BACKGROUND Childhood lead poisoning has not made the list of national public health priorities in Lebanon. This study aims at identifying the prevalence and risk factors for elevated blood lead concentrations (B-Pb >or= 100 microg/L) among 1-3 year old children. It also examines the need for universal blood lead screening. METHODS This is a cross-sectional study of 281 well children, presenti...

BACKGROUND Lead (Pb) is a toxic element that occurs in elevated concentrations in soils, mostly as a result of anthropogenic activities. This study assess the Pb bioavailability in soils from two areas with different contamination level using Diffusive Gradients in Thin-Films (DGT) technique, single extractions and metal contents of vegetables grown on contaminated soils. RESULTS In the area ...

INTRODUCTION To assess the salivary composition of proteins and minerals in smokers compared with non-smokers. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study we compared the total protein and Ca, Na, K, Mg, Pb of whole saliva in two groups of men (28 smokers and 31nonsmokers) aged between 29-41years. RESULTS Fifty-nine participants were evaluated. The mean age was 33.14±5.32 years among smokers and 32...

Blood lead among pregnant women, even at modest levels, may impair offspring cognitive development. We examine whether blood lead levels (BLLs) result from current versus historic exposures, among a cohort of pregnant women. Cumulative logit models were used to characterize the relationship between maternal risk factors and higher BLLs. Maternal blood lead levels more likely result from lead re...

INTRODUCTION Phrenic nerve stimulation (PNS) could be prevented by a silastic patch over the epicardial lead. We studied the effects in preventing PNS by placing a silastic patch directly over an epicardial lead or placing a graft around the phrenic nerve (PN). METHODS AND RESULTS Fourteen Lanyu swine were enrolled. A bipolar lead was placed epicardially on the left ventricle (LV) inferior to...

Geogenic and anthropogenic activities introduce certain metals into the environment which tend to deteriorate the quality of both surface and groundwater in the Bosomtwe Crater Lake and its surroundings. In this study spatio-temporal variations in concentrations and risk assessment of selected trace metals (As, Fe, Pb, Zn, Cr, Cd and Ni) were investigated during the wet and dry seasons for surf...

The aims of this study were to determine Cd and Pb contents in wild mushrooms from the eastern region of the “Green Lungs” of Poland (GLP), compare them to Cd and Pb contents in some popular species of cultivated mushrooms, and evaluate mushroom contribution to the daily intake of Cd and Pb. Trace elements were determined in 21 species of edible mushrooms: 18 species of wild mushrooms and 3 spe...