In Vietnam IPENer CGFED finds high lead levels on walls in preschools and children’s homes and in children’s toys
CGFED surveyed lead contamination in toy paint and blood lead concentrations of children of Hai Phu preschool, Hai Hau district, Nam Dinh province. Lead content in 15 paint samples collected at schools and households were determined by EPA 3052 SMEWW 3125 B:2012 ICP-MS method; 16 samples of preschool toys were measured by X-MET 8.000A – Oxford portable fluorescent device; blood lead concentration of 30 childrens were determined by the ICP-MS method.
The results showed that 40% (6/15) paint samples collected from walls and households contained lead exceeding the allowed standard, the highest sample with a lead level of 852.05mg/kg. Paint samples in hot colors (red, yellow) had lead contents higher than the permitted standard and higher than blue paint samples.
37.5% (6/16) of toy samples contained lead, with the highest being 4895ppm and 193 ppm. In the six toy samples containing lead, wooden toy samples covered by paint (4 samples) had higher lead levels than plastic toy samples (2 samples).
The average blood lead level for children was 2.87 ± 1.22 μg/dL, lower than the CDC’s recommendation. No children have lead poisoning according to the Vietnam Ministry of Health’s Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of lead poisoning (a blood lead level >10 μg/dL).
The above results show that in rural areas, where people mainly work in agriculture, children are less likely to be exposed to lead from production activities. Children are also less likely to be exposed to lead due to their households’ routines.