Lead intoxicated children in Kabwe, Zambia

Stephan Bose-O'Reilly; John Yabe; Joseph Makumba; Paul Schutzmeier; Bret Ericson; Jack Caravanos

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2017.10.024

Lead intoxicated children in Kabwe, Zambia

Stephan Bose-O'Reilly^*, John Yabe, Joseph Makumba, Paul Schutzmeier, Bret Ericson, Jack Caravanos

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

50 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Kabwe is a lead contaminated mining town in Zambia. Kabwe has extensive lead contaminated soil and children in Kabwe ingest and inhale high quantities of this toxic dust. The aim of this paper is to analyze the health impact of this exposure for children. Health data from three existing studies were re-analyzed. Over 95% of children living in the most affected townships had high blood lead levels (BLLs) > 10. μg/dL. Approximately 50% of those children had BLLs ≥ 45. μg/dL. The existing data clearly establishes the presence of a severe environmental health crisis in Kabwe which warrants immediate attention.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	420-424
Number of pages	5
Journal	Environmental Research
Volume	165
Early online date	28 Oct 2017
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.10.024
Publication status	Published - Aug 2018
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Children
Kabwe
Lead poisoning
Zambia

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10.1016/j.envres.2017.10.024

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abstract = "Kabwe is a lead contaminated mining town in Zambia. Kabwe has extensive lead contaminated soil and children in Kabwe ingest and inhale high quantities of this toxic dust. The aim of this paper is to analyze the health impact of this exposure for children. Health data from three existing studies were re-analyzed. Over 95% of children living in the most affected townships had high blood lead levels (BLLs) > 10. μg/dL. Approximately 50% of those children had BLLs ≥ 45. μg/dL. The existing data clearly establishes the presence of a severe environmental health crisis in Kabwe which warrants immediate attention.",

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AU - Yabe, John

AU - Makumba, Joseph

AU - Schutzmeier, Paul

AU - Ericson, Bret

AU - Caravanos, Jack

PY - 2018/8

Y1 - 2018/8

N2 - Kabwe is a lead contaminated mining town in Zambia. Kabwe has extensive lead contaminated soil and children in Kabwe ingest and inhale high quantities of this toxic dust. The aim of this paper is to analyze the health impact of this exposure for children. Health data from three existing studies were re-analyzed. Over 95% of children living in the most affected townships had high blood lead levels (BLLs) > 10. μg/dL. Approximately 50% of those children had BLLs ≥ 45. μg/dL. The existing data clearly establishes the presence of a severe environmental health crisis in Kabwe which warrants immediate attention.

AB - Kabwe is a lead contaminated mining town in Zambia. Kabwe has extensive lead contaminated soil and children in Kabwe ingest and inhale high quantities of this toxic dust. The aim of this paper is to analyze the health impact of this exposure for children. Health data from three existing studies were re-analyzed. Over 95% of children living in the most affected townships had high blood lead levels (BLLs) > 10. μg/dL. Approximately 50% of those children had BLLs ≥ 45. μg/dL. The existing data clearly establishes the presence of a severe environmental health crisis in Kabwe which warrants immediate attention.

KW - Children

KW - Kabwe

KW - Lead poisoning

KW - Zambia

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JO - Environmental Research

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ER -

Lead intoxicated children in Kabwe, Zambia

Abstract

Keywords

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