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Effect of living in lead mining area on growth

Manoochehr Mahram1, Nouroddin Mousavinasab, Hossein Dinmohammadi

  • 1Pediatrics Department, Vali-Ye Asr Hospital, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|June 28, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Children living in lead mining areas show elevated blood lead levels (BLLs). However, this increased BLL did not significantly impact their weight or height compared to children from control areas.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Health
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Lead mining activities can result in environmental lead contamination.
  • Children residing in such areas may face heightened exposure to lead.
  • Assessing the impact of environmental lead exposure on child development is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To survey blood lead levels (BLLs) in children living in a lead mining area.
  • To evaluate the relationship between BLLs and growth parameters (weight, height) in these children.
  • To compare BLLs and growth parameters with a control group from a non-mining area.

Main Methods:

  • A comparative study involving two groups of children aged 7-11 years.
  • One group (n=45) resided in the Angooran lead mining area, Iran.
  • The control group (n=36) lived in a similar non-mining area (Ijrood, Iran).
  • Blood lead levels were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry.
  • Growth parameters including weight and height were recorded for both groups.

Main Results:

  • Children from the lead mining area had significantly higher mean BLLs (36.97 ± 24.67 µg/dL) compared to the control group (15.57 ± 13.35 µg/dL) (P=0.0005).
  • No significant correlation was observed between children's BLLs and their fathers' occupation.
  • There were no statistically significant differences in weight and height between children from the mining and control areas.

Conclusions:

  • Environmental exposure in lead mining areas leads to increased BLLs in children.
  • Despite elevated BLLs, no significant impact on growth parameters (weight, height) was detected in this study.
  • Further research and attention from relevant organizations are recommended due to potential clinical and subclinical issues associated with elevated BLLs.
Abstract

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