Blood lead levels in children attending a tertiary teaching hospital in Enugu, south-eastern Nigeria

Background: Reports have demonstrated widespread lead contamination of the Enugu environment and the possibility of childhood lead poisoning. Objective: To determine the blood lead levels of children attending University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla, Enugu, Enugu State. Method: Blood samples from 100 children were analysed for blood lead concentration using an atomic absorption spectrometer. Results: The mean (SD) age was 6.2 (2.13) years (range 1-15) and the mean (SD) blood lead level was 8.7 (5.4) mu g/dl (range 0.3-17.7). Thirty-three per cent of the children had blood lead levels > 10 mu g/dl, which is the United States Center for Disease Prevention and Control action limit, and 36% of the children had blood lead levels of 5-10 mu g/dl. Mean (SD) blood lead level in the 6-10-years age group was 11.3 (5.7) mu g/dl and 9.4 (4.6) mu g/dl in the > 10-years age group, which is significantly higher than in the 1-5-years age group [7.5 (5.1) mu g/dl, P=0.03]. Males had significantly higher mean (SD) blood lead levels than females [9.6 (5.8) vs 6.8 (3.8), P=0.03]. Conclusion: One-third of children had blood lead levels > 10 mu g/dl, particularly older and male children. Blood lead screening should be considered for sick children, and further screening of blood lead levels in children should be undertaken in Enugu and other parts of Nigeria, and efforts made to identify the sources of exposure.