title: Blood zinc, calcium and lead levels in Chinese children aged 1-36 months.
abstract: The aim of the study is to evaluate the blood lead (Pb), total blood calcium (Ca) levels and blood zinc (Zn) levels among children. A cross-sectional study was designed to collect healthy children age 1-36 months (Mean ± SD: 1.4 ± 0.3 age, 55% boys) in the study from January 2012 to September 2013. The overall mean blood Pb, Zn and Ca levels were (41.18 ± 11.13) μg/L, (62.18 ± 13.33) μmol/L and (1.76 ± 0.13) mmol/L, respectively. The prevalence of elevated blood Pb levels and low blood Ca levels were 1.5% and 5.2%, respectively. The prevalence of Zn deficiency varied from 42% to 49% among different age group. Biomonitoring trace element levels have a significant important to children health. Our findings suggest that parents should pay more attention to the nutrition status, especially for Zn status among children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Liaocheng People's Hospital of Shandong Province Liaocheng 252000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Liaocheng People's Hospital of Shandong Province Liaocheng 252000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Liaocheng People's Hospital of Shandong Province Liaocheng 252000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
keywords: Biomonitoring; lead; total blood calcium; zinc