Blood Lead Level in a Paediatric Population of South-Eastern Spain and Associated Risk Factors.

Abstract

To determine blood lead levels (BLL) in a healthy paediatric population and to analyse related sociodemographic, dietary and haematological factors. A cross-sectional study was made of 1427 healthy subjects aged 1-16 years from the city of Almería (south-eastern Spain). BLL, iron parameters and erythropoietin were determined, and sociodemographic and dietary data obtained. The study paramateters was analyses in BLL toxic and BLL no toxic group by multiple logistic regression. The mean BLL was 1.98 ± 1.1 µg/dL (95% CI:1.91-2.04). For 5.7% of the population, mean BLL was 2-5 µg/dL, for 2.1% it was >5 µg/dL and for 0.15% it was >10 µg/dL. Multivariate analysis showed that immigrant origin (OR:11.9; p 5 µg/dL and for 0.15% it was >10 µg/dL. Multivariate analysis showed that immigrant origin (OR:11.9; p 10 µg/dL. Multivariate analysis showed that immigrant origin (OR:11.9; p 5 µg/dL group. BLL and the prevalence of toxic BLL in healthy subjects aged 1-16 years living in south-eastern Spain are low and similar to those found in other developed countries. The factors associated with toxic BLL are immigrant origin, low level of parental education and dietary iron deficiency. The toxicity of BLL was not related to changes in the analytical parameters studied.