Lead Poisoning Can Impair Intellectual Growth Of Children
By Chow Kum Hor
26 February 2001
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sun. – Lead poisoning arising from pollution, already pervasive among Malaysians, is impairing intellectual growth of children, especially in urban areas, a local environmental scientist said.
Hospital University Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Associate Professor Dr Jamal Hisham Hasim said studies had shown that even low levels of lead is toxic to the nervous system and can affect the intelligence quotient (IQ) of children.
“At worst, lead poisoning is fatal. Lead in the blood system can also cause kidney and brain damage, nervous breakdown and hypertension,” Jamal said.
According to a 1998 survey, 27.8 per cent of pregnant women who delivered at Hospital Kuala Lumpur had excessive levels of lead in their blood system. Under international standards, blood lead levels higher than 10 microgramme per decilitre of blood is considered as high risk.
Jamal said although the study was done a few years ago and involved only 97 women, an ongoing, more extensive research also appeared to paint the same picture. However, he refused to divulge the initial findings of the ongoing study except to say it would be completed by the end of the year.
Jamal’s research also revealed that blood samples from all respondents including those in the rural areas suffer from varying degrees of lead poisoning. He said lead not only served no purpose inside the human body but is also dangerous.
“Lead poisoning is pervasive among Malaysians. Although it is not severe, we should not let it deteriorate,” the lecturer added.
About 71 per cent of lead poisoning can be traced to air pollution and 29 per cent from the food Malaysians consume. “Although leaded petrol has been phased out since 1999, there are still particles in the air containing lead. Lead cannot be destroyed,” said. This was why people in urban areas were in the high risk group.
Lead is also used in making paint for pigmentation purposes but when the paint at home peels off, particles containing the metal can contaminate residents in the house.
Malaysians are also exposed through food as some vegetables grown just outside cities could be contaminated by lead particles in the air.
Jamal added that children living in urban areas but come from poor families were at higher risk as they suffer from lack of calcium and iron, making them more susceptible in absorbing lead. Even an unborn baby can suffer from lead poisoning through its mother.
The government, Jamal said, should come out with a comprehensive policy to address not only lead poisoning but also other forms of pollution from pesticide, cadmium and cancer causing substances.
Source: New Straits Times
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