Blood lead levels among rural Thai children exposed to lead-acid batteries from solar energy conversion systems.
We evaluate blood lead levels among Thai children to determine if exposure to lead-acid batteries is associated with elevated blood lead levels (EBLL). We screened 254 children aged 1-14 years old from 2 rural Thai villages for blood lead levels. We also screened 18 of 92 houses in these 2 villages for the presence of environmental lead. The overall prevalence of EBLL (> or = 10 microg/dl) was 43.3% and the mean lead level among study subjects was 9.8 +/- 5.1 microg/dl. The blood lead levels significantly decreased with increasing age. Fifty point eight percent of children who lived in a house with vented lead-acid batteries had EBLL while 23.3% of children who lived in a house without vented lead-acid batteries had EBLL. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed a significant positive association between the presence of vented lead-acid batteries and EBLL, after adjusting for other variables. Forty-two point nine percent of house floor dust samples collected near the batteries had elevated lead levels, 7.1% of house floor dust samples collected from other areas in the house had elevated lead levels and 0% of the house floor dust samples collected in houses without vented lead-acid batteries had elevated lead levels. In the sampled houses with vented lead-acid batteries, lead contamination was found in the drinking-water kept in household containers, but not in the tap water or other village sources of water. Improper care and placement of vented lead-acid batteries can result in lead contamination in the home environment causing EBLL in exposed children.
Department of Community and Social Medicine, Mae Sot General Hospital, Tak, Thailand. swaddi@hotmail.com
Witaya
W
Swaddiwudhipong
Umphang Community Hospital, Tak, Thailand.
Worawit
W
Tontiwattanasap
Umphang Community Hospital, Tak, Thailand.
Wanlee
W
Khunyotying
Umphang District Health Office, Tak, Thailand.
Cherd
C
Sanreun
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012993:Solar Energy; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014691:Ventilation
D004391:Dust; D007854:Lead