ENVSC-3105

“BLOOD LEAD LEVELS

IN HUMANS.”
Submitted by:

Muhammad Ali 0322-BH-(E)-ENV-19

Ali Ahmed 0335-BH-(E)-ENV-19

Submitted to:

Dr. Tabinda

Course Code: ENVSC-3105

Semester: 6 (Evening)

SDSC, Government College University

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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction.........................................................................................................................................2

2.0 Observation..........................................................................................................................................3

3.0 Discussion.............................................................................................................................................7

4.0 Conclusion............................................................................................................................................8

References..................................................................................................................................................9

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1.0 Introduction
Blood Lead Level or BLL is the amount of lead present in a person’s blood. Since lead does not
serve as an important metal, and is very toxic even in low amounts – this level should be 0 or
near to negligible in any person. A high level of blood can cause lead poisoning or lead toxicity.

It can cause:

 Cardiovascular problems,
 Kidney damage,
 Neurologic damage,
 Reproductive damage,
 Gastrointestinal damage,
 Nutritional and hearing problems.

Other negative impacts may also be observed.

Lead is especially harmful for children and pregnant women as they are more susceptible to
absorbing lead in higher quantities; but the BLL in any individual regardless of their age and
gender is of a concern. Especially workers working in industries and factories that may deal with
lead even in small amounts, should be attentive. A blood test can be used as a tool to figure out
the levels of blood in any individual, in order to proceed with the necessary treatment.

Sources of lead may include:

 Paint,
 Dust,
 Soil, air,
 Batteries containing lead,
 Lead smelting industries etc.

The standard value of BLL in humans is 5 μg/dL as standardized by WHO. This does not mean
that this amount should be present in bodies, but means that the lead levels should not exceed
this value at any cost. Different countries have different norms, workplace ethics, and

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technologies. Hence, the value differs in every country – even within countries, this value may
differ. BLL values observed in cities of different countries are:

2.0 Observation
Sr. Country Province/ Range Age Occupati Number Reference
No. City values Group on of
(µg/dL) samples
1 Peru Amazonian 4.9 ± 4.0 <12 y Residence 1168 O'Callaghan-
Region close to Gordo, 2021
5.7 ± 3.0 >12 y processing
facility
2 Zambia Makululu 30.8 ± 19. 7.7 ± 3.7 -
4 months 102

26.2 ± 7.0 Haruya et al.,

17.6 ± 10.1 2021
y
Kasanda 24.8 ± 20. 7.3 ± 3.8 -
9 months 82

15.8 ± 10. 27.1 ± 6.7
6 y
Katondo 10.9 ± 9.9 7.7 ± 4.3 -
months 91

6.3 ± 3.5 24.6 ± 5.9
y
3 Pakistan KhyberPak 32.0 ± 10.3 Automobil 50 Iqbal et al., 2018
htunkhwa 65.3± 41. y e
9 Technicia
ns
Islamabad 27.27 ± 21-45 y Traffic 47 Agha et al., 2005
4.04 constables

Baba 21.60 ± 36 – 40 Exposure 400 Rahbar et al., 2002

Island 6.36 months through
(Khi) Parents’
occupation
Saddar 16.46 ±
(battery
(Khi) 15.72
processing
North 14.30 ± ), surma
Karachi 5.30 applicatio
Malir (Khi) 14.90 ± n, eating
5.76

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Gadap 12.00 ± from

(Khi) 4.50 vendors
4 Canada Quebec 3.85 >8 y - 1429 Liberda, 2018
± 4.92

5 Serbia Belgrade 2.389 ± 41 ± 2 y - 305 Stojsavljević et

1.154  al., 2019
6 Indonesia Jakarta 5.0 1-5 y - 279 Prihartono et al.,
2019
7 Japan - 0.58  31.0 ±5.0 y - 17,262 Ishitsuka et al.,

8 Greece Crete 0.003  30 ± 4 y - 176 Howe et al., 2021

9 Sweden Linköping, 7.1 12- 18 y - 1099 Almerud et al.,

Lund, 2021
Stockholm,
Umeå,
Uppsala,
Gothenbur
g, Örebro
10 Norway Nord- 18.8 50.0 ± 17.6 - 1011 Simić, 2022
Trøndelag y

11 New Auckland, 0.86 5–18 - 191 Mannetje et al.,

Zealand Waikato, 2020
Lower 1.31 age 20–65 304
North
Island,
South
Island
12 Mexico Mexico 4.5 2-6 y - 171 Ortiz, 2016
City
Michoacán 14.8 ± 8.9 31 ± 8.5 Ceramic - Oritz, 2018
Potters
13 India Punjab 57.17 ± <14 Occupatio 30 Singh, et al., 2013
0.35 nal
Talangana 30.10 ± <14 Occupatio 200 Chinde, et al.,
0.07 nal 2014
Kamataka 27.60± <14 Occupatio 391 Kalahasthi, et al.
0.58 nal 2014

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West 59.60 ± <14 Occupatio 42 Mazumdar et al.,

Bengal 0.95 nal 2014
Tamil 10.30 ± <14 Non- 226 Mohan, et al.
Nadu 0.33 occupation 2014
al
Maharashtr 8.60 ± <14 Non- 30 Paratinidhi, et al.,
a 0.47 occupation 2014
al
Dehli 3.51 ± <14 Non- 50 Sharma, et al.,
0.03 occupation 2014
al
Rajasthan 6.18 ± <14 Non- 20 Chambial, et al.,
0.83 occupation 2015
al
Andhra 11.29 ± <14 Non- 40 Lokesh, et al.,
Pradesh 3.90 occupation 2016
al
Uttar 53.48 ± <14 Occupatio 15 Wani, et al., 2017
Pradesh 0.64 nal
14 France Paris 5.0 <1 - 2029 Etchevers, 2013

15 Indonesia Bogor 2.79 ± 1-5 - 128 Irawati, et al.

1.13
16 South Kwazulu/ 10 3-10 - 1200 JNriagu, et al.
Africa Natal 3-10
Vulamehlo 3.8 - 1200

17 China Shenyang 24.30 ±  4.00 ± 1.13 - 273 Cheng, et al.

11.99 y
18 Iran - 3·62 ≤18 - 928
±4·62
Ericson et al.,
19 Iraq - 5·30 ≤18 - 207 2021
±1·90
20 Jamaica - 2·90 ≤18 - 651
±2·98
21 Senegal - 8·22 ≤18 - 32
±3·16

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22 Russia - 5·17 ≤18 - 1088

±4·18

Bronx 0.94 >18 Non- 178 New York City

23 USA occupation Department of
al Health and
Mental Hygiene,
2012
Brooklyn 1.13 >18 Non- 463 New York City
occupation Department of
al Health and
Mental Hygiene
Manhattan 0.67 >3 Non- 97 New York City
occupation Department of
al Health and
Mental Hygiene,
2012
Queens 1.14 >3 Non- 264 New York City
occupation Department of
al Health and
Mental Hygiene,
2012
Staten 0.68 >18 Non- 42 New York City
Island occupation Department of
al Health and
Mental Hygiene,
2012
24 Banglade Dhaka 15.0 4-12 y Soil 779 Kaiser et al., 2001
sh eating,
close to
roads
25 Iraq Baghdad 12.35 20-60 y Generator 76 Altaay et al.,
workers, 2018
traffic
policemen
, taxi
drivers
26 Egypt Old Cairo 5.6 ± 1.8 6-19 y Old Cairo 400 Moawad et al.,
garbage, 2016
workshops
Egypt Manshyt 15.8 ± 44 6-19 y Old Cairo 400 Moawad et al.,
Naser garbage, 2016
workshops

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27 Spain Almería 1.98 ± 1.1 1-16 - 1427 Tudela, et al.

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3.0 Discussion
WHO and many such organizations have come together to standardize the value of lead in blood.
They have unanimously decided that lead in blood is not needed at all, and hence the value
should be least possible or 0. However, this is entirely not possible as many countries have
varying environments, as well as the way of living and PPE’s. So, the value of 5 micrograms per
deciliter (μg/dL) of lead in blood, was standardized by WHO. Even this value has been
associated with several developmental changes, especially in children, but the lead levels should
not exceed this value.

Comparing the data for different countries, Peru managed to stay close to the standard value in
people above 12, while managed to achieve the target for people under 12 years of age. The case
is worse in Zambia. 3 cities were studied and all of them exceeded the limits prescribed by
WHO. In Pakistan, the data showed a BLL of 65.3 μg/dL in automobile technicians in KPK,
while this value was too large, other cities also exceeded the standard value but not this much.
Canada, Serbia, Jakarta, and Japan managed to stay within the limits with a BLL of 3.85, 2.389,
5.0, and 0.58 respectively. Sweden was just above the standard; while Norway was way over the
limit with a value of 18 μg/dL.

New Zealand managed to stay within the limits, and the BLL observed were 0.86 and 1.31 in
ages 5-18 and 20-65 respectively. Although in different age groups, Mexico managed to reach
different values in 2 different cities – in Mexico City, the value is 4.5 μg/dL, which is just under
the standard, and in Michoacán, its 14.8 μg/dL. In India, Punjab, West Bengal, Talangana,
Kamataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh exceeded
the standard value of BLL while Delhi showed a much lesser amount of 3.51 μg/dL in ages
under 14.

Other countries who did well in maintaining the BLL value below the standard level include
Indonesia, France, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Russia, USA and Spain. The places in these countries
were studied and each studied place showed a BLL value less than 5 μg/dL.

This shows that even though the world is developing at an alarming rate, the lead levels in blood
is something that even the developed countries suffer from, even though they have better
technologies that can limit the exposure to lead in industries. This problem effects both the

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developing and the developed countries alike as lead is seen to cause a lot of damages to the
body. Most of the studies were conducted in children and the amount exceeded the standard BLL
value in many cases. This is very concerning as children have the potential to suffer much more
than the adults if BLL is concerned.

4.0 Conclusion
Lead is a metal that is not essential to human body. It’s quantity of even 1 μg/dL can be toxic to
humans. However, many countries have reported values above this level. This blood lead levels
should be monitored by countries at all times and special attention should be paid to areas that
have a potential to be affected by lead pollution (e.g. areas closer to factories).

Remediation schemes should be started at national and international levels and lead toxicity
should be prevented. Areas that are susceptible to lead poisoning should be screened and lead
contamination should be kept in check and avoided at all costs. Especially monitoring and
remedial practices should be started, which will mostly be helpful for children, as even the above
study shows children under 18 susceptible to lead poisoning. Hence, by doing so adults and
especially children will stay away from risk of lead poisoning.

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