Low blood lead levels and hemoglobin concentrations in preschool children in China

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Jianghong Liu, University of Pennsylvania; Linda McCauley, Emory University; Chonghuai Yan, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Xiaoming Shen, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Jennifer A. Pinto-Martin, University of Pennsylvania
• Language: English
• Date: 2012-01-01
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2012 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02772248.2011.628001
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry
• ISSN: 0277-2248
• Volume: 94
• Issue: 2
• Start Page: 423
• End Page: 426
• Grant/Funding Information: Funding was provided by the National Institute of Environment Health Sciences (NIEHS, K01-ES015 877; R01-ES018858) US; The Wacker Foundation US; Jintan City Government; Jintan Hospital, China.
• Keywords: Environmental Sciences & Ecology; Science & Technology; ANEMIA; blood lead levels; hemoglobin; Environmental Sciences; children; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; anemia; EXPOSURE; Toxicology; preschool; China
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Nursing; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

It is well known that lead (Pb) produces reduced haemoglobin (Hb) levels and risk of anemia when blood lead levels (BPb) are greater than 20 μg dL -1 . Two recent studies reported an increased risk of anemia in children with BPb between 10-20 μg dL -1 , but few studies examined the association between Hb levels or risk of anemia and BPb under 10 μg dL -1 . In the present study this association was examined using data of 140 preschool children from a larger prospective cohort study in China. Data showed that compared to children with BPb < 5 μg dL -1 , children with BPb between 7.5-10 μg dL -1 had significantly lower Hb levels, but there were no marked differences for other groups. A linear regression model showed a negative relationship between BPb and Hb levels after controlling for age, gender, height, weight, and iron (Fe) deficiency. This finding, although limited by a small sample size, suggests it may be important to examine Pb-induced hemosynthesis effect at concentrations less than 10 μg dL -1 .