The Blood Lead Levels of Children and the Loss of Ca2+ from Neurons Owing to Lead

Abstract

In order to understand current blood lead levels (BLLs), we investigated the BLLs of children in Sichuan Province from 2011 to 2020. We then monitored the treatment effects of calcium in children with high BLLs to assess their treatment status. Finally, we explored the effects of lead on Ca2+ through in-situ experiments. Whole blood samples were used for BLL tests. The BLLs of 76,362 children aged 0–7 years were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry. The median BLL was 35 μg/L (interquartile range: 28–47). The BLLs were significantly higher in boys than in girls (p < 0.001). The BLLs generally decreased annually and increased with age. The overall prevalence of BLLs ≥ 100 μg/L was 1.20%. The children with high BLLs received subsequent check-ups, and the median time required for effective treatment was 18 months. We observed that lead exposure led to a gradual and persistent loss of Ca2+ levels in neurons of mice brain slices, and the effect did not subside immediately even after the lead was removed. China has made rapid progress in pediatric healthcare, but the treatment status remains unsatisfactory. Because lead causes an irreversible loss of Ca2+, there is an urgent need to develop new standardized treatments to reduce the treatment duration.