Effect of living in lead mining area on growth.
OBJECTIVE
Blood lead level BLL and growth parameters including weight and height, in children, living in lead mining area was surveyed.


METHODS
Two groups of 7-11 yr old children, including 45 from a lead mining area (Angooran-Zanjan Province-Iran) and 36 from control area (similar area to the study area, but not lead mining: Ijrood--the same province), were selected to assess BLL (by atomic absorption spectrometry) and growth parameters.


RESULTS
In the children of the study and control areas, mean BLLs were 36.97+/-24.67 (microg/dL; mean +/- SD) and 15.57 +/- 13.35 (microg/dL; mean+/-SD), respectively (P=0.0005). No significant correlation was found between BLL in children and their fathers' occupation. In addition, there was no significant difference in growth parameters, including weight and height, in the children of two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Regarding the results of this study, environmental exposure due to living in lead mining area can lead to increased BLL in children. In addition, our results suggest there is no significant effect of BLL on growth parameters in children in lead mining area. Since some clinical and sub clinical problems are strongly probable when BLL is increased, special attention of the relevant organizations and more research about the problem and its outcome, is recommended.
Mahram
Manoochehr
M
Pediatrics Department, Vali-Ye Asr Hospital, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
Mousavinasab
Nouroddin
N
Dinmohammadi
Hossein
H
Soroush
Sara
S
Sarkhosh
Farnaz
F
D017677:Age Distribution; D049628:Body Size; D001835:Body Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D020264:Lead Poisoning, Nervous System, Childhood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008906:Mining; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D007854:Lead