J Health Pollut

BackgroundIn March 2010, Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders detected an outbreak of acute lead poisoning in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria, linked to low-technology gold ore processing. The outbreak killed more than 400 children 645 years of age in the first half of 2010 and has left more than 2,000 children with permanent disabilities.ObjectivesThe aims of this study were to estimate the statewide prevalence of children 645 years old with elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) in gold ore processing and non-ore-processing communities, and to identify factors associated with elevated blood lead levels in children.MethodsA representative, population-based study of ore processing and non-ore-processing villages was conducted throughout Zamfara in 2012. Blood samples from children, outdoor soil samples, indoor dust samples, and survey data on ore processing activities and other lead sources were collected from 383 children 645 years old in 383 family compounds across 56 villages.Results17.2% of compounds reported that at least one member had processed ore in the preceding 12 months (95% confidence intervals (CI): 9.7, 24.7). The prevalence of BLLs 6510 \ub5g/dL in children 645 years old was 38.2% (95% CI: 26.5, 51.4) in compounds with members who processed ore and 22.3% (95% CI: 17.8, 27.7) in compounds where no one processed ore. Ore processing activities were associated with higher lead concentrations in soil, dust, and blood samples. Other factors associated with elevated BLL were a child\u2019s age and sex, breastfeeding, drinking water from a piped tap, and exposure to eye cosmetics.ConclusionsChildhood lead poisoning is widespread in Zamfara State in both ore processing and non-ore-processing settings, although it is more prevalent in ore processing areas. Although most children\u2019s BLLs were below the recommended level for chelation therapy, environmental remediation and use of safer ore processing practices are needed to prevent further exposures.Patient consentObtainedEthics approvalThe study protocol was approved by the US Centers for Disease Control Institutional Review Board-A and the National Health Research Ethics Committee of Nigeria.Competing InterestsThe authors declare no competing financial interests.CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States2018-02-05T00:00:00Z29416933PMC5798621vault:2623