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Nakata H, Nakayama SMM, Yabe J, Muzandu K, Kataba A, Ikeda-Araki A, Drisse MNB, Onyon LJ, Gorman J, Kritika P, Fukunaga H, Ikenaka Y, Kishi R, Ishizuka M. Narrative review of lead poisoning in humans caused by industrial activities and measures compatible with sustainable industrial activities in Republic of Zambia. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 850:157833. [PMID: 35961390 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Lead (Pb) pollution and human exposure to Pb, is an important issue for the international community to address being associated with 0.90 million deaths from long-term effects. The Republic of Zambia is a typical mineral resource-rich country, with long-standing mining and smelting activities of metals including Pb in several parts of the country. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of previous papers that have assessed human exposure to Pb and related health effects in Zambia. Environmental remediation methods that should be applied locally, ways to reduce Pb exposure of the population, and issues that need to be addressed by various sectors are discussed. Environmental remediation methods using locally available and affordable materials are needed to ensure both sustainable industrial activities and pollution prevention. In the Zambian mining towns, including Kabwe, various research activities have been conducted, including environmental monitoring, human biomonitoring and health impact assessments. The town of Kabwe, which was one of Zambia's largest Pb mining area in the 20th century, continues to have formal and informal Pb-related industries and is known as one of the most polluted areas in the world. For example, despite the World Health Organization asserting that "For an individual with a blood Pb concentration ≥ 5 μg/dL, appropriate action should be taken to terminate exposure", there are reports of blood Pb levels in Kabwe children exceeding 100 μg/dL. While Pb pollution is a global issue, not many places have such continuous and comprehensive research has been conducted, and there is much to be learned from the knowledge accumulated in these areas. Because the high levels of Pb accumulation in humans and the adverse health effects were clarified, we consider that it is important to combine mining activities, which are a key industry, with measures to prevent environmental pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hokuto Nakata
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
| | - Shouta M M Nakayama
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan; The University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - John Yabe
- The University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia; University of Namibia, School of Veterinary Medicine, P/B. 13301, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Kaampwe Muzandu
- The University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Andrew Kataba
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan; The University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Atsuko Ikeda-Araki
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12 Nishi 5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan; Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12 Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan; WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health and Prevention of Chemical Hazards, Japan.
| | - Marie-Noel Brune Drisse
- Department of Environment, Climate and Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lesley Jayne Onyon
- Department of Environment, Climate and Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Julia Gorman
- Department of Environment, Climate and Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Poudel Kritika
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12 Nishi 5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan; Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12 Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan; WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health and Prevention of Chemical Hazards, Japan
| | - Hisanori Fukunaga
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12 Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan; WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health and Prevention of Chemical Hazards, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Ikenaka
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan; Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Development, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; Translational Research Unit, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan; One Health Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Reiko Kishi
- Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12 Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan; WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health and Prevention of Chemical Hazards, Japan
| | - Mayumi Ishizuka
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18 Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan.
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Bertram J, Ramolla C, Esser A, Schettgen T, Fohn N, Kraus T. Blood Lead Monitoring in a Former Mining Area in Euskirchen, Germany-Volunteers across the Entire Population. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:6083. [PMID: 35627620 PMCID: PMC9141156 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19106083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
After centuries of mining in the district of Euskirchen, that is, in the communities of Mechernich and Kall, the lead concentration in the soil remains high, often exceeding regulatory guidelines. To clarify the lead body burden among residents in the region, a human biomonitoring study on a voluntary basis was initiated in which the blood lead level (BLL) was assessed. A questionnaire was distributed to evaluate lead exposure routes and confounders. Overall, 506 volunteers participated in the study, of whom 7.5% were children and adolescents, 71.9% were adults from 18 to 69 years, and 19.4% were residents 70 years or older. While the BLLs in the adult population were inconspicuous, among the children and adolescents investigated, 16.7% of the children between 3 and 17 years had BLLs above the recently revised German reference values for BLL in children. These results point towards a higher lead exposure in children living in the region. The hierarchical regression analysis based on the BLL and the questionnaire revealed the significant influence of the factors age, sex, smoking, construction age of the real estate, occupancy, and intensive contact with soil on the BLL. Measures to reduce lead exposure include a focus on improved personal and domestic hygiene to minimize lead intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Bertram
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (A.E.); (T.S.); (N.F.); (T.K.)
| | - Christian Ramolla
- Public Health Department, District of Euskirchen, 53879 Euskirchen, Germany;
| | - André Esser
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (A.E.); (T.S.); (N.F.); (T.K.)
| | - Thomas Schettgen
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (A.E.); (T.S.); (N.F.); (T.K.)
| | - Nina Fohn
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (A.E.); (T.S.); (N.F.); (T.K.)
| | - Thomas Kraus
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (A.E.); (T.S.); (N.F.); (T.K.)
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