title: Exposure and health risk assessment of lead in communities of Jimma town, southwestern Ethiopia.
abstract: Human beings could be exposed to lead arising from different environmental sources, such as air, water and soil. Tap water, air and soil samples were collected from four quadrants of Jimma town in southwestern Ethiopia. Eighty samples from each environmental source: water, air and soil samples were collected and analyzed for lead concentration. Prediction of the blood lead level and risk characterization was made using integrated exposure uptake biokinetic model and lead risk was calculated using USEPA guideline. Average concentration of lead in water, air and soils were 24.55 ± 10.01, 1.01 ± 0.41 µg/m(3), and 220.08 ± 135.95 µg/g respectively. Uptake of lead by children is significantly higher than the adults. The total risk value was 1.41 for children and 0.37 for adults. The finding revealed that children are more at risk than adults.
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, getanehzerihun@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zerihun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Getaneh
authors.forename: Seblework
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mekonen
authors.forename: Argaw
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ambelu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000388:Air / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005002:Ethiopia; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D008954:Models, Biological; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D014481:United States; D014484:United States Environmental Protection Agency
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D012987:Soil; D007854:Lead