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. 2006 Jun;114(6):917-22.
doi: 10.1289/ehp.8339.

Childhood lead exposure in the palestinian authority, Israel, and Jordan: results from the Middle Eastern regional cooperation project, 1996-2000

Jamal Safi  1 , Alf Fischbein, Sameer El Haj, Ramzi Sansour, Madi Jaghabir, Mohammed Abu Hashish, Hassan Suleiman, Nimer Safi, Abed Abu-Hamda, Joyce K Witt, Efim Platkov, Steven Reingold, Amber Alayyan, Tamar Berman, Matti Bercovitch, Yogesh Choudhri, Elihu D Richter
Affiliations

Childhood lead exposure in the palestinian authority, Israel, and Jordan: results from the Middle Eastern regional cooperation project, 1996-2000

Jamal Safi et al. Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Jun.

Abstract

In the Middle East, the major sources of lead exposure have been leaded gasoline, lead-contaminated flour from traditional stone mills, focal exposures from small battery plants and smelters, and kohl (blue color) in cosmetics. In 1998-2000, we measured blood lead (PbB) levels in children 2-6 years of age in Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority (n = 1478), using a fingerstick method. Mean (peak; percentage > 10 microg/dL) PbB levels in Israel (n = 317) , the West Bank (n = 344), Jordan (n = 382) , and Gaza (n = 435) were 3.2 microg/dL (18.2 ; 2.2%) , 4.2 microg/dL (25.7; 5.2%), 3.2 microg/dL (39.3; < 1%) , and 8.6 microg/dL (> 80.0; 17.2%), respectively. High levels in Gaza were all among children living near a battery factory. The findings, taken together with data on time trends in lead emissions and in PbB in children in previous years, indicate the benefits from phasing out of leaded gasoline but state the case for further reductions and investigation of hot spots. The project demonstrated the benefits of regional cooperation in planning and carrying out a jointly designed project.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PbB levels in children in Gaza (excluding children with PbB > 60). Mean ± SD = 7.75 ± 6.8 μg/dL; n = 427.
Figure 2
Figure 2
PbB levels in children in Israel. Mean ± SD = 3.2 ± 2.32 μg/dL; n = 318.
Figure 3
Figure 3
PbB levels in children in the West Bank. Mean ± SD = 4.2 ± 3.36 μg/dL; n = 344.
Figure 4
Figure 4
PbB levels in children in Jordan. Mean = 3.2 μg/dL; n = 382.
Figure 5
Figure 5
ZPP levels in children in Israel. Mean ± SD = 47.5 ± 25.10 (μmol/mol heme); n = 318.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Lead emissions and PbB levels in children in Israel, 1982–1999. R2 = 0.8575. an = 44 children in Haifa (mean = 12.4 μg/dL). bn = 206 children in East Jerusalem (mean = 7.2 μg/dL). cn = 94 children in Netanya (mean = 5.0 μg/dL). dn = 30 infants in Druze village, non-kohl users (mean = 4.3 μg/dL). en = 317 in Israel (mean = 3.2 μg/dL). Data from Fischbeinet al. (1996); Nir et al. (1992); Richter et al. (1986); Statistical Abstract of Israel (2004).
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