title: Feeding practices and blood lead levels in infants in Nagpur, India.
abstract: In a hospital-based cross-sectional study of 200 infants age 4-9 months in an Indian city (Nagpur), the authors determined the prevalence of elevated blood lead level (EBLL) and mean blood lead levels with respect to feeding patterns, i.e., breastfed or fed with formula or dairy milk. The blood lead levels in this study population ranged from 0.048 microg/dl to 42.944 microg/dl; the mean blood lead level was 10.148 microg/dl (+/- 9.128); EBLL prevalence was 38.2%. EBLL risk factors included removal of house paint in the past year, odds ratio (OR), 5.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-19.65); use of surma (eye cosmetic), OR 4.27 (95% CI, 1.39-13.08); maternal use of sindur (vermillion), OR 2.118 (95% CI, 1.07-4.44). Feeding method (breastfed or not) did not appear to have an effect on blood lead level. In non-breastfed infants, boiling of water was significantly associated with EBLL, OR 1.97 (95% CI, 1.01-3.84).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Nagpur, India. dr_apatel@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Archana Behram
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Hrishikesh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Belsare
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banerjee
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003358:Cosmetics; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D007854:Lead