Effect of Lead Pollution Control on Environmental and Childhood Blood Lead Level in Nantong, China: An Interventional Study

Abstract

Children’s blood lead levels and prevalence of lead poisoning in China are significantly higher than in developed countries, though a substantial decrease has been observed. Since 2011, strict lead control policies in lead-related industries have been implemented in China, but the success of these policies is unknown. In this study, we collected environmental samples, questionnaire data, and blood samples from 106 children from 1 to 14 years old, before and after implementation of lead-usage control policy in wire rope factories by local government in Zhuhang, Nantong in 2012. Results showed that, one year after the lead control, lead concentrations sharply decreased in both environmental and biological samples with a decrease of 0.43 μg/m³ (−84.3%) in ambient air samples, 0.22 mg/kg (−36.1%) in vegetable samples, 441.1 mg/kg (−43.7%) in dust samples, and 6.24 μg/dL (−51.5%) in childhood blood lead levels (BLL). This study demonstrates the success of lead control policies in promoting the prevention and control of childhood lead poisoning in Nantong, China