The pediatric burden of disease from lead exposure at toxic waste sites in low and middle income countries

• Published in: Environmental research 2014-07, Vol.132, p.379-383
• Main Authors: Chatham-Stephens, Kevin, Caravanos, Jack, Ericson, Bret, Landrigan, Philip, Fuller, Richard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Blood lead level; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Child, Preschool; Children; Cost of Illness; Developing Countries - statistics & numerical data; Disability adjusted life year; Drinking water; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Exposure; Hazardous Waste Sites; Humans; Infant; Lead - blood; Low and middle income country; Mathematical models; Medical sciences; Metals and various inorganic compounds; Soil (material); Toxic; Toxic waste site; Toxicology; Wastes
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2014.04.018

The impact of lead from toxic waste sites on children in low and middle income countries has not been calculated due to a lack of exposure data. We sought to calculate this impact in Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Using an Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic (IEUBK) model, we converted soil and drinking water lead levels from sites in the Blacksmith Institute׳s Toxic Sites Identification Program (TSIP) into mean blood lead levels (BLLs). We then calculated the incidence of mild mental retardation (MMR) and DALYs resulting from these BLLs. The TSIP included 200 sites in 31 countries with soil (n=132) or drinking water (n=68) lead levels, representing 779,989 children younger than 4 years of age potentially exposed to lead. Environmental lead levels produced a range of BLLs from 1.56 to 104.71µg/dL. These BLLs equated to an estimated loss of 5.41–8.23 IQ points, resulting in an incidence of MMR of 6.03 per 1000 population and 76.1 DALYs per 1000 population. Soil and water lead levels at toxic waste sites predict BLLs that lower the intelligence quotient (IQ), with the resulting MMR potentially limiting individual- and country-level development. The preventable burden of disease produced by these sites highlights the need for toxic waste sites to be systematically identified, evaluated, and remediated. •We analyze 200 toxic waste sites in 31 countries with environmental lead levels.•We estimate blood lead levels from environmental lead levels.•Projected blood lead levels range from 1.56 to 104.71µg/dL.•Estimated IQ points lost range from 5.41 to 8.23.•Resulting disability adjusted life years are 76.1 per 1000 population.