Elevated hair levels of cadmium and lead in school children exposed to smoking and in highways near schools.
OBJECTIVE
Heavy metal pollution has become a serious health concern in recent years. Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) are toxic heavy metals. This study was aimed to determine the risk factors for high cadmium and lead levels in school children.


METHODS
The scalp hair samples were obtained from 760 children at 13 schools in Istanbul. A questionnaire was prepared to gather information about demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the children. Hair cadmium and lead concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer.


RESULTS
Household exposure to smoking and attending a school near to Main Streets were found to be the most important risk factors for the high hair cadmium and lead levels in our study.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the public health recommendations that children should not have household exposure to smoking, schools should not be near to the main streets and unleaded gasoline use should be promoted.
Ozden
Tülin Ayşe
TA
Institute of Child Health, Istanbul University, Capa 34093, Istanbul, Turkey. tulozden@istanbul.edu.tr
Gökçay
Gülbin
G
Ertem
Hayriye Vehid
HV
Süoğlu
Ozlem Durmaz
OD
Kiliç
Ayşe
A
Sökücü
Semra
S
Saner
Günay
G
D000293:Adolescent; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D003710:Demography; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013334:Students; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead