A study of pediatric blood lead levels in a lead mining area in South Africa

A study of pediatric blood lead levels in a lead mining area in South Africa

This study aimed to determine the blood lead distributions among young children in the lead mining town of Aggeneys in South Africa's Northern Cape Province, and in the comparison community of Pella, about 40 Km away. A further objective of the study was to explore factors associated with eleva...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental research Vol. 93; no. 3; pp. 259 - 263
Main Authors: Schirnding, Yasmin von, Mathee, Angela, Kibel, Maurice, Robertson, Priscilla, Strauss, Nicolene, Blignaut, Reinette
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01-11-2003
Elsevier
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Blood lead
Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases
Child
Children
Environment
Environmental Exposure
Environmental Pollutants - blood
Female
Humans
Hygiene
Lead - blood
Male
Medical sciences
Metals and various inorganic compounds
Mining
Parent-Child Relations
South Africa
Toxicology
South Africa
Africa
Mining
Environment
Children
Blood lead
Human
Proximity
Rate
Epidemiology
Blood
Heavy metal
Residential zone
Pollutant
Mine
Lead
Child
Mining industry
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Summary:This study aimed to determine the blood lead distributions among young children in the lead mining town of Aggeneys in South Africa's Northern Cape Province, and in the comparison community of Pella, about 40 Km away. A further objective of the study was to explore factors associated with elevated blood lead levels. Children aged between 6 and 10 years (average age, 8 years) were studied, 86 from Aggeneys and 68 from Pella. The results showed that blood lead levels among the children of Aggeneys averaged around 16 μg/dL, while in Pella the mean blood lead level equaled 13 μg/dL. Overall, children with raised blood lead levels performed less well at school relative to other children. Within Aggeneys, fathers of “high” lead children tended to shower at work rather than at home, which may have been insufficient to prevent lead from being transported into the home. In conclusion, more stringent environmental control measures are needed, as well as stricter personal hygiene measures, to prevent childhood lead exposure in the mining community.
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ISSN:0013-9351
1096-0953
DOI:10.1016/S0013-9351(03)00117-8