Assessment of lead accumulation in the blood of children living in a big city

Abstract

It was determined that the level of lead in the blood of Odesa children ranged from 5.0 to 187.5 μg/l. At the same time, 20% of children, i.e., one in five, had lead level in their blood exceeded the maximum permissible value (100 μg/l). Another 18% of children had lead levels in their blood, which were approaching the limit level. It was also established that the greater accumulation of lead in children's bodies was supported by such factors as accommodation and attendance at school or a kindergarten in the industrial zone of the city (compared with a similar indicator in the recreational zone); the presence in the immediate vicinity of an industrial enterprise, a railway track, highway or a set of ecologically significant objects (including parking lots and gas station) compared to their absence; a place for games on the street, not in the yard; spending holidays at home, not outside the city; the presence of a car or a garage in the yard or only garage compared to their absence.