Objective To estimate blood lead levels among children under the age of 14 in Guangzhou so as to provide basis for lead poisoning control and prevention.
Methods Blood samples were collected from 1 517 children under the age of 14 years old who went to Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between January 2010 and June 2011. They were divided into three groups by age (0-3, 3-7 and 7-14 years old). Blood lead levels were detected with atomic absorption spectrometer.
Results The average blood lead level of the children examined was 57.05 μg/L. Thirty nine cases (2.57%) were found with blood lead levels greater than 100 μg/L. Significant differences in blood lead levels were observed among different age groups (P<0.05). The blood lead levels were significantly higher in boys than in girls of the 3-14 year-old group (P<0.05).
Conclusion Compared with historical data, the blood lead levels and the lead poisoning rates are lower among children less than 14 years old in Guangzhou in this survey. However, potential risks of lead exposure should be taken into account by enhancing health education.
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