Lead Exposure and Associated Risk Factors among New Migrant Children Arriving in Greece

Marsela Tanaka, Konstantinos Petsios, Stavroula K. Dikalioti, Stavroula Poulopoulou, Vassiliki Matziou, Stamatios Theocharis and Ioanna D. Pavlopoulou
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Marsela Tanaka: Pediatric Clinic, “P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Faculty of Nursing, Thivon & Levadeias str., Athens 11527, Greece
Konstantinos Petsios: Department of Nursing Research, Onassis Cardiosurgical Center, 356 Sygrou Avenue, Athens 17674, Greece
Stavroula K. Dikalioti: Pediatric Clinic, “P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Faculty of Nursing, Thivon & Levadeias str., Athens 11527, Greece
Stavroula Poulopoulou: Department of Statistics, Athens University of Economy & Business, 76 Patission str., Athens 10434, Greece
Vassiliki Matziou: Pediatric Clinic, “P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Faculty of Nursing, Thivon & Levadeias str., Athens 11527, Greece
Stamatios Theocharis: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 M. Asias str., Athens 11527, Greece
Ioanna D. Pavlopoulou: Pediatric Clinic, “P. & A. Kyriakou” Children’s Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Faculty of Nursing, Thivon & Levadeias str., Athens 11527, Greece

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 6, 1-10

Abstract: Background: This study aims to assess lead exposure and associated risk factors among newly arrived migrant (M) (immigrant and refugees) children in Greece and a matched control of native (N) children. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study was performed in an outpatient clinic of a tertiary children’s hospital. Results: From 2010 to 2014, 598 children (M/N: 349/249) with a mean age of 6.96 years old (range 1–14, SD 3.76) were enrolled. Blood lead levels (BLLs) ranged from 0.7 to 21 μg/dL in migrant and from 0.4 to 10 μg/dL in native Greek children. Elevated BLLs ≥ 5 μg/dL were detected in 27.7% of migrants and 1.2% of natives ( p < 0.001). A significant association was found between EBLLs and childrens’ age (≤5 years) (OR: 1.8, p -value 0.02) and EBLLs with Asian origin (OR: 3.63, p -value 0.023). Conclusion: New migrant children presented with increased BLLs when compared to their age- and sex-matched controls. Younger age and Asian origin were significant risk factors associated with elevated BLLs among children. Early screening, secondary prevention, and regular follow-up could prove useful in this vulnerable population.

Keywords: blood lead levels; children; immigrants; refugees (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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