CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE, SIBSHIP, AND BLOOD LEAD IN CHILDREN

Objectives-Risk factors for increased blood lead concentration (BPb) h as been investigated. However, the effect of sibship and Chinese herba l medicine on BPb has not been systematically studied. In this study B Pb data from voluntary testing was used to determine if Chinese herbal medicine and sibship were associated with BPb. Methods-319 children a ged 1-7 were tested for BPb. Meanwhile, parents were interviewed to ob tain information including consumption of Chinese herbal medicine, liv ing environment, Lifestyle, and sibship of the children tested. Result s-The mean (SD) BPb of 319 preschool children was 4.4 (2.4) mu g/dl. T he consumption of Ba-baw-san (a Chinese herbal medicine) was significa ntly associated with increased BPb in children (p=0.038). Further mult ivariate regression analysis of BPb in 50 pairs of siblings showed the factors of being brothers explained 75% of variation for BPb, and bei ng sisters and brother-sister explained 51% and 41% of variation respe ctively. Conclusion-Chinese herbal medicine and children's play patter ns within the family expressed in different types of sibship are the m ain determinants of low concentrations of BPb in preschool children of Taiwan.