Health risk assessment for children due to lead exposure in some region of China

In the present study, mild mental retardation (MMR) rates for Chinese children in some regions were assessed based on the distribution of blood lead levels in Chinese children and a non-thresholdren dose-response curve. And then the corresponding disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were calculated using the MMR rate and the life timetable. Based on the data collected, the geometric mean (GM) and the geometric standard deviation (GSD) of blood lead levels in Chinese children were 5.94 μg/dL and 1.58 μg/dL, respectively. The rate higher than safety value of exposure for children in China was 12.74% and the corresponding MMR rate and DALYs were 0.78% and 0.1a, respectively. These results showed that the risk in Chinese children was lower than Africa, South America and partial Mideast, and similar with other Asian countries, expect for Japan, but much higher than North America and Europe.