Abstract
BACKGROUND
Lead is a cumulative toxin that affects various physiological body systems and is especially dangerous to infants and young children. Lead exposure is a trigger for health problems, and many studies have demonstrated that. This study aims to determine the elevated blood lead levels and the associated risk factors amongst primary school children in Maseru District.
METHODOLOGY
A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out in two regions of Maseru District. Twenty primary schools were randomly selected from rural and urban regions with 10 per region. The blood samples were taken from primary school children aged 6-12 years old to determine blood lead concentration, and a nurse registered under the Lesotho Nursing Council (LNC) took samples in a private room at the schools. The Lead Care II Analyser screening was used to determine blood lead concentrations. The lead concentration in the drinking water of the primary schools was measured using an ANDalyse AND1100 fluorimeter (hand-held device). The thermos Scientific Niton XL2 X-ray fluorescent (XRF) analyser was used to measure lead concentration in soil. A semi-structured questionnaire was provided to parents and legal guardians to assess the risk factors associated with the exposure. Data was entered into the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28 for the analysis. Association between variables was then compared using Fischer’s exact and correlation matrix. Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of Johannesburg to conduct the study, and permission was received from the Ministry of Education Lesotho to access primary schools and children. Ethical approval was also obtained from the National Health Research Ethics Committee, Lesotho.
RESULTS
The total population number of the study was 178 children (123 girls and 55 boys). The blood lead levels in the whole study ranged between 1.34 μg/dl (microgram per decilitre) to 10.34μg/dl. Eighty children (44.1%) of the population in the study had high blood levels above the international reference value of ≤3.5μg/dl.
CONCLUSIONS
iv
This is the first study report on the blood lead levels in children aged between six to 12 years in Lesotho and it gives a clear indication that children are still exposed to lead in their living environment, either at school or at home. The study showed that boys are mostly affected by lead exposure as they play in dusty areas, which is one of the factors influencing blood lead levels. The study adds to the already existing reports on high blood lead levels in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). It is evident that LMICs must tighten the regulations to protect vulnerable groups (children) from lead exposure by putting strengthening measures in place and ensuring there are regulations which can be enforced and monitored.
KEY CONCEPTS
Lead exposure, blood lead levels, risk factors, children lead concentration.