Levels of Lead and Cadmium in Children' Blood and Urine Exposed to Heavy Metal Pollution in Industrial District of South China

Objectives To measure the levels of lead and cadmium of children in an industrial district in south China and to provide a scientific basis for comprehensive prevention and control of environmental heavy metal pollution.Methods An environment epidemiological cross-sectional study was conducted; 530 children were recruited, including 266 children from exposed area and 264 children from non-exposed area. Questionnaire, including family income, education and occupation of their parents, was completed by children. The levels of lead and cadmium in blood and urine were analyzed by ICP-MS.Results The geometric means of lead and cadmium in blood as well as those of lead and cadmium in urine of children in the exposure group (65.89, 1.93, 4.04 and 1.43 μg/L, respectively)were significantly higher these those in the non-exposure group (37.21, 1.07, 2.14 and 1.02 μg/L, respectively) (P<0.05). The levels of blood lead showed a significant increase with the growth of children in the exposure group; the levels of cadmium in blood and urine in the non-exposure group showed a weak increase with the growth of children. The levels of heavy metal in boys both from exposure and non-exposure group were significantly higher than that in girls (P<0.05).Conclusions The levels of heavy metal in children from exposure area were significantly higher than those in children from non-exposure area, and the level were increased with the growth of children. There was a significant gender difference on exposure to environmental heavy metal.