TURKISH JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS, vol.47, no.2, pp.125-131, 2005 (SCI-Expanded)
Lead levels were measured in blood samples of 99 adults; 180 children and 143 pregnant women living in Eskisehir, an urban area in Turkey. One hundred and twenty 120 cord blood and 93 breast-milk samples were also obtained. Mean lead level in blood of adults, children, pregnants, cord blood and in breast-milk samples were 3.13 +/- 1.4 mu g/dl, 3.56 +/- 1.7 mu g/dl; 2.8 +/- 1.5 mu g/dl, 1.65 +/- 1.4 pg/dl and 2.34 +/- 1 mu g/L, respectively. It was higher in men, than in women in adults (p < 0.05) and in iron-deficient children than in those not deficient, (p < 0.01); and was negatively correlated with body weight (BW) and hemoglobin, (Hb) in children, (p < 0:05 for both). Maternal lead level was strongly related with cord blood and breast-milk lead contents (p < 0.001, p < 0.0001,, respectively), The lead exposure in this region is much lower than the critical level defined for lead poisoning as >= 10 mu g/dl by the Centers for Disease. Control and Prevention iron deficiency poor nutrition are the risk factors to lead exposure in children.