[Study on the effects of lead from small industry of battery recycling on environment and children's health].
OBJECTIVE
In order to minimize lead pollution and to protect the identified individuals with high blood lead level from lead contamination, an epidemiological study was carried on children living around the village and township-owned lead industries in Tianying town.


METHODS
Environmental monitoring: lead levels in air, soil, drinking water and crops were measured. Biological monitoring: 959 children aged 5 - 12 years were selected from villages where the lead smelters located near the residential areas and the battery disassembling was done in some families. The control children (207 pupils) were from other villages without lead exposure. Blood lead, ZnPP and teeth lead were determined. Height, weight and head circle of children and IQ scores were measured.


RESULTS
The environment was seriously polluted. The average lead concentrations in air and soils were 8.5 times and 10 times of the MACs (national health standard) respectively. Eighty-five per cent the air samples with lead concentrations higher than the national health standard. Local crops and wheat at farmers' home were also contaminated by lead dust, with. Lead content being 24 times higher than the standard. The mean blood lead and ZnPP levels of children lived in the polluted areas were 496 microgram/L and 9.41 microgram/g Hb respectively. The lead exposure caused adverse effects on children's IQ and physical development.


CONCLUSIONS
It is necessary to remove and reduce currently active sources of lead pollution in the community and to increase public awareness of potential health effects of lead exposure.
Wu
Yiqun
Y
Institute for Occupatinal Health and Posison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China.
Huang
Qingxiao
Q
Zhou
Xiaorong
X
Hu
Gang
G
Wang
Zubing
Z
Li
Hongmeng
H
Bao
Renliang
R
Yan
Huifang
H
Li
Chunlin
C
Wu
Libin
L
He
Fengsheng
F
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D018881:Suburban Health / Q000592:standards; D014504:Urban Health / Q000592:standards
D000393:Air Pollutants; D007220:Industrial Waste; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D007854:Lead