title: Blood lead level among Palestinian schoolchildren: a pilot study.
abstract: In Palestine, chronic exposure to lead has not been adequately addressed as a problem for children. To assess the exposure of Palestinian schoolchildren, we surveyed blood lead levels in 3 schools in Nablus city and collected demographic and clinical data. Blood samples were collected from 178 children (140 boys, 38 girls), age range 6-8 years. The overall mean blood lead level was 3.2 (SD 2.4) microg/dL, and 4.5% of children had levels above 10 microg/dL. Blood lead levels were significantly higher among children living in refugee camps near industrial/high traffic regions than among children living in residential areas of the city. Blood lead levels were positively correlated with family size (r = 0.15) and negatively correlated with household area (r = -0.18). Blood lead levels among these Palestinian schoolchildren were higher than those of other countries where leaded gasoline has been banned and seemed to be higher in more economically deprived children.
authors.affiliation: Poison Control and Drug Information Centre, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine. ansam@najah.ed
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Sawalha
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Bellinger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amarasiriwardean
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Abu-Taha
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Sweileh
mesh_terms: D018912:Arabs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D007854:Lead