The temporal variation of blood lead levels in Chinese urban children: the China Nutrition and Health Survey (CNHS) 2002 to 2012

Abstract

Abstract Lead (Pb) pollution is a global public health problem and adversely affects children health across a wide range of exposure levels. This study was conducted to evaluate the blood Pb levels (BLLs) of Chinese urban children aged 6−11 years and to describe the temporal variations from the China Nutrition and Health Survey (CNHS) in 2002 and 2012. A total of 2182 (1036 vs. 1146) Chinese urban children were selected in the CNHS 2002 and the CNHS 2012 using the multistage stratified cluster random and probability proportional to size sampling method. The BLLs of urban children were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), whilst the prevalence of BLLs >50 µg/L and >100 µg/L were calculated, as well as the reference values (RV95s: the upper limit of 95% confidence interval of 95th percentile). From the CNHS 2002 to the CNHS 2021, the median BLLs of Chinese urban children had obviously changed from 67.4 µg/L to 36.9 µg/L, and the RV95s of BLLs had also descrended from 149.1 µg/L to 107.9 µg/L. In addition, the prevalence of BLLs with >50 µg/L and >100 µg/L had markedly decreased from 74.0% and 18.2% in the CNHS 2002 to 28.4% and 5.2% in the CNHS 2021. In conclusion, the BLLs of Chinese urban children had been definitely improved in the past 10 years. However, the findings of our study suggested that it is imperative to implement the monitoring and evaluating and to continue control Pb exposure.