title: Blood lead levels in children aged 0-6 years old in Hunan Province, China from 2009-2013.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to describe blood lead levels (BLLs) and the prevalence of elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) in children aged 0-6 years old and to analyze the BLL trend in children from 2009 to 2013 in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 124,376 children aged 0-6 years old were recruited for this study from January 1st 2009 to December 31st 2013. Their blood lead levels were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median BLL was 64.3 μg/L (IQR: 49.6-81.0), and the range was 4.3-799.0 μg/L. Blood lead levels were significantly higher in boys (66.0 μg/L) than in girls (61.9 μg/L) (P<0.001). The overall prevalence of BLLs≥100 μg/L was 10.54% in children aged 0-6 years in Hunan Province. Between 2009 and 2013, the prevalence of EBLLs (≥100 μg/L) decreased from 18.31% to 4.26% in children aged 0-6 years and increased with age. The prevalence of EBLLs has dramatically decreased in two stages (2009-2010 and 2012-2013), with a slight fluctuation in 2010 and 2011.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both BLLs and the prevalence of EBLLs in children aged 0-6 years old declined substantially from 2009 to 2013 in Hunan Province; however, both remain at unacceptably high levels compared to developed countries. Comprehensive strategies are required to further reduce blood lead levels in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Department of Children's Intensive Research Center, Hunan Children's Hospital, Changsha 410007, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Children's Intensive Research Center, Hunan Children's Hospital, Changsha 410007, China.
authors.forename: Kewei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal And Child Health Hospital Of Hunan Province, Changsha 41000, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Children's Intensive Research Center, Hunan Children's Hospital, Changsha 410007, China.
authors.forename: Zhenghui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Children's Intensive Research Center, Hunan Children's Hospital, Changsha 410007, China.
authors.forename: Xiulan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Children's Intensive Research Center, Hunan Children's Hospital, Changsha 410007, China.
authors.forename: Yimin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Children's Intensive Research Center, Hunan Children's Hospital, Changsha 410007, China.
authors.forename: Yongjia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
authors.forename: Youjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007854:Lead
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