Health risk assessment of lead via the ingestion pathway for preschool children in a typical heavy metal polluted area.

The problems of environmental lead (Pb) pollution caused by mining activities have attracted global attention. Preschool children are vulnerable to exposure to Pb from the environment. To investigate the health risk of multiple exposures to Pb via oral ingestion (soil, water, rice, wheat, and vegetables) for preschool children in typical polluted areas, in this study, preschool children in Baiyin city were selected as the potential receptors, Pb concentrations in 28 soil samples and 33 vegetable samples were collected and measured. In addition, the Pb concentrations in local water, rice, and wheat were obtained by searching the literature. The Monte Carlo simulation was used in the uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of the parameters. Results showed that Pb concentrations in spinach, tomato, cushaw, lettuce, broad bean, pea, eggplant, and radish exceeded the standards (GB 2762-2017), and 42.86% of soil samples exceeded screening values (GB 15618-2018). The non-carcinogenic risk was as high as 3.58. Vegetables and wheat were the major contributors in the oral ingestion pathway. Furthermore, the carcinogenic risk of preschool children was 6.02E-06, which was acceptable. Monte Carlo simulations showed that health risk assessment results were most likely to be influenced by Pb concentrations in the media. In conclusion, the food safety of vegetables in soil-polluted areas deserves more attention, and certain measures should be taken to reduce the health risks to preschool children.

Assessment of heavy metal pollution and preschool children health risk in urban street dusts from different functional areas in a typical industrial and mining city, NW China.

To assess the pollution characteristics and health risks associated with street dust exposure among preschool children in typical industrial and mining areas, we analyzed heavy metal concentrations of 20 urban street dusts in commercial area (CA), residential area (RA), scientific and educational area (SEA) and industrial and mining area (IMA) from Baiyin, NW China. The average concentrations of Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, As and Hg were 614.96, 484.25, 1757.74, 6868.86, 893.19, 77.62, 1473.99, 15.01 and 0.59 mg·kg-1, respectively. The ecological risk indexes for Cd, Cu and Hg were found as 20,075.20, 1425.07 and 1174.86, respectively, and the ecological risk was extremely high. The pollution load indexes (PLI) were > 1 for all four functional areas. The total hazard index (THI) for different functional areas were more than 1, and the main exposure pathway for children was ingestion route. Heavy metals in street dust of the IMA had the highest THI for children (43.88), and HI of Pb was being most significant (17.38). In addition, the carcinogenic risk to children via the respiratory route was acceptable. Furthermore, factor analysis and cluster analysis classified heavy metals into two groups, indicating common anthropogenic sources for Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, As and Hg. In conclusion, urban street dusts from industrial and mining area of Baiyin, NW China were found polluted by heavy metals and the pollution would pose an obvious non-carcinogenic risk to preschool children.

Improving Knowledge about Children's Environmental Health in Northwest China.

The main purpose of this study was to identify policy maker opinions and attitudes towards children's environmental health (CEH), potential barriers to child-specific protective legislation and implementation in northwest China, and evaluate knowledge and attitudes about CEH before and after an educational conference. We conducted seventy-two interviews with regional officials, researchers and non-governmental organization representatives from five provinces, and surveyed participants (forty-seven) before and after an educational conference in northwest China about CEH. Interviews identified general consensus among participants of the adverse effects of air pollution on children, yet few participants knew of policies to protect them. Barriers identified included limited funding and enforcement, weak regional governments and absence of child-specific policy-making. After the conference, substantially greater self-efficacy was identified for lead, mercury, air pollution and polychlorinated biphenyls (+0.57-0.72 on a 1-5 Likert scale, p = 0.002-0.013), and the scientific knowledge for the role of environment in children's health (+0.58, p = 0.015), and health care provider control (+0.52, p = 0.025) were rated more strongly. We conclude that policy makers in Northwest China appreciate that children are uniquely vulnerable, though additional regulations are needed to account for that vulnerability. Further research should examine effectiveness of the intervention on a larger scale and scope, and evaluate the usefulness of such interventions in translating research into improved care/reduced exposure to environmental hazards.

The Environment and Children's Health Care in Northwest China.

BACKGROUND: Industrialization in the northwest provinces of the People's Republic of China is accelerating rapid increases in early life environmental exposures, yet no publications have assessed health care provider capacity to manage common hazards. METHODS: To assess provider attitudes and beliefs regarding the environment in children's health, determine self-efficacy in managing concerns, and identify common approaches to managing patients with significant exposures or environmentally-mediated conditions, a two-page survey was administered to pediatricians, child care specialists, and nurses in five provinces (Gansu, Shaanxi, Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Ningxia). Descriptive and multivariable analyses assessed predictors of strong self-efficacy, beliefs or attitudes. RESULTS: 960 surveys were completed with <5% refusal; 695 (72.3%) were valid for statistical analyses. The role of environment in health was rated highly (mean 4.35 on a 1-5 scale). Self-efficacy reported with managing lead, pesticide, air pollution, mercury, mold and polychlorinated biphenyl exposures were generally modest (2.22-2.52 mean). 95.4% reported patients affected with 11.9% reporting seeing >20 affected patients. Only 12.0% reported specific training in environmental history taking, and 12.0% reported owning a text on children's environmental health. Geographic disparities were most prominent in multivariable analyses, with stronger beliefs in environmental causation yet lower self-efficacy in managing exposures in the northwestern-most province. CONCLUSIONS: Health care providers in Northwest China have strong beliefs regarding the role of environment in children's health, and frequently identify affected children. Few are trained in environmental history taking or rate self-efficacy highly in managing common hazards. Enhancing provider capacity has promise for improving children's health in the region.

[The status of occupational health of female migrant workers in traditional Chinese medicine, western medicine and bio-pharmaceutical industry in Gansu province].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the status of occupational health of female migrant workers in different kinds of pharmaceutical industries in Gansu province and to provide the basis for improving occupational health condition. METHODS: One thousand eight hundreds and one female workers from 16 enterprises were selected by cluster sampling in Gansu province and investigated by interviewing and questionnaires. RESULTS: There were statistical significances of education level, status of residency registrations, employment relationship and occupational hazards among female workers in three types of enterprises (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The morbidities of skin disease in female workers for three kinds of enterprises were 4.46%, 2.53% and 3.70%, respectively. The morbidities of reproductive system disease in female workers for three kinds of enterprises were 48.57%, 36.70% and 36.11%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The levels of education and working conditions of female workers in the traditional Chinese medicine, western medicine plants are low. There are more severe occupational hazards in female workers of the traditional Chinese medicine plants.