Hair Lead Levels as an Alternative Indicator to Measure Lead Level in Children Body

Informal recycling of lead-acid batteries produces uncontrollable pollution with a negative impact on health, particularly for children living near recycling areas. This study aimed to determine the correlation between blood lead levels (BLL), the gold standard to measure lead levels in human body, and hair head levels (PbH) as an alternative indicator. The study was conducted in 2014 as part of environmental pollution research. The research was focused on informal recycling of lead-acid batteries with cross-sectional design involving children (aged 7 to 13 years) who lived close to lead-acid battery recycling activities in Depok City, Indonesia. Blood lead level was measured using anodic stripping voltammetry method and hair lead level using atomic absorption spectrometry. The measurements resulted in an average BLL of 8.22 µg/dL and PbH of 8.23 µg/g. The correlation between blood level and hair level is strong with coefficient correlation of 0.543 (p<0.05). The linear equation displays a positive pattern (y=1,573x-4,705), suggesting that when BLL increases, PbH increases as well. Hair lead levels can be used as an alternative indicator to measure lead levels in children.