A Study on prevalence and risk factors in children with excessive lead in their blood and the risk of lead poisoning in Muang Samutsakhon District, Samutsakhon Province

Mrs. Tipvarin Pumnoi, Professional Registered Nurse, Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, Division of Occupational Medicine, Samutsakhon Hospital, Mobile phone no. 081-3437990, Office phone no. 034-427099 extension no. 5205,5206 E mail: moddang403@gmail.com

Background

Found that 8-month old Thai girl with Lead Poisoning admitted to the hospital with symptoms of drowsiness and convulsion. Patient history check found that parents work for industrial waste recycling factory (sludge waste from preaching factories) and a child stays with her parents in the factory.

A child was found with lead level in the blood of 243 micrograms / deciliter and then referred to Ramathibodi Hospital for detoxifying and palliative treatment until she improved. Doctor allowed her to return home but need to monitor continuously

Blood screening for factory owner and employees in that factory of 14 cases. Lead was found in the blood over the standard (the lead 51.4 to 129.2 micrograms / deciliter ) with average of 73.30 micrograms / deciliter. Six people need to have medicine for detoxifying of lead.

Investigation of environment for a level of lead such as soil from bags - patient’s room and family within the factory - Plastic floor mat - 2,800 mg/kg - Mattress - 6,300 mg/kg - Dust on floor - 37,858 mg/kg - Wall paints -590 mg/kg - Kid’s clothes - 1,100 mg/kg - Soil from bags - 67,215 mg/kg

•Samutsakhon Provincial Industry Office has 3 Districts that have industrial factories which cause a risk of high lead poisoning. There are 19 waste recycling factories and 108 preaching factories.

Objectives

•To find out the prevalence rate of children with excessive lead in their blood and the risk of lead poisoning in Muang Samutsakhon District, Samutsakhon Province

•Study on risk factors in children with excess lead in the blood and risk of lead poisoning in Muang Samutsakhon District, Samutsakhon Province

Methods - Blood screening of children from 6 months to 6 years old in Well Child Clinic in

Tambon Health Promoting Hospitals in Muang Samutsakhon District - History check and questionnaires on parents

- For children with lead rate over 5 micrograms / deciliter , there is a house visit to provide health education and behavior modification for parents and children, and to monitor an environment within the housing

Results within 3 Sub-districts with risk of lead poisoning Screening of 168 children Lead level in blood - 5 cases of greater or equal to 35 micrograms / deciliter that need to admit for

detoxification of lead and a treatment of anemia - 21 cases (12.5%) of greater or equal to 10 micrograms / deciliter (lead rate of 10.01-

113.80 micrograms / deciliter ) which has an average of 20.36 micrograms / deciliter - 65 cases (38.69 %) of greater or equal to 5 micrograms / deciliter (lead rate of 5.01-113.80

micrograms / deciliter ) which has an average of 11.18 micrograms / deciliter Found that children with high lead in the blood and need treatments, having parents who

work for metal melting factory

Other Sub-Districts Screening of 385 children Results of lead in the blood test - Found none of children who need detoxifying of lead - 9 cases (2.34 %) of greater or equal to 10 micrograms / deciliter (lead rate of 10.54-

28.2 micrograms / deciliter ) which has an average of 16.39 micrograms / deciliter - 102 cases (26.49 %) of greater or equal to 5 micrograms / deciliter (lead rate of 5-28.23 micrograms / deciliter ) which has an average of 7.57 micrograms / deciliter

-Found that children with high lead in the blood not having parents who work

for risk factory

Support information for environmental monitoring Environment that has high rate of lead, such as; - Cheap toys bought from a market that paint has come off easily - Oil-based paints - Playground equipment in school that are built from steel and painted with oil

paints

Conclusions - Children in Muang Samusakhon District were found with risk of lead poisoning in the

industrial sector and general environment and industrial sectors have a higher risk than in general environment.

- The problem solving of lead poisoning would succeed when there are cooperation and

supports from relevant agencies and local governments. - Preventing lead poisoning is to focus on hand washing, behavior modification for parents

and children, and environmental modification and giving the knowledge of the principles of occupational health prevention for parents.

THANK YOU

Curriculum vitae that outlines related work experience and professional activities

Responsibility to toxicology and environmental medicine, Division of Occupational Medicine, Samutsakhon Hospital

Notable works - Develop a plan for a chemical accident at the provincial level and trainings every

year since Samutsakhon Province has the use of so many chemicals and chemicals that have dangerous levels of chemicals, including ammonia and corrosive substances including sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and sodium hydroxide.

- Develop a system for protection and treatment for toxicology patients in Samutsakhon Province; general chemical and lead poisoning problems in the area.

Please explain how attending this conference would benefit you work

To help those involved in all sectors see the importance of

problems of chemicals and toxics in the area more and to support operations of problem solving in the future.