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Lead in Air in Bangladesh: Exposure in a Rural Community with Elevated Blood Lead Concentrations among Young Children

Author

Listed:
  • May K. Woo

    (Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Elisabeth S. Young

    (Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Md Golam Mostofa

    (Dhaka Community Hospital, Dhaka 1217, Bangladesh)

  • Sakila Afroz

    (Dhaka Community Hospital, Dhaka 1217, Bangladesh)

  • Md Omar Sharif Ibne Hasan

    (Dhaka Community Hospital, Dhaka 1217, Bangladesh)

  • Quazi Quamruzzaman

    (Dhaka Community Hospital, Dhaka 1217, Bangladesh)

  • David C. Bellinger

    (Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
    Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • David C. Christiani

    (Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Maitreyi Mazumdar

    (Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
    Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

Abstract

Previous evaluations of a birth cohort in the Munshiganj District of Bangladesh had found that over 85% of 397 children aged 2–3 years had blood lead concentrations above the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s reference level of 5 μg/dL. Studies in urban areas of Bangladesh have found elevated levels of lead in the air due to industries and remaining contamination from the historic use of leaded gasoline. Sources of lead in rural areas of Bangladesh remain unknown. We conducted air sampling in both residential and industrial sites in Munshiganj to determine whether children are exposed to elevated lead concentrations in the air and study the association between the children’s blood lead levels and sampled air lead concentrations. Residential and industrial air samples in Munshiganj were found to have elevated lead concentrations (mean 1.22 μg/m 3 ) but were not found to be associated with the observed blood lead concentrations. Lead in air is an important environmental health exposure risk to the for children in Munshiganj, and further research may shed light on specific sources to inform exposure prevention and mitigation programs.

Suggested Citation

  • May K. Woo & Elisabeth S. Young & Md Golam Mostofa & Sakila Afroz & Md Omar Sharif Ibne Hasan & Quazi Quamruzzaman & David C. Bellinger & David C. Christiani & Maitreyi Mazumdar, 2018. "Lead in Air in Bangladesh: Exposure in a Rural Community with Elevated Blood Lead Concentrations among Young Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-14, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:9:p:1947-:d:168227
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Amal K. Mitra & Akhlaque Haque & Manirul Islam & S. A. M. K. Bashar, 2009. "Lead Poisoning: An Alarming Public Health Problem in Bangladesh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-12, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nurhayati A. Prihartono & Ratna Djuwita & Putri B. Mahmud & Budi Haryanto & Helda Helda & Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono & Timothy Dignam, 2019. "Prevalence of Blood Lead among Children Living in Battery Recycling Communities in Greater Jakarta, Indonesia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-11, April.

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