Investigation on Blood Lead Levels of Children in Hefei.

Objective To study the blood lead levels of children and its relative factors in Hefei.Methods 1018 children aged 2~7 years from 4 kindergartens in 4 urban areas of Hefei were selected by stratified cluster sampling and tested for blood lead levels.At the same time,personal status and domestic environment of the children were investigated with questionnaire.Lead poisoning criteria(consistency of blood lead =100ug/L)of US CDC(1991) was used for judging children lead level.Results The lead poisoning rate of children in Hefei was 9.1%.The average level of blood lead was higher in boys than in girls(t=3.011,P=0.003).There was no significant difference between lead poisoning rate of boys and that of girls.The blood lead levels of children ascended with their age.(F=7.738,P0.001).There was a significance differeoce among rates of blood lead of different ages.(χ~(2)=11.945,P=0.036).Conclusions Although lead poisoning rate of the children was low in Hefei,health education for lead prevention should be strengthened in order to improve public awareness on lead protection.