Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 13: 688 - 694. Published January 5, 2009.
Blood lead levels and potential environmental exposures among children under five years in Kibera slums, Nairobi
Tom M. Olewe*, Mutuku A. Mwanthi**, Joseph K. Wang’ombe** and Jeffrey K. Griffiths***
*Vision Integrity & Passion to Serve (VIPS) Health Services at Woodley, P.O. BOX 8238 – 00200, Nairobi, Kenya; **Department of Community Health, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Kenya; ***Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
*Corresponding author e–mail:tolewe@vipskenya.or.ke
ABSTRACT
Objective: Lead exposure has been associated with intellectual impairment in children in a number of international studies. Prevalence of elevated blood lead levels (eBLL ≥ 10ug/dL) of between 5 – 15% has been reported among children under 12 year old in Nairobi (UNEP, 2006). However, little is known about potential environmental exposure for eBLLs among children living in Kibera slums within Nairobi City, Kenya.
Methodology and results: A descriptive, cross-sectional study of children drawn from Kibera slums who presented at Yes to Kids (Y2K) program of VIPS Health Services at Woodley, Nairobi between June and August 2007 was carried out. The study assessed potential correlates of eBLLs in 387 children aged 6 to 59 months and had lived in Kibera slums since birth. Sampling was purposive. The factors examined were age, sex, breastfeeding history, respondent’s education and occupation, type of house walls, sources of drinking water and kales, and awareness of lead poisoning among respondents. Potential risk factors such as exposure to paint, contaminated playgrounds, glazed pottery, cosmetics and para-occupational as well as living near lead industries and pica behavior were also examined. Potential environmental sources of lead such as drinking water, soil and kales were analyzed for lead levels. Seven percent (n = 27, N = 387) had BLLs above 10ug/dl. BLL ≥ 10ug/dl was associated with non-permanent housing (p = 0.812), playing on potentially lead contaminated grounds (p = 0.627) and pica behavior (p = 0.439). Low risk parental occupation (p = 0.001) and kales sourced from the market/kiosks (p = 0.001) were significantly associated with BLL ≥ 10ug/dl. Soil lead levels ranged from 3,000 to 90,000ug/kg, which was very high compared to WHO acceptable range of 100 – 200ug/kg. There was weak linear association (r2 = 0.0160) between soil Pb and mean BLLs for a given village. There were no detectable levels of lead in kales and tap water.
Conclusion and application of findings: The study found about 7% (N = 387) of the children tested had eBLL ≥ 10ug/dl in an area with very high soil lead levels (range in Kibera slums: 3,365 – 89,570 ug/kg compared to WHO allowable range: 100 – 120ug/kg). This finding raises a health concern that needs to be addressed through a multi-sectoral approach. Further studies are required since the study design and its inherent limitations could have masked the true picture of childhood lead poisoning in Kibera slums.
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