Elevated blood lead levels among children living in a fishing community, Karachi, Pakistan

Arch Environ Health. 2004 Jan;59(1):37-41. doi: 10.3200/AEOH.59.1.37-41.

Abstract

Lead is a widespread environmental contaminant worldwide and is associated with adverse outcomes in children, including impaired neurobehavioral development and learning difficulties. A cross-sectional survey of 53 young children was conducted in a fishing village on an island adjacent to Karachi, Pakistan. Whole blood from each individual was tested for lead levels. Also tested were samples of cooked food, house dust, and drinking water from 36 households. Laboratory determinations were made by the Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research with quality control by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fifty-two subjects (98%) had blood lead levels above 10 microg/dl (mean 21.60 microg/dl), an internationally recognized threshold for potential neurotoxicity. The mean concentration was 3.90 microg/g in cooked food, 4.02 microg/l in drinking water, and 91.30 microg/g in house dust. These findings indicate possible major health concerns and suggest significant environmental contamination in this community as well as the need to identify locally relevant early childhood exposures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cooking / instrumentation
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects
  • Environmental Exposure / analysis*
  • Family Characteristics
  • Female
  • Fish Products / analysis*
  • Fish Products / toxicity
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Lead / blood*
  • Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Childhood / blood*
  • Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Childhood / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Pakistan / epidemiology
  • Petroleum / toxicity
  • Seawater / adverse effects
  • Seawater / analysis
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / blood*
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity
  • Water Supply / analysis

Substances

  • Petroleum
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Lead