were under 6 years of age. Potential risk factors of Pb poisoning were assessed. Pb levels were also assessed in soil, water and paint chip specimens from the study area.
The mean (standard deviation) BLL was 4.3 ± 0.75 g/dL. Twelve (13.95%) participants had BLL of > 5.0ug/dL. Our results showed no significant association between BLL and household income, participant behaviour/habits/activities, sources of drinking water, and the types of cookware used to prepare meals in their households.
Mean BLL observed in the current study were higher compared to those of children of similar age groups in the United States, suggesting that Pb contamination may be more ubiquitous in the Mbare flats area, potentially predisposing these children to impaired development.
儿童体内的元素铅（Pb）毒性会对其生长和发育造成不可逆转的影响。我们评估了居住在潜在高风险居民区的儿童的高血铅水平（BLL）的流行情况，并评估了环境样本中的铅水平。
本横断面研究测量了津巴布韦哈拉雷人口稠密的马布雷郊区 86 名 6 岁以下儿童的血铅水平（BLL），该地区的住房从 1907 年到 1940 年代逐渐建成，当时还没有禁止使用含铅涂料。研究参与者的性别不限。评估了铅中毒的潜在危险因素。还评估了研究区域内的土壤、水和油漆屑样本中的铅含量。
平均（标准差）BLL 为 4.3±0.75μg/dL。12 名（13.95%）参与者的 BLL>5.0μg/dL。我们的结果表明，BLL 与家庭收入、参与者的行为/习惯/活动、饮用水来源以及在家庭中用于烹饪的炊具类型之间没有显著关联。
与美国相似年龄组的儿童相比，当前研究中观察到的平均 BLL 更高，这表明马布雷公寓区的铅污染可能更为普遍，这可能使这些儿童的发育受损。
