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Background: With increasing control of lead (Pb) in gasoline, food has emerged as an important secondary pathway for Pb exposure globally. This study assessed Pb levels in food duplicates and blood. Furthermore, it assessed the correlation of Pb in food duplicates and blood Pb levels with common food items taken by pregnant women of Sindh, Pakistan., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2014 to November 2015, in urban (Karachi) and rural (Gambat, Khairpur) area of Sindh-Pakistan. A total of 103 venous blood samples (Karachi = 63 and Gambat = 40) of pregnant women were measured for blood Pb levels at the time of delivery. One month post-delivery, food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was administered and three-day food duplicates (same number of cooked portions of food eaten by women) were collected. Food duplicates were analysed for Pb levels. Multivariable linear regression was conducted to identify the frequency of food items which contribute to blood and food Pb levels of pregnant women, separately., Results: With 90% confidence interval, chapati (local flat bread) (β=0.20, p<0.001), boiled rice (β=0.35, p<0.001), cooked root vegetables (β= 0.16, p=0.03), fried savory items (β=0.15, p=0.03), sweet snacks (β=0.13, p=0.08) were positively associated with elevated mother blood Pb levels. While cream biscuits (β =-0.14, p=0.04), lassi (blend of yogurt, water and spices) (β= -0.31, p<0.01), market milk desserts (β=-0.22, p<0.001), fish (β= -0.16, p=0.02), soft drinks (β= -0.19, p=0.01) and supari/gutka (betel-nut) (β=-0.13, p= 0.06) were negatively associated with mother Pb levels. Tetra-pak market juices (β= 0.30, p<0.001) and cooked root vegetables (β=0.19, p=0.05) were positively associated with mother food Pb levels, at 90% CI., Conclusions: Bread, boiled rice, fried savoury items, sweet snacks and cooked root vegetables were contributing to blood Pb levels of pregnant women in Pakistan. These food items may be contaminated with Pb during processing, packaging and storage. Inverse relation of Supari/gutka and soft drinks with blood Pb levels may be due its overall reduction in absorption capacity of the gut for nutrients. Objective individual food item analysis for Pb is warranted for further intervention.

Lead exposure is associated with impaired neurodevelopment among children. House dust is recognized as one of the important secondary sources of lead exposure in children. We assessed the relationship between lead contamination in house dust and blood lead level in Pakistani children. We investigated lead contamination in house dust samples collected from 59 houses in Karachi, Pakistan. The lead content of house dust in Pakistan was relatively higher than that reported in previous studies. Weekly lead intakes from house dust were considerably higher among Pakistani children. In Pakistani children, 12% (7 of 58) showed lead intake values greater than the previous Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake of lead. A correlation (Pearson's correlation = 0.37) was found between weekly lead intake from house dust and blood lead level in Pakistani children. In addition, blood lead levels were significantly higher in children with high lead intakes than in children with low and medium lead intakes. Thus, house dust is an important source of lead exposure in Pakistani children.

Lead (Pb) in petrol has been banned in developed countries. Despite the control of Pb in petrol since 2001, high levels were reported in the blood of pregnant women and children in Pakistan. However, the identification of sources of Pb has been elusive due to its pervasiveness. In this study, we assessed the lead intake of pregnant women and one- to three-year-old children from food, water, house dust, respirable dust, and soil. In addition, we completed the fingerprinting of the Pb isotopic ratios (LIR) of petrol and secondary sources (food, house-dust, respirable dust, soil, surma (eye cosmetics)) of exposure within the blood of pregnant women, newborns, and children. Eight families, with high (~50 μg/dL), medium (~20 μg/dL), and low blood levels (~10 μg/dL), were selected from 60 families. The main sources of exposure to lead for children were food and house-dust, and those for pregnant women were soil, respirable dust, and food. LIR was determined by inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-QMS) with a two sigma uncertainty of ±0.03%. The LIR of mothers and newborns was similar. In contrast, surma , and to a larger extent petrol, exhibited a negligible contribution to both the child's and mother's blood Pb. Household wet-mopping could be effective in reducing Pb exposure. This intake assessment could be replicated for other developing countries to identify sources of lead and the burden of lead exposure in the population.

Adverse health effects of heavy metals are a public health concern, especially lead may cause negative health impacts to human fetal and infantile development. The lead concentrations in Pakistani pregnant women's nails, used as a biomarker, were measured to estimate the lead exposure. Thirteen nail samples out of 84 nails analyzed contained lead higher than the concentration (13.6 μg/g) of the fatal lead poisoning case, raising the possibility of an external contamination. Eye cosmetics such as surma are recognized as one of the important sources of lead exposure in Pakistan. We collected in Pakistan 30 eye cosmetics made in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and western countries. As the metal composition analysis by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry revealed that some surma samples contained lead more than 96%, the surma might contaminate the nail specimen. Scanning electron microscopy observations showed that lead-containing surma consists of fine particle of galena (ore of lead sulfide) in respirable dust range (less than 10 μm). In addition, relative in vitro bioavailability of lead in the surma was determined as 5.2%. Thus, lead-containing surma consists of inhalable and bioavailable particles, and it contributes an increased risk of lead exposure. Moreover, the relationship between the surma and the lead-contaminated nails by lead isotope ratios analysis indicated the potential of lead contamination in nails by surma. These results suggest that lead in the nails was derived both from body burden of lead and external contamination by lead-containing surma. Therefore, nail is not suited as a biomarker for lead exposure in the countries where surma used, because we may overestimate lead exposure by surface lead contamination in the nail by surma., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Exposure assessment of lead (Pb) and Arsenic (As) from food, water, and house dust intake were assessed among pregnant women, their children and fetuses in Pakistan and Japan, as well as their body burden of the metals in their blood., Method: Fifty families which included a pregnant woman, a fetus and the 1-3-year-old siblings were recruited in Karachi and Khairpur in Pakistan, and Shimotsuke and Asahikawa in Japan, respectively. Their dietary exposure to Pb and As was measured in 3-day food duplicates and drinking water by ICP-MP. Pb in house dust and respirable dust was evaluated with an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Non-radioactive isotope Pb profiles of blood specimens will be compared with those of the exposure origins, such as food duplicates, respirable house dust, the soils nearby, and gasoline., Results: Judging from the data collected and analyzed so far, contribution from dietary intake is highly correlated to higher body burden of Pb among Pakistani mothers. Additional data analyses will reveal the status of Pb and As body burden in Pakistani mothers, fetuses and their siblings, and causal sources of high body burden is delineated by Pb isotope profile analysis of different sources of Pb exposure.

Aim: Exposure assessment of lead (Pb) and Arsenic (As) from food, water, and house dust intake were assessed among pregnant women, their children and fetuses in Pakistan and Japan, as well as their body burden of the metals in their blood.Method: Fifty families which included a pregnant woman, a fetus and the 1-3-year-old siblings were recruited in Karachi and Khairpur in Pakistan, and Shimotsuke and Asahikawa in Japan, respectively. Their dietary exposure to Pb and As was measured in 3-day food duplicates and drinking water by ICP-MP. Pb in house dust and respirable dust was evaluated with an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Non-radioactive isotope Pb profiles of blood specimens will be compared with those of the exposure origins, such as food duplicates, respirable house dust, the soils nearby, and gasoline.Results: Judging from the data collected and analyzed so far, contribution from dietary intake is highly correlated to higher body burden of Pb among Pakistani mothers. Additional data analyses will reveal the status of Pb and As body burden in Pakistani mothers, fetuses and their siblings, and causal sources of high body burden is delineated by Pb isotope profile analysis of different sources of Pb exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Lead is a toxic metal. Cosmetic products have been implicated as potential source of exposure to lead, particularly in South Asia and Middle East. We analyzed the lead concentration in 'surma' and related cosmetic products used in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. METHODS: 33 cosmetic samples were bought from the market of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The cosmetic products which make the large respective market share were purposely chosen. The products originated from Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Germany, France, Italy and England. The samples were analyzed by metallic composition analysis by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. RESULTS: Of the total 33 samples 6 had lead content in them. Four (4) samples had extremely high lead levels ranging from 96-99%. Samples with high lead levels were popular brands originated from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. CONCLUSION: Lead containing cosmetics has potential to increase the risk for women, her newborn and young child in South Asia. A policy need to be devised to put a ban on cosmetics containing lead. A market survey of all cosmetic products should be conducted and regularly monitoring is required to curb this menace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Exposure to lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) during pregnancy and early life adversely affect the neuropsychological development of the children. The exposure levels and the dose at which adverse health effects occur are not known for Pb and As in developing countries to set population based standards and policies. OBJECTIVES: Health risk assessment for Pb and As among lactating mothers, newborns and young children (1-3 year old) by estimating provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI) and provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI). METHODS: Total of 100 triplets comprising of mother, newborn and young child are being enrolled, 50 from Karachi (urban) and 50 from Gambat (rural) sites in Sindh. Exposure assessment will be the the level of Pb and As from mother's blood, hair and nails, placenta and cord blood for the newborn, and child's blood. In addition, environmental samples of air, house dust and water, and food duplicate samples for 3 days is being collected. Outcome assessment will be the maternal and newborn DNA (CD 34 cells) will be extracted to assess changes in epigenes. Bayley's III assessment will be done for assessing child development. CONCLUSION: Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes (PTWIs) and Provisional Tolerable Daily Intakes (PTDIs) recommended by the FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) will be compared and standards and policies will be devised based on available information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]