BACKGROUND: This study assessed the association between lead poisoning prevention activities and blood lead levels (BLLs) among children living in lead-contaminated camps for internally displaced persons in the United Nations-Administered Province of Kosovo. METHODS: We conducted a population-based study to examine the relationship among geometric mean BLLs in children (i) born before any lead poisoning prevention activities were instituted, (ii) born when specific interim interventions were instituted and (iii) born after relocation and medical therapy were available. The study population consisted of 145 of the 186 children born in the camps between December 1999 and July 2007. RESULTS: Lower mean BLLs were found in children born following implementation of the interventions as compared with the children born before the interventions. However, this decrease in mean BLLs was attenuated in children born into families suspected of informal lead smelting. CONCLUSION: Despite lower BLLs following interventions, children living in these camps have BLLs that remain unacceptably high. Further efforts are urgently needed to control or eliminate lead exposure in this population. Continued blood lead monitoring of the population is also warranted.
BACKGROUND: This study assessed the association between lead poisoning prevention activities and blood lead levels (BLLs) among children living in lead-contaminated camps for internally displaced persons in the United Nations-Administered Province of Kosovo. METHODS: We conducted a population-based study to examine the relationship among geometric mean BLLs in children (i) born before any lead poisoning prevention activities were instituted, (ii) born when specific interim interventions were instituted and (iii) born after relocation and medical therapy were available. The study population consisted of 145 of the 186 children born in the camps between December 1999 and July 2007. RESULTS: Lower mean BLLs were found in children born following implementation of the interventions as compared with the children born before the interventions. However, this decrease in mean BLLs was attenuated in children born into families suspected of informal lead smelting. CONCLUSION: Despite lower BLLs following interventions, children living in these camps have BLLs that remain unacceptably high. Further efforts are urgently needed to control or eliminate lead exposure in this population. Continued blood lead monitoring of the population is also warranted.
Authors: Carrie A Dooyema; Antonio Neri; Yi-Chun Lo; James Durant; Paul I Dargan; Todd Swarthout; Oladayo Biya; Saheed O Gidado; Suleiman Haladu; Nasir Sani-Gwarzo; Patrick M Nguku; Henry Akpan; Sa'ad Idris; Abdullahi M Bashir; Mary Jean Brown Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2011-12-20 Impact factor: 9.031
Authors: Thidar Pyone; Fiona Dickinson; Robbie Kerr; Cynthia Boschi-Pinto; Matthews Mathai; Nynke van den Broek Journal: Bull World Health Organ Date: 2015-06-24 Impact factor: 9.408
Authors: Natalie Thurtle; Jane Greig; Lauren Cooney; Yona Amitai; Cono Ariti; Mary Jean Brown; Michael J Kosnett; Krystel Moussally; Nasir Sani-Gwarzo; Henry Akpan; Leslie Shanks; Paul I Dargan Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2014-10-07 Impact factor: 11.069
Authors: Yue Wu; Jun-Ming Gu; Yun Huang; Yan-Ying Duan; Rui-Xue Huang; Jian-An Hu Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2016-03-16 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Franziska C Landes; Jennifer Inauen; Johny Ponce-Canchihuamán; Kathie Markowski; Tyler K Ellis; Alexander van Geen Journal: Geohealth Date: 2019-08-23