Lead exposure among the general population of Duhok governorate, Kurdistan region, Iraq

This study was carried out to establish baseline data on lead exposure in a sample of the general population from Duhok governorate, Iraq in 2011. A cross-sectional study was made of blood lead levels of 820 individuals and of dust and of air lead levels in urban, suburban and rural residential areas. Mean blood lead (BPb) value in the overall sample was 7.3 (SD 2.8) μg/dL, range 1.6–17.0 μg/dL; significant differences were found with respect to age, area of residence, altitude and distance from a gasoline generator. The prevalence of toxic levels of lead (BPb 10 μg/dL) was 22.8% overall and 2.4% in children. People living in suburban areas (39.7%) and 50 m from a gasoline generator (93.1%) were exposed to high environmental lead levels. A linear relationship was found between BPb and air lead levels (r = 0.8). While lead exposure does not constitute a great health problem for adults in our community, 2.4% of the children had toxic lead levels and measures to reduce exposure to environmental heavy metals should be considered.