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Hair lead levels in young children from the F.R.G
M Wilhelm1, I Lombeck, D Hafner
1Institut für Toxikologie, Universität Düsseldorf, Fed. Rep. of Germany.
Insights
Hair lead (PbH) levels were higher in urban children, boys, and non-German children. Soil lead content correlated with hair lead, suggesting hair analysis is a valuable screening method for lead exposure.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Toxicology
Background:
- Lead (Pb) exposure in children is a significant public health concern.
- Hair lead (PbH) levels can serve as a biomarker for cumulative lead exposure.
- Understanding factors influencing PbH levels is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate hair lead (PbH) levels in children aged 3-7 years.
- To compare PbH levels between children from industrialized and rural areas.
- To identify demographic and environmental factors associated with elevated PbH.
Main Methods:
- Hair samples were collected from 474 children in industrialized (Duisburg) and rural (Westphalia) areas of the F.R.G.
- Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to measure PbH concentrations.
- Statistical analysis included geometric means and correlation with soil lead content.
Main Results:
- The overall geometric mean PbH was 2.7 mg/kg.
- Higher PbH levels were observed in summer, urban children, boys, and non-German children.
- PbH levels decreased with age and were higher in children of factory workers and in the industrialized area.
- A positive correlation (R = 0.34) was found between soil lead content and PbH in the industrialized area.
Conclusions:
- Hair analysis, under standardized conditions, is a valuable screening method for assessing lead exposure in children.
- Environmental and demographic factors significantly influence children's hair lead levels.
- Findings align with studies using blood lead levels, reinforcing hair analysis utility.
Abstract:
Hair lead (PbH) levels were measured in 474 children, aged 3-7 years, living in an industrialized (Duisburg) and in a rural area (Westphalia) of the F.R.G. by atomic absorption spectrometry. PbH values were log-normally distributed. All mean concentrations are therefore given as geometric means. The overall mean PbH content was 2.7 mg/kg. In the summer PbH levels were higher than in the winter (3.8 vs. 1.4 mg/kg) and the values from the urban children were higher compared with those from rural children (3.7 vs. 1.9 mg/kg). Boys had more Pb in their hair than girls (3.9 vs. 2.0 mg/kg) and PbH levels decreased between the 4th and 7th year. In the industrialized area the PbH content of children whose fathers were factory workers, was higher than that of children whose fathers had other occupations (4.2 vs. 3.0 mg/kg). Non-German children had more Pb in their hair than German children (5.2 vs. 3.6 mg/kg). Pb content in the soil from the Duisburg area was related to PbH concentrations (R = 0.34). Since our observations are in line with the results of similar studies which used blood samples to monitor Pb exposure in children, we conclude that by using standardized conditions hair analysis is a valuable screening method.