Article Text
Abstract
Background Lead has known as the heavy metal which could be harmful to several human organs such as brain, bone marrow and kidneys. In 2012, an 8 month-old girl was admitted to PICU due to status epilepticus and has been diagnosed with Lead Poisoning with the Blood Lead Level (BLL) of 166 mcg/dL. Then we conducted the field investigation and also checked the BLL of students and children living nearby who might have been at risk of poisoning.
Methods The sample of clothes, floor mat, tap water, dust and wall-paint in the room were collected and tested for Lead level, including the “earth” from the “big bag” which has been stored in the recycled-warehouse where the index case lived.
Three Primary Schools and 2 Child Centres which locate within the distance of 10 km from the index case were selected and divided into two groups; group A consists of 2 Schools and 1 Child Centre located around 3 km from the warehouse and group B consists of 1 School and 1 Child Centre which located 9 km away. Students and children with total number of 234 (222 children, 12 adults) were performed the BLL test and those whose the result of BLL is equal or higher than 10 mcg/dL will be classified as “High BLL” and those whose the result of BLL is lower than 10 mcg/dL will be classified as “Non-high BLL”.
Results The high level of Lead was found in the sample from the girl’s clothes and floor mat, and also extremely high in the “earth” from “big bag”.
BLL test revealed 68 out of 234 (29.05%) participants has been categorised as High BLL. Schools and Child Centres in group A which located nearer to the index case has higher percentage of students and children with high BLL comparing to group B (19.8%–14.1%).
Conclusions The Lead contamination in the index case could be from several sources. High BLL Students and children who live in Kratumban district is common. Further field investigation should be conducted to identify the source of contamination and BLL should be performed in every school in this area.
- Lead Poisoning
- Environment
- Children
- Screening