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Childhood lead poisoning in Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Authority

Jamal M Safi1, Maged M Yassin2, Yasser Z El-Nahhal3

  • 1Environmental Protection and Research Institute, Gaza Strip, Palestine; Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Al-Azhar University-Gaza, Palestine.

Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology : Organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS)
|May 22, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Childhood lead poisoning is a significant health issue in Gaza Strip, with 95.7% of children near lead industries having elevated blood lead levels (BLLs). Treatment with d-penicillamine effectively reduced BLLs, highlighting the need for health education and prevention campaigns.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Toxicology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Lead poisoning poses a substantial health risk to children, particularly in industrial areas.
  • Assessing blood lead levels (BLLs) is crucial for identifying and managing pediatric lead exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the prevalence and impact of lead poisoning in children aged 2-6 years in the Gaza Strip.
  • To assess the effectiveness of d-penicillamine in treating elevated BLLs in pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • Collected blood samples and questionnaires from 1705 children (aged 2-6) in Gaza Strip.
  • Measured blood lead levels (BLLs) using LeadCare kits, comparing children from lead processing 'hotspots' and the general population.
  • Administered d-penicillamine (30 mg/kg/day for two weeks) to children with BLLs above 20 μg/dL.

Main Results:

  • A significant prevalence of elevated BLLs (≥10 μg/dL) was observed, with 95.7% in hotspot areas versus 9.3% in the general population.
  • The mean BLL across all children was 10.4 μg/dL, with 25.8% having BLLs ≥10 μg/dL.
  • Treatment with d-penicillamine effectively reduced BLLs to acceptable levels (<10 μg/dL).

Conclusions:

  • Childhood lead poisoning is a major public health concern in the Gaza Strip, strongly linked to lead industry hotspots.
  • Targeted health education and treatment interventions, including d-penicillamine, are essential for mitigating lead poisoning.
  • Preventive strategies are crucial to reduce the burden of lead-related illnesses in children.
Abstract

Keywords:
Lead poisoningPalestinian AuthorityPediatric populationd-Penicillamine

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