Abstract
Cd has no known biological function and poses significant health risks in humans. Children are particularly susceptible to Cd toxicity due to their higher absorption rates and weaker biological defenses. However, national blood Cd levels (BCLs) in Chinese children aged 0-6years remain unclear. We employed a multistage stratified cluster sampling method to obtain a representative sample of 30,156 Chinese children aged 0-6years. Venous blood samples were collected under sterile conditions. High-sensitivity quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) was used to analyze Cd levels. The Kruskal-Wallis and the chi-square tests were employed for statistical comparisons. Strict quality control was maintained throughout the study. The geometric mean (GM) BCL among children was 0.146μg/L. Children in eastern and southern China had significantly higher BCLs compared to those in central, western, and northern regions (P<0.001). Rural children showed higher BCLs compared to those in urban areas (P<0.001). Among provinces, children in Hunan and Guangdong had the highest BCLs. We evaluated the BCLs in Chinese children aged 0-6years and reported specific indicators of BCLs across various stratifications. Significant regional variation was observed, particularly between northern and southern regions. These findings prompt further discussion on the spatial distribution of BCLs and the potential underlying causes. Based on our results, we further propose reference values for BCLs in Chinese children and stress the urgent need for enhanced environmental control and remediation in regions where children are exposed to higher BCLs.
Published Version
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