Lead Exposure and Associated Risk Factors among New Migrant Children Arriving in Greece

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Stamatios Theocharis¹  Konstantinos Petsios¹  IoannaD. Pavlopoulou²  StavroulaK. Dikalioti²  Stavroula Poulopoulou³  Vassiliki Matziou⁴  Marsela Tanaka⁴ 

[1] A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Faculty of Nursing, Thivon &Levadeias str., Athens 11527, Greece;Department of Nursing Research, Onassis Cardiosurgical Center, 356 Sygrou Avenue, Athens 17674, Greece;;Pediatric Clinic, “P. &

关键词: blood lead levels;    children;    immigrants;    refugees;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph15061057

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Background: This study aims to assess lead exposure and associated risk factors among newly arrived migrant (M) (immigrant and refugees) children in Greece and a matched control of native (N) children. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study was performed in an outpatient clinic of a tertiary children’s hospital. Results: From 2010 to 2014, 598 children (M/N: 349/249) with a mean age of 6.96 years old (range 1–14, SD 3.76) were enrolled. Blood lead levels (BLLs) ranged from 0.7 to 21 μg/dL in migrant and from 0.4 to 10 μg/dL in native Greek children. Elevated BLLs ≥ 5 μg/dL were detected in 27.7% of migrants and 1.2% of natives (p < 0.001). A significant association was found between EBLLs and childrens’ age (≤5 years) (OR: 1.8, p-value 0.02) and EBLLs with Asian origin (OR: 3.63, p-value 0.023). Conclusion: New migrant children presented with increased BLLs when compared to their age- and sex-matched controls. Younger age and Asian origin were significant risk factors associated with elevated BLLs among children. Early screening, secondary prevention, and regular follow-up could prove useful in this vulnerable population.

【 授权许可】

Unknown