THE USE OF BLOOD LEAD AND DELTA AMINOLEVULINIC AS INDICATORS OF LEAD EXPOSURE IN PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN SOUTHERN MALAYSIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37268/mjphm/vol.4/no.1/art.1319Keywords:
delta-aminolevulinic acid, urine lead, blood lead, children exposureAbstract
Blood lead concentration and 0-aminolevulinic acid in urine were used as indicator for lead exposure among school children in an industrial area south of the peninsular Malaysia. A group of 100 Malay children which consist of 48 boys and 5 2 girls with the age range of 61/2 to 81/2 years from a primary school were selected as children. Blood samples were collected and analyzed with Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The urine 0.-aminolevulinic acid concentrations were measured with UV/VIS Spectrophotometer. The mean blood lead was 3.75µg/dL. Based on the biological index, 76% of the children are in the "normal range" ( <0.6 mg/dl) while 24 % are in the "acceptable range" (0.6-2.0mg/dl). Statistics showed no significant difference in the mean blood lead concentrations and urine o-aminolevulinic acid between genders. Results showed that there was no significant correlation between blood lead and urine D--aminolevulinic acid. In conclusion, urine D--aminolevulinic acid is not a suitable indicators of lead exposure if the exposure is at a very low level. However, it can be a screening process for those that are at high risk of lead exposure especially for children who live near a lead smelter or lead workers as it is non-invasive.
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