Blood-Lead Monitoring Exposure to Leaded-Gasoline among School Children in Jakarta, Indonesia 2005
Abstract: Leaded-gasoline has
been used as major octane booster of motor vehicles’ gasoline in Indonesia
since decades ago, except in Jakarta, Batam and Bali where it had not been used
from 2001, 2003 and 2004, respectively. Negative effects of lead, such as
decreasing of IQ, hearing, growth, and hemoglobin level, then will still be
threatening and may continue in the future. Meanwhile, the prolonged lead
exposure occurs in the may have more dangerous human health effects to
children. The Jakarta blood-lead study in 2001 showed that 35% elementary
school children have blood lead levels (BLLs) more than 10 µg/dl, and 2.4% had
BLL more than 20 µg/dl (CDC-USAEP 2001). The objective of this study is to
assess the blood lead level of elementary school children in Jakarta urban area
in 2005 by evaluating the mean blood lead level of 3rd and 4th grade elementary
school children in Jakarta urban area. A cross-sectional survey was implemented
to achieve the above objective. The study was conducted in January-February
2005. Portable LeadCare and Hemocue were used to analyze blood-lead and blood
hemoglobin (Hb) respectively from children finger blood on site. All of the 20
selected elementary schools agreed to participate in the test. A total of 203
students were allowed by their parents to participate in the test. The overall
average for Hb-blood level is 12.6 g/dl and for Pb-blood level is 4.2 µg/dl.
Percentage of those children with Pb-blood equal and more than 10 µg/dl is
1.3%. The declining Pb-blood prevalence from 2001 study obviously reflects the
success of Leaded-gasoline phase-out program in Jakarta. It means that the
program is successful in preventing people exposed to leadedgasoline in
Jakarta, especially children, from the risk of lead toxicity and its impacts.
Thus, the program of phasing-out of leaded-gasoline should be expanded and
implemented to all Indonesian provinces and cities in order to avoid lead
exposure to people.
Author: Budi Haryanto
Journal Code: jpkesmasdd070083