OBJECTIVETo investigate the blood lead levels (BLLs) in the duration of pregnancy and 6-12 weeks after delivery, and analyze the influencing factors of BLLs in healthy pregnant women.

METHODSPregnant women were recruited from September 2009 to February 2010 at the prenatal clinic in Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital. Altogether 174 healthy pregnant women without pregnant or obstetric complications or abnormal pregnancy outcomes were enrolled as the gravida group, and 120 healthy non-pregnant women as the control group. BLLs during pregnancy were determined by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy.

RESULTSBLLs in all the three pregnancy trimesters and postpartum were 59.8±24.3, 55.4±20.1, 55.9±19.7, and 67.6±17.4 μg/L, respectively, and the mean BLL in control group was 67.5±21.3 μg/L. BLLs during all the three trimesters were lower in the gravida group than in the control group (P=0.043, 0.021, and 0.028). Furthermore, occupations, nutrients supplementation, and time of house/apartment painted were associated with BLLs in pregnant women. Lead-related occupations, cosmetics use, and living in a house painted less than 1 year before are risk factors of high BLLs among pregnant women, while calcium, iron, zinc, and milk supplements are protective factors.

CONCLUSIONSupplementing calcium, iron, zinc, and milk, or avoiding contact with risk factors may help people, especially pregnant women, to reduce lead exposure.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; Pregnancy ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness of parental education on reducing lead exposure of children by examining the changes in blood lead levels of children whose parents receiving or not receiving educational intervention.

METHODSTwo hundred children with confirmed blood lead levels beyond 100 microg/L were selected. They were randomized into two groups, 107 children in study group and 93 in control. At the beginning of the study, parents of both study and control groups were called for interview to complete KABP questionnaire and lead study questionnaire. The study group was provided with interventional measures while control group was not contacted until the end of study. Intervention of parental education was undertaken by means of a TV program, a set of slides and a brochure, and focused on the questions regarding harmful effects of lead poisoning, the sources of environmental lead and prevention of this preventable disease. Tests for blood lead level were repeated for both study and control groups 3 months after the determination of the initial blood lead level.

RESULTSAll the relevant knowledge of health effect, lead sources and prevention of childhood lead poisoning of participating parents of study group were improved significantly (chi(2) = 14.06, 13.07, 10.08, 28.26, P < 0.01) after educational intervention while parents control group also were significantly improved in the sub-catalogs of concept and prevention (chi(2) = 7.69, 8.64, P < 0.01), but not the health effect and sources of childhood lead poisoning. Children and parents' behavior in study group was improved accordingly and significantly. Less children ate popcorn (chi(2) = 4.08, P < 0.05), less children drank tap-water in the morning (chi(2) = 23.04, P < 0.01), more kids washed their hands before eating (chi(2) = 5.82, P < 0.05), less kids played on road side (chi(2) = 9.60, P < 0.01), and more parents changed their coat or took shower or washed hands before going home after work (chi(2) = 4.00, P < 0.05). But in the control group only the number of kids playing on road side was decreased significantly (chi(2) = 9.60, P < 0.01). A general decline in blood lead levels was detected in both groups with statistical significance at P < 0.01. However, the decrease in blood lead levels was more remarkable in the study group. There was average reduction of 55 microg/L (35%) in blood lead levels for study group (t = 4.979, P < 0.01) and an almost 33 microg/L (20%) for control (t = 3.398, P < 0.01). The reduction in blood lead level was 22 microg/L greater in study group (t = 3.531, P < 0.01). The study also showed that the effectiveness of the educational interventions depended upon various aspects. Fourteen variables were included in the stepwise multiple regression equation of blood lead level changes. Such as parents' occupational exposure to lead, the improvement of knowledge about prevention of childhood lead poisoning, the chang of habit of snacks intake, parents' education levels, the change of attitude of parents for the childhood lead poisoning, etc.

CONCLUSIONEducating parents is proved to be an effective approach for children with mild and moderate lead poisoning.

Child ; Environmental Exposure ; Health Behavior ; Health Education ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; Lead Poisoning ; blood ; therapy ; Parents ; education

OBJECTIVETo establish a method to determine lead and Isotope Ratios in whole blood by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

METHODSThe whole blood samples was removed protein by 5% nitric acid , Online join thallium (Tl) as internal standard substance, used lyophilized bovine blood lead and cadmium standard material (GBW09139h and GBW09140h) for quality control of blood lead concentrations. Lead isotope standard substances (GBW04426) is used to determine the correction factor, lead isotope ratios will lead isotope standard reference material NIST SRM981 by icp-ms with samples for testing.

RESULTSOptimize the detection method, detection of blood lead and lead isotope, and the method of linear range r >0.9999, GBW09139h and GBW09140h test results are within the scope of quality control. NIST SRM981 isotope determination precision RSD<1%, NIST SRM981 test results and the certificate of value close to.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple and convenient data is reliable, can meet the total lead (pb) in blood and former isotope simultaneous determination.

Animals ; Cattle ; Lead ; analysis ; blood ; Lead Radioisotopes ; analysis ; blood ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods

Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lead ; blood ; Lead Poisoning ; blood ; epidemiology ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo find a sensitive index of early injury of the nervous system in lead-exposed workers and to provide a scientific basis for establishing an efficient occupational health surveillance route.

METHODSA total of 317 lead-exposed workers (blood lead levels: 26.90∼ 912.80 µg/L, determined with the atomic absorption spectrum) were divided into four groups according to the normal blood lead level (201 µg/L), acceptable upper limit of blood lead (400 µg/L), and diagnostic value (600 µg/L). The motor nerve conduction function was examined and analyzed by one-way ANOVA.

RESULTSThe distal latency and amplitude of the median nerve were significantly different between groups. The median distal latency of the highest blood lead group (>600 µg/L) was 3.63 ms, which was significantly longer than the average level (3.30 ms), and the median nerve amplitude of the highest blood lead group was 5.63 µV, significantly lower than the average level (7.27 µV). No significant difference was found between different groups in motor conduction velocity. Significant difference was found in ulnar nerve amplitude between groups. The ulnar nerve amplitude of the highest blood lead group was 4.31 µV, significantly lower than the average level (4.87 µV). No significant differences were observed in other parameters between groups.

CONCLUSIONThe distal latency and amplitude of the median nerve can be used as a sensitive index for the diagnosis of early subclinical motor nerve injury in lead?exposed workers.

Adult ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; Lead Poisoning ; blood ; physiopathology ; Neural Conduction ; drug effects ; Occupational Exposure

Female ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; Lead Poisoning ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Male ; Opioid-Related Disorders ; blood ; Opium ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo observe blood lead level and related risk factors among children of 0 - 6-year old in Beijing.

METHODSStratified-clustered-random sampling and simple random sampling were used. A total of 2 262 children of 0 - 6 years old were investigated from May to July 2001. They were permanent residents in Beijing. Blood lead level was tested by graphite atomizer absorption spectrophotometer. At the same time, related factors were investigated using a standardized questionnaire.

RESULTSThe mean lead level of children in Beijing was 96.8 micro g/L with 35.7% of those >/= 100 micro g/L, and 2.5% >/= 200 micro g/L. The proportion of lead poisoning was significantly higher in rural children (P < 0.01). The proportion of lead poisoning in 2-year-old group was higher than that in other age groups. The proportion of lead poisoning in boys was significantly higher than that in girls (P < 0.01). The following factors might serve as major risk factors related to child lead poisoning, such as, never or rarely drinking milk, living in nearby highways (less than 50 meters) or living in the first floor/bungalow, and so on.

CONCLUSIONThe blood lead level of >/= 100 micro g/L among Beijing children appeared to be a big problem. Decision-makers should pay more attention to prevent blood lead level being high, and to cure these children who suffered in lead poisoning. Effective intervention measures on these target populations should be taken.

Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Lead ; blood ; Lead Poisoning ; therapy ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors

OBJECTIVETo understand the current situations of saturnism and blood lead levels of children resided in village and circumjacent areas, and to know its relations with sex, age and other factors on children' s health as to providing some evidences for prevention and control.

METHODSAn epidemiological survey was conducted for finding out the pollution sources and for a better understanding of the surrounding environment. All 221 children under 14 years old, from the lead pollution villages and surrounding establishments were enrolled, and their blood lead levels were detected by graphite atomizer absorption spectrophotometer method. Symptoms of the saturnism were investigated through a standardized questionnaire. SPSS13.0 software was administrated for data analysis.

RESULTSHigh blood lead level identification rate was 66.06% (146/221), and saturnism rate 32.13% (71/221). The children's blood lead levels among group 1, group 2, group 3 in this village and jade factory were (161.20 +/- 32.94), (176.60 +/- 43.62), (258.00 +/-106.08) and (238.01 +/- 55.20) microg/L respectively and the significant differences were observed through Kruskal-Wallis test (chi2 = 51.84, df= 3, P<0. 01). The blood lead levels of children from group 3 in this village and the jade factory were higher than those of other two groups. No correlation was found between children's age and blood lead level (r = 0.10, P = 0.13). There was a significant difference in blood lead levels between boys and girls (t' = 3.83, P<0.01). With the children's blood lead levels rising, the occurrence rate of main saturnism symptoms was significantly increased. This survey suggested that the pollution source was a coarse lead smelter.

CONCLUSIONThe blood lead level should ke overwhelmingly increased among children who live nearby the higher level of lead blood, that living nearby the lead smeltery,might result in stautnism and negative effect on children's healthy.

Child ; Environmental Pollution ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Industrial Waste ; Lead ; blood ; Lead Poisoning ; epidemiology ; Male ; Metallurgy

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of chelation therapy with succimer (DMSA) in male rabbits of moderate lead poisoning during juvenile stage.

METHODSTwenty-four 45-day-old male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (therapy group, TG; positive control group, PG and negative control group, NG, n=8). The TG and PG were orally exposed to lead acetate (5 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) for 6 weeks. Rabbits in TG were orally supplied DMSA 1050 mg/m2 in the first week and 700 mg/m2 in the next two weeks, while the other two groups wren't blood and urinary samples of all rabbits were collected per week. The tissues and organs of all rabbits were collected after 12 weeks. The blood lead levels (BLLs) were determined by atomic absorption spectrometer. The urine lead levels and the lead contents of tissue and organ were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Histopathology of tissue and organ was observed by light microscope.

RESULTSCompared with PG, the lead level in the morning urine of TG with DMSA chelating was increased significantly. The level was peaked at (1246.96 +/- 157.91) microg/L on the first day after chelating. While the base line was (40.97 +/- 1.77) microg/L before chelating. Meanwhile, the BLLs were sharply declined from (429.63 +/- 10.82) microg/L to (238.50 +/- 11.82) microg/L. The urine lead levels of TG decreased through the 3-week chelating and 3-week discontinuation. The urine lead levels of these two groups were significantly different (F=2934.35, P<0.01). Compared to each two groups in these three groups, there were significant difference (P<0.01). The authors found the reversion of BLLs in first week after stop chelating. The BLLs of PG presented the slow course of declining in the same time, were (135.50 +/- 7.09) microg/L, very close to the level of TG for (149.88 +/- 11.39) microg/L. Compared with treatment discontinuation for 3 weeks, the urine lead levels and the body weight gain of the therapy group increased more than that of PG, and the BLLs and the lead concentrations in tissues and organs decreased more than that of PG, and histopathology in the liver tissues and testicle tissues were improved.

CONCLUSIONDMSA chelating for the rodent models of moderate lead poisoning might reduce the BLLs and soft tissue lead contents quickly and effectively, decrease toxic effects of lead in a short period of time, thus alleviate the impairment of lead poisoning on tissues and organs by decreasing lead burden, and bring out improvement on the growth retardation caused by lead poisoning.

Animals ; Chelation Therapy ; Lead ; blood ; urine ; Lead Poisoning ; drug therapy ; Male ; Rabbits ; Succimer ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo examine the effect of short-term occupational lead exposure on the inflammatory response system in blood among workers.

METHODSA total of 255 lead-exposed workers (length of service ≤1 year) at an electronics factory in Dongguan, China (exposure group), as well as 205 managers without any occupational exposure at another factory (control group), were included in the study. Occupational physical examination was done to get peripheral blood counts. The blood lead levels of workers were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The relationship between blood lead and peripheral hemogram was analyzed using SPSS software.

RESULTSThe exposure group had blood lead levels of 0.07∼1.70 µmol/L, falling within the normal range. The leukocyte count, percentage of granulocytes, and absolute value of granulocytes were significantly higher in the exposure group than in the control group, and the results remained unchanged after adjustment for age and sex (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in red blood cell count and hemoglobin value between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONShort-term occupational lead exposure may increase the counts of inflammatory cells in blood, but it has little effect on red blood cells and hemoglobin.

Adult ; Blood Cell Count ; China ; Electronics ; Female ; Humans ; Lead ; blood ; Lead Poisoning ; blood ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Young Adult