Trend in blood lead levels in Taiwanese adults 2005-2017

Abstract

This study examined the trend of blood lead levels (BLLs) in Taiwanese adults and analyzed the variations in the BLL between Linkou (northern) and Kaohsiung (southern) hospital branches. Between 2005 and 2017, 3,804 adult participants received blood lead tests at the Linkou (n = 2,674) and Kaohsiung (n = 1,130) branches of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. The geometric mean of BLL was 2.77 μg/dL. The adult participants from the Kaohsiung branch were not only age older (49.8±14.1 versus 39.4±14.2 years; P<0.001) and male predominant (65.8 versus 41.7%; P<0.001) but also showed a higher BLL (4.45±3.93 versus 2.82±2.42 μg/dL; P<0.001) and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (87.62±25.94 versus 93.67±23.88; P<0.001) than those from the Linkou branch. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the Kaohsiung branch [odds ratio (OR): 7.143; 95% confident interval (CI): 5.682-8.929; P<0.001], older age (OR: 1.008; 95% CI: 1.000-1.015; P = 0.043) and reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (OR: 1.009; 95% CI: 1.004-1.014; P = 0.001) were significant predictors for BLL > 5 μg/dL. Therefore, this study confirmed a continuous decreasing trend in the BLL in Taiwan after banning leaded petrol in 2000.

Fig 1. Trend of blood lead levels (BLLs).

The figure shows the trend of BLLs in Taiwanese adult, 2005–2017. The differences between the means of BLLs in each year were examined by one-way analysis of variance test. A significant continuous decreasing trend (P < 0.001) was noted. Furthermore, the mean BLLs of the Kaohsiung branch were higher than those of the Linkou branch throughout the indicated periods [odds ratio (OR): 7.882; 95% CI (confident interval): 5.682–8.929].

Fig 2

a. Trend of patients with blood lead levels (BLLs) > 5 μg/dL. b. Trend of patients with blood lead levels (BLLs) > 10 μg/dL.