A Survey of Blood Lead Levels in Pregnant Women attending two Public Prenatal Clinics in Nairobi City, Kenya

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dc.contributor.authorOdhiambo, Owago* Joshua
dc.contributor.authorMurungi, Jane
dc.contributor.authorLang’at-Thoruwa, Caroline
dc.date.accessioned2023-03-13T13:35:49Z
dc.date.available2023-03-13T13:35:49Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.descriptionarticleen_US
dc.description.abstractExposure to lead remains an under-recognized public health problem in the developing countries such as Kenya despite well documented toxic effects of the metal at elevated blood levels. The objective of the study was to measure the blood lead levels in pregnant women of Nairobi city so as to assess the extent of exposure of the subjects to the toxic heavy metal and to evaluate the toxicological significance of the findings. Blood lead levels (BLLs) of 223 women in Nairobi City: 152 from Eastleigh Clinic and 71 from Pumwani maternity hospital were examined. The two public hospitals serve mainly disadvantaged communities. Overall BLLs ranged from non-detectable (nd) or zero to 295.0 μg dL-1. Women from Eastleigh clinic had slightly higher mean BLL than those from Pumwani (29.5μg dL-1 vs 25.9μg dL-1) but Student t-test found no significant difference between them (t-stat=0.80; df=186; p>0.05). The blood lead levels were above typically cited as average and may pose threat to the mothers and fetuses, as 70.4 % samples had values greater than 10 μg dL -1 (the US Centers for Disease Control cut off level for raised blood lead level in children and pregnant women). Clearly this work gives additional urgency to Kenyan efforts to reduce and prevent lead exposure to her population and provides a rationale for deeper investigation to identify sources of exposure in the country. A periodic surveillance of blood lead levels in vulnerable individuals such as children, pregnant women and occupationally exposed individuals is advocated.[Journal of American Science 2009:5(3) 41-51] ( ISSN: 1545-1003)en_US
dc.identifier.citationOdhiambo, O.J., Murungi, J., Lang'at-Thorwa, C. (2009). A Survey of Blood Lead Levels in Pregnant Women attending two Public Prenatal Clinics in Nairobi City, Kenya, 51.en_US
dc.identifier.issn1545-1003
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/24949
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherMarsland Pressen_US
dc.subjectBlood lead levelsen_US
dc.subjectpregnant womenen_US
dc.subjecthealth risken_US
dc.subjectNairobi Cityen_US
dc.titleA Survey of Blood Lead Levels in Pregnant Women attending two Public Prenatal Clinics in Nairobi City, Kenyaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
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