[Blood lead level and related risk factors among children aged 0-6 years in Beijing].
OBJECTIVE
To observe blood lead level and related risk factors among children of 0 - 6-year old in Beijing.


METHODS
Stratified-clustered-random sampling and simple random sampling were used. A total of 2 262 children of 0 - 6 years old were investigated from May to July 2001. They were permanent residents in Beijing. Blood lead level was tested by graphite atomizer absorption spectrophotometer. At the same time, related factors were investigated using a standardized questionnaire.


RESULTS
The mean lead level of children in Beijing was 96.8 micro g/L with 35.7% of those >/= 100 micro g/L, and 2.5% >/= 200 micro g/L. The proportion of lead poisoning was significantly higher in rural children (P < 0.01). The proportion of lead poisoning in 2-year-old group was higher than that in other age groups. The proportion of lead poisoning in boys was significantly higher than that in girls (P < 0.01). The following factors might serve as major risk factors related to child lead poisoning, such as, never or rarely drinking milk, living in nearby highways (less than 50 meters) or living in the first floor/bungalow, and so on.


CONCLUSIONS
The blood lead level of >/= 100 micro g/L among Beijing children appeared to be a big problem. Decision-makers should pay more attention to prevent blood lead level being high, and to cure these children who suffered in lead poisoning. Effective intervention measures on these target populations should be taken.
Beijing Maternal and Child Hospital, Beijing 100006, China.
Xin-Xin
XX
Chen
Hong-Hong
HH
Teng
Feng-Zhi
FZ
Wang
Jian-Ping
JP
He
Shu-Zhai
SZ
Zhou
Yong-Jian
YJ
Jian
Xun
X
Xiao
Gang
G
Liu
D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
D007854:Lead