Abstract
This study is the first national baseline survey of blood lead levels (BLLs) conducted on primary school children (ages 5-7 years) in Trinidad and Tobago. A total of 1761 students from 61 schools participated in the study over a 3-month period. Measurements of capillary BLLs were assessed as well as responses to a risk assessment questionnaire. BLLs ranged from < 1 μg/dL to 28.6 μg/dL with a geometric mean of 2.8 μg/dL, which compared favourably with results from the U.S. 1991-94 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Fifteen (0.9%) children had a BLL ≥ 10 μg/dL (10.8-28.6 μg/dL) of which three (0.2%) met the U.S. criteria for lead poisoning (BLL ≥ 20 μg/dL). Further environmental investigations are required to identify source(s) of lead exposure in cases with high BLL.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 81-87 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Science of the Total Environment |
Volume | 361 |
Issue number | 1-3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 15 2006 |
Keywords
- Blood
- Children
- Lead
- Schools
- Tobago
- Trinidad
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Chemistry
- Waste Management and Disposal
- Pollution