Blood lead levels among schoolchildren living in the Pattani River Basin :
Two contamination scenarios?
Alan Geater, Epidemiology Unit, F. of Medicine, PSU.
Mafausis Duerawee, Epidemiology Unit, F. of Medicine, PSU.
Jiraporn Chompikul, Asst. Prof., D. of Mathematics, F. of Sci., PSU.
Sutanee Chairatanamanokorn, Provincial Health Office, Pattani
Nantapong Pongsuwan, Provincial Health Office, Pattani
Virasakdi Chongsuvivatwong, Assoc. Prof., Epidemiology Unit, F. of Medicine, PSU.
Don McNeil, Prof., Macquarie U., Sydney, Australia
Corresponding e-mail : galan@ratree.psu.ac.th
Grant : Thai Health Research Institute
Published : J Environ Med 2000, 2(1) : 11-16
Key words : blood lead level, schoolchildren, Pattani River Basin
The levels of lead contamination among primary schoolchildren living in Pattani River Basin, a region reported to have a high environmental lead content, were determined in this cross-sectional study. During the period Feb. - Mar. 1995, random samples schoolchildren were assembled from Amphur Bannang Sta, Changwat Yala (Site A) - a region of exposed tin-mine waste at the head-waters of the river, Amphor Yaha, Changwat Yala (Site B) - a region in the mid-reaches of the river where tin-mine waste had been removed some 20 years previously, and Tambol Sabarang, Muang Pattani (Site C) - situated at the mouth of the river. Information on residence and play behaviour was obtained by interview and venous blood specimens were taken for assay of total blood lead (PbB) concentration using atomic absorption spectrometry. At Site C, specimens of household soil and dust were collected from each household for analysis of total lead content. Distributions of PbB concen-tration for each school and area of residence were examined and factors associated with elevated
PbB identified. Geometric mean PbB concentration in the schools ranged from 8.0 to 15.9 mg/dl and prevalence of PbB >10 mg/dl ranged from 22 to 98 percent. PbB concentrations at Sites A and C were very significantly higher than those at Site B. At Site A, mean PbB was higher in villages containing extensive mine waste dumps, while at Site C, a marked spatial pattern in mean PbB was evident, closely paralleling lead content of household dust and soil, with increasing levels occurring with closer proximity to a boat-repair yard where extensive use of plumboplumbic oxide is made. Other factors associated with PbB concentration differed between Sites A and C. The findings suggest that lead contamination of children in the mining area and at the mouth of Pattani River represent two distinct contamination scenarios. The PbB concentrations of primary schoolchildren living in both sites are high compared with international standards and should be regarded as a matter of public health concern.
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