Trend in blood lead levels in Taiwanese adults 2005-2017

PLoS One. 2021 Dec 2;16(12):e0260744. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260744. eCollection 2021.

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.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Lead / blood*
  • Lead Poisoning / blood
  • Lead Poisoning / epidemiology*
  • Lead Poisoning / etiology
  • Lead Poisoning / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Taiwan / epidemiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Lead

Grants and funding

This study was funded by research grants from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CORPG3K0192 and CMRPG3K2021). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.