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

Environ Res. 2018 Aug:165:420-424. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.10.024. Epub 2017 Oct 28.

Authors

Stephan Bose-O'Reilly¹, John Yabe², Joseph Makumba³, Paul Schutzmeier⁴, Bret Ericson⁵, Jack Caravanos⁶

Affiliations

¹ Institute and Policlinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Occupational Health, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336 Munich, Germany; Department of Public Health, Health Services Research and Health Technology Assessment, UMIT - University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall i.T., Austria. Electronic address: stephan.boeseoreilly@med.uni-muenchen.de.
² University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia. Electronic address: john.yabe@unza.zm.
³ Misenge Environmental and Technical Services Ltd., ZCCM Investment Holdings Plc (ZCCM-IH), Kitwe, Zambia. Electronic address: makumbaj@mets.com.zm.
⁴ Institute and Policlinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Occupational Health, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336 Munich, Germany.
⁵ Pure Earth, New York, USA. Electronic address: bret@pureearth.org.
⁶ Pure Earth, New York, USA; New York University of New York School of Public Health, New York, USA. Electronic address: Jack.Caravanos@sph.cuny.edu.

PMID: 29089102
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.10.024

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) > 10µg/dL. Approximately 50% of those children had BLLs ≥ 45µg/dL. The existing data clearly establishes the presence of a severe environmental health crisis in Kabwe which warrants immediate attention.

Keywords: Children; Kabwe; Lead poisoning; Zambia.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Child
Environmental Exposure*
Environmental Monitoring
Humans
Lead / toxicity*
Lead Poisoning / epidemiology*
Mining*
Soil Pollutants / toxicity*
Zambia / epidemiology

Substances

Soil Pollutants
Lead