Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 17, 2025

Experimental Protocol for Using Drosophila As an Invertebrate Model System for Toxicity Testing in the Laboratory
06:00

Experimental Protocol for Using Drosophila As an Invertebrate Model System for Toxicity Testing in the Laboratory

Published on: July 10, 2018

13.2K

Iron Status in Relation to Low-Level Lead Exposure in a Large Population of Children Aged 0-5 Years

Yong Guo1, Yu-Hong Deng1, Hai-Jin Ke1

  • 1Department of Children's Health Care, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511400, China.

Biological Trace Element Research
|June 21, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Low lead exposure in Chinese children is linked to reduced iron status, including lower blood iron, ferritin, and hemoglobin levels. This study highlights the negative impact of even minimal lead exposure on children's iron levels, increasing risks for iron deficiency and anemia.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Limited data exist on low lead exposure and iron status in Chinese children.
  • Lead exposure is a known risk factor for various health issues, including iron deficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between low-level lead exposure and iron status (blood iron, serum ferritin, hemoglobin) in Chinese children aged 0-5 years.
  • To determine if low blood lead levels impact iron indicators and increase the risk of iron deficiency and anemia.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 17,486 children (aged 0-5 years) with blood lead levels < 100 μg/L from 2014-2017.
  • Utilized multiple linear and logistic regression to assess correlations between blood lead levels and iron status markers.
  • Analyzed blood lead, blood iron, serum ferritin, and hemoglobin concentrations.

Main Results:

  • Mean blood lead level was 31.50 μg/L. Negative correlations were found between blood lead and blood iron (r=-0.073), ferritin (r=-0.043), and hemoglobin (r=-0.047).
  • Higher lead exposure quintiles were associated with decreased blood iron, serum ferritin, and hemoglobin.
  • The highest lead exposure quintile showed increased odds of iron deficiency (OR=1.39) and anemia (OR=1.45) compared to the lowest quintile.

Conclusions:

  • Low-level lead exposure is significantly associated with poorer iron status in young Chinese children.
  • Findings confirm and extend previous research, demonstrating adverse effects of lead on iron indicators even at low exposure levels.
  • Highlights the need for monitoring and intervention strategies to mitigate lead exposure risks in pediatric populations.

Keywords:
Blood leadChildrenHemoglobinIron statusSerum ferritin

More Related Videos

Setup of Capillary Electrophoresis-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry CE-ICP-MS for Quantification of Iron Redox Species FeII, FeIII04:48

Setup of Capillary Electrophoresis-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry CE-ICP-MS for Quantification of Iron Redox Species FeII, FeIII

Published on: May 4, 2020

8.5K
Author Spotlight: Investigating the Tolerance of Cabbage Butterflies to Urban Pollutants08:08

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Tolerance of Cabbage Butterflies to Urban Pollutants

Published on: August 18, 2023

4.9K

Related Concept Videos

The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements01:27

The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements

Elements are the smallest units of matter that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes. There are 118 known elements, but not all of these are naturally occurring, and only a few of them are essential for life. Living matter is composed primarily of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller amounts of other elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Other elements are also necessary for life but only in trace amounts.
Periodic Table Provides Information...
22.0K
The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements00:57

The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements

Overview
198.8K
Relative Risk01:12

Relative Risk

Relative risk (RR) is a statistical measure commonly used in epidemiology to compare the likelihood of a particular event occurring between two groups. This metric is important for evaluating the relationship between exposure to a specific risk factor and the probability of a particular outcome. It plays a crucial role in medical research, public health studies, and risk assessment. Relative risk quantifies how much more (or less) likely an event is to occur in an exposed group compared to an...
1.5K
Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children...
768
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
121
Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview01:21

Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview

When it comes to infants and young children, they are typically administered smaller doses of medication in comparison to adults. This is primarily because their organ functions still need to fully develop, meaning their bodies are not as efficient at metabolizing or eliminating drugs. Additionally, their blood-brain barrier is more permeable than in adults. As a result, high concentrations of drugs can easily penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), potentially leading to neurological...
2.7K