AN ASSESSMENT OF LEAD EXPOSURE AMONG CHILDREN ATTENDING KINDERGARTENS IN CELJE

作者：Erzen Ivan^*

来源：Zdravstveno Varstvo, 2011, 50(2): 113-120.

DOI：10.2478/v10152-010-0034-5

• lead
• children
• risk assessment
• exposure
• absorption
• bioavailability

Background: The purpose of this research was to assess potential health effects of increased environmental lead levels to which children attending kindergartens in Celje may be exposed. In order to ensure maximum accurracy of this assessment, special attention was focused on the determination of actual amounts of lead absorbed by the body.
Methods: This assessment of lead exposure is based on the indirect method of assessing the uptake of lead from air, water, soil and foods. To calculate the total amount of lead absorbed, absorption factors and bioavailability of lead in soil (dust, sand) were also considered.
Results: Ingestion of lead through foods, water, air and soil (dust, sand) achieves 20.5% of the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), i.e. 500 mu g for a child weighing 20 kg in a worst case scenario.
Conclusion: The results show that children using kindergarten playgrounds in Celje are not exposed to increased health risks. Some technical measures will have to be taken to reduce children's exposure to lead in soil and dust, and to prevent further pollution of elements of the environment.

• 出版日期2011