Lead toxicity among working children and adolescents in Alexandria, Egypt

Abstract

A substantial number of children and adolescents work and are exposed to different occupational and environmental hazards. In order to identify the prevalence of lead toxicity and related risk factors, a study was conducted of 408 working children and adolescents in Alexandria. In 20.1% of those sampled, the blood lead level was ≥ 25 mg/dl. For children working in battery workshops in El-Gomrouk and Mina El-Bassal districts, anaemia and smoking were found to be significantly associated with a higher risk of lead toxicity. Thus, more attention should be paid to the problem of lead toxicity in working children, particularly in industrialized urban cities with heavy traffic and an unprotected work environment.