STUDY OF BLOOD LEAD LEVELS IN CHILDREN WI TH IRON-DEFICIENCY

BACKGROUND: Analysis of blood lead levels in relation to the state of iron metabolism was carried out in children. METHODS: A transversal st udy of blood lead levels was designed in 89 iron deficient children (s erum ferritin < 15 mug/1) (group F). Fifty seven of the children did n ot have anemia (sub-group FS) and 32 had anemia (subgroup AF) with age s ranging between 6 months and 14 years, and 41 children of the same a ge with normal iron metabolism (group C). A longitudinal study was als o carried out by the determination of blood lead levels prior and afte r iron therapy in 18 of the iron deficient children. RESULTS: A signif icant difference was seen between the mean of blood lead levels in iro n deficient children (group F), 9.41 mug/dl and normal children (group C), 6.88 mug/dl (p < 0.01). The mean of blood lead levels of the sub- group FS was 7.79 mug/dl and the sub-group AF, 12.30 mug/dl (p < 0.01) . The prevalence of lead poisoning (blood lead levels > 20 mug/dl) was 8 % in group F (2 % in sub-group FS, 19 % in sub-group AF) and 0 in g roup C (p < 0.01). A significant decrease was found in the longitudina l study in the mean of blood lead levels following iron therapy from 1 4.12 mug/dl to 7.51 mug/dl (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The iron deficient state may constitute a predisposing factor of lead poisoning in child hood.