title: Blood lead and erythrocyte protoporphyrin levels in Kazakhstan.
abstract: A pilot study was conducted to examine the extent of lead exposure and prevalence of iron deficiency in 3 major cities of Kazakhstan. Blood lead (B-Pb.) and erythrocyte protoporphyrin (ZnPP) levels of 475 children, age range 6 months to 7 yeas were measured. The mean B-Pb. levels in the different cities ranged from 4-7 micrograms/dl (minimum 1 to max 29 micrograms/dl) and similarly the mean ZnPP levels ranged from 26-32 micrograms/dl (minimum 12 and maximum 95 micrograms/dl), thus confirming low level lead poisoning of children at some sites. One to four year olds had greater than 10 micrograms/dl B-Pb in 18-27% cases compared with 3-7% cases in five to seven year olds. Prevalence of iron deficiency in 6 months to 4 year old children was the highest ranging from 28-86% compared with 4 to 15% in 4-7 year olds. However, there was remarkably low prevalence (4%) of iron deficiency in a group of 5-6 years olds. This study suggests that a targeted B-Pb and ZnPP monitoring together with an iron supplementation programme in the 3 cities of Kazakhstan is essential. Environmental education appears to have had a positive impact in lowering B-Pb at one site and should thus be expanded nationwide.
authors.affiliation: Kaulson Laboratories, Inc. West Caldwell, NJ 07006, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaul
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Rasmuson
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Chanda
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Slazhneva
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Granovsky
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Korchevsky
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004912:Erythrocytes; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007623:Kazakhstan / Q000453:epidemiology; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D011524:Protoporphyrins; D007854:Lead