ASSESSMENT OF LEAD-EXPOSURE IN SCHOOLCHILDREN FROM JAKARTA

Children attending schools in urban areas with high traffic density ar e a high risk group for lead poisoning. We assessed the magnitude of l ead exposure in schoolchildren from Jakarta by analyzing blood lead co ncentrations and biomarkers of heme biosynthesis. A total of 131 child ren from four public elementary schools in Jakarta (two in the souther n district and two in the central district) were enrolled in the study . To evaluate lead pollution in each area, soil samples and tap water were collected. The mean blood lead concentration was higher in the ce ntral district than in the southern district (8.3 +/- 2.8 vs. 6.9 +/- 3.5 pg/100 mi; p<0.05); 26.7% of the children had lead levels greater than 10 mu g/100 ml. In 24% of the children, zinc protoporphyrin conce ntrations were over 70 mu mol/mol hemoglobin; in 17% of the samples, h emoglobin was less than 11 g/100 mi. All other values were within the physiological range. Blood lead concentration and hematological biomar kers were not correlated. Analyses of tap water revealed lead values u nder 0.01 mg/l; lead contamination of soil ranged from 77 to 223 ppm. Our data indicate that Indonesian children living in urban areas are a t increased risk for blood lead levels above the actual acceptable lim it. Activities to reduce pollution (e.g., reduction of lead in gasolin e) and continuous monitoring of lead exposure are strongly recommended .