Elif ERKAN, Demet BAŞDEMİR, Işıl BARLAN, Turgay İSPİR, Müjdat BAŞARAN

BLOOD LEAD LEVELS OF CHILDREN IN ISTANBUL WHO WORK AT HIGH RISK JOBS

Objective: Lead poisoning is one of the most common and preventable health problems today. Children are particularly susceptible to the toxic effect of lead. New data indicate significant adverse effects of lead exposure in children at blood levels previously believed to be safe. The majority of poisoned children show no signs and therefore remain undiagnosed and untreated. The aim of the study is to obtain data concerning the extent to which Turkish children are exposed to lead poisoning.Methods: One hundred and twenty children who work in the auto repair centers were recruited for the study group. One hundred and twenty subjects who applied to Marmara University Hospital outpatient clinics with upper respiratory complaints made up the control group.Results: The blood lead level of children who work in the car repair centers was 32.25±10.89 pg/dL, whereas this level was 22.95±6.69 pg/dL in the control group. This difference in the blood lead level was statistically significant (p<0.0001).Conclusion: It is suggested that lead exposure may be a serious problem in Istanbul. Considering the fact that even the control groupdemonstrated high blood lead level above the 'accepted level', larger studies including more subjects are needed in order to verify these results. We believe that the public should be informed of this important issue and preventive measures should be taken.Key Words: Lead intoxication, Public heath, Environment, Children.

___

rieedleman HL, Schell A, Bellinger D, et al. The long-term effects of exposure to low doses of lead in childhood: an 11-year followup report. H Eng J hied 1990;322:83-88.
Schwartz J, Angle C, Fitcher ft. Relationship between childhood blood lead levels and stature. Fediatrics 1986;77:281-288.
Schwartz J, Otto D. Blood lead, hearing tresholds, and neurobehavioral development in children and youth. Arch Environ Health 1987;42:153-160.
Shukla R, Bornschein RL, Dietrich KH, et al. Fetal and infant lead exposure: effects on growth In stature. Pediatrics 1989;84:604- 612.
Davis JM, Svendsgaard DJ. Lead and child development, nature 1987¡329-297-300.
Mushak P, Davis JM, Crochetti AF, et al. Prenatal and postnatal effects of low level lead exosure: integrated summary of a report to the U.S. Congress on childhood lead poisining. Environ Res 1989;50:11-36.
ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry). The nature and extend of lead poisoning in children in the United States: a report to Congress: Atlanta, 1988.
Soong WT. Long-term effect of increased lead absorption on intelligence of children. Arch Environ Health 1999;54:297-301.
Bellinger D, Dietrich KH. Low-level lead exposure and cognitive function in children. Pediatr Ann 1994;23:600-605.
Tietz H. Analysis of Drugs and Toxic Substances. fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry. Second Edition: 1992; 1123-1125.
Lanphear BP, Byrd RS, Auinger P, et al. Community characteristics associated with elevated blood lead levels in children. Pediatrics 1998;101:264-271.
Elif Erkan, et al
Güray Ö. Ankara da profesyonel kurşun zehirlenmeleri tzerine bir çalışma. Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Mecmuası 1966;19:217-226.
Vural M, Gülvendik G. Blood lead levels distrubution by age group in inhabitants of Ankara. Biological Trace Elements Research 1988;18:85-93.
Vural n, Kumbur H, Güvendik G. Blood lead levels of occupationally and non occupationally exposed population in Mersin. Health Sci 1990;2:71-77.
Göker Ş. Istanbul un çeşitli semtlerinde oturan çocuklarda kan kurşun düzeyini etkileyen sosyodemografik faktörlerin
belirlenmesi. Uzmanlık Tezi. İstanbul Üniversitesi, Cerrahpaşa Tıp Fakültesi, Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı. 1996
American Academy of Pediatrics. Screening for elevated blood lead levels. Pediatrics 1998;101:1072-1078.
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Update: blood lead levels — United States, 1991-1994. MMWR 1997;46:141-146.
Brody DJ, Pirkle JL, Kramer RA, et al. Blood lead levels in the US population: phase 1 of the Third Health and nutrition Examination Survey (HHAHES 111, 1988 to 1991). JAMA 1994;272:277-283.