Prevalence of Lead Toxicity in Adolescents in Kuwait

Abstract Background: Environmental lead (Pb) exposure is a public health problem in many developing and industrialized countries. Being a petrochemical industry-based economy, Pb levels are expected to be high in Kuwait but systematic data on population exposure are lacking. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of Pb toxicity in adolescents in Kuwait.Methods: Adolescents (N=1385; age range 11-16 years) were cross-sectionally selected from public middle schools from all Governorates of Kuwait, utilizing multi-stage cluster random sampling. Pb in whole blood was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Pb levels among Governorates and genders were compared by median test and the prevalence of Pb levels above the CDC cutoff (≥5 µg/dL) was estimated by x2 test. Multiple logistic regression was used for association between prevalence of high Pb levels and Governorate.Results: Median (IQR) Pb was 5.1(3.6 – 7.1) µg/dL [4.9 (3.8 6.5) µg/dL in males and 5.4 (3.3-7.6) µg/dL in females; p=0.001]. In the overall sample, 51% had Pb levels ≥5 µg/dL; 13% were ≥10 µg/dL and 3% >20 µg/dL. Prevalence of Pb ≥5 µg/dL was 47% in males and 56% in females (p<0.001). High Pb levels were clustered in Al-Asima and Al-Ahmadi (in both genders); Al-Jahra (in males) and Mubarak Al-Kabeer (in females) Governorates.Conclusion: Pb exposure is a significant public health problem in adolescents in Kuwait. Urgent public health intervention is required in high Pb exposure areas and further research is needed to identify the sources of exposure in these areas for prevention.