title: Evaluation of blood zinc, calcium and blood lead levels among children aged 1-36 months.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early childhood lead exposure is associated with numerous adverse health effects. Biomonitoring among susceptible populations, such as children, has not been previously conducted. The aim of the study is to evaluate the blood lead (Pb) and total blood calcium (Ca) levels; blood zinc (Zn) levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was designed to collect healthy children age 1- 36 months (Mean ± SD: 1.5 ± 0.6 age, 60% boys) in the study from January 2010 to September 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall mean blood Pb levels were 42.18 ± 12.13 μg/L, the overall mean blood Zn and total blood Ca concentrations were 62.18 ± 12.33 μmol/L and 1.78 ± 0.13 mmol/L, respectively. The prevalence of elevated blood Pb levels in all children was 1.3%. A significant difference was found between female and male subjects for the blood Pb and Zn. After controlling for gender and age, there was a weak positive correlation between total blood Ca and Zn level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The blood Pb levels had a significant negative correlation with total blood Ca level after adjusting for age and gender, and these findings suggest that Pb had effect on positive blood Zn and total blood Ca levels; parents should pay more attention to the nutrition of girls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Neurology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medicine College, Shandong province, 266003 People's Republic of China.. xiaojunji101@163.com.
authors.forename: Xiaojun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao city, Shandong province, 266003 People's Republic of China.. xiaojunji101@163.com.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao city, Shandong province, 266003 People's Republic of China..
authors.forename: Lisheng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao city, Shandong province, 266003 People's Republic of China..
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao city, Shandong province, 266003 People's Republic of China..
authors.forename: Chunhua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D007854:Lead; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium