Abstract
Objective To study cognitive development of children exposed to lead in Colombo. Design A cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting City of Colombo, near Borella junction. Study population 50 children with blood lead levels ranging from 1.6-13.5 ,g/dl. Method Risk factors for lead exposure were assessed using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Development and cognitive abilities of the children were assessed. Results Close proximity to traffic congested highways and surface water drains were common to entire cohort. Purchase of food from roadside vendors was found in all children. 78% children residing in area >10 years and 66% children attending school for >5 years had a below average developmental score. Blood lead levels correlated significantly with increasing age and length of stay in this area. Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2003; 32: 15-7 ( Key words : Cognitive development, lead-exposed children, Colombo) Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Table Normal; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} doi: 10.4038/sljch.v32i1.738
Highlights
Sri Lanka does not have a screening programme for lead exposure
The study population consisted of 50 apparently healthy children aged [1-15] years who had lived since birth within a radius of 0.5 km from Borella junction in the city of Colombo. Their blood lead levels ranged from 1.6-13.5 mg/dl at the time of study
Concerns have been expressed regarding blood lead levels of children living in the city of Colombo[1]
Summary
Sri Lanka does not have a screening programme for lead exposure. concerns have been expressed regarding blood lead levels of children living in the city of Colombo[1].Long term exposure to even low levels of lead affects cognitive development of children[2,3]. Sri Lanka does not have a screening programme for lead exposure. Concerns have been expressed regarding blood lead levels of children living in the city of Colombo[1]. Long term exposure to even low levels of lead affects cognitive development of children[2,3]. We report on the cognitive development of a cohort of lead exposed city dwelling children and compare it with their duration of stay in this traffic congested area and their blood lead levels
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