Environmental pollution and blood lead levels in Nigeria: who is unexposed?
While blood lead levels (BLLs) in many western countries have progressively declined since 1976, in Nigeria high BLL continue to be documented not only in exposed workers but also in "unexposed" control subjects. The problem of environmental lead exposure has hitherto gone unaddressed by both researchers and health policy makers in Nigeria despite the immense public health importance. Continued high BLLs in Nigeria cast doubt on researchers' ability to find real "unexposed control subjects" in future studies, and point to the importance of controlling environmental lead exposures.
Orisakwe
Orish Ebere
OE
Pharmacology Department, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria. eorish@aol.com
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007854:Lead