Lead exposure to children from consumption of backyard chicken eggs

Journal Article · Thu Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 2018 · Environmental Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVRES.2018.08.013· OSTI ID:23100721

Basra, Komal ^[1]; Ireland, Thomas ^[2]; McDonagh, Alyssa; Ressijac, Catherine ^[3]; Heiger-Bernays, Wendy; Vorhees, Donna ^[1]; Rosenbaum, Marieke ^[3]

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1. Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, 715 Albany St, 4W, Boston, MA 02118 (United States)
2. Boston University College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Earth and Environment, 685 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215 (United States)
3. Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Tufts University, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA 01536 (United States)

Highlights: • Backyard chicken eggs from most households providing egg samples (98%) contained detectable concentrations of lead. • IIn prediction models, backyard egg consumption increased overall blood lead levels in children • Infants < 1 year of age experience the greatest increase in predicted blood lead levels from backyard egg consumption. • Mean household egg lead concentration was strongly positively correlated with coop soil lead concentrations. Backyard chicken ownership is rapidly increasing in urban areas in the United States, largely as a way to provide eggs for household consumption. Despite elevated levels of environmental lead contamination in many US cities, the role of backyard chicken eggs as a pathway for lead exposure, particularly for children, has received limited scrutiny. To characterize lead exposure from consumption of backyard chicken eggs for children and predict related effects on blood lead level (BLL), we conducted a cross-sectional study of backyard chicken owners in the Greater Boston area (n = 51). We interviewed participants regarding egg consumption by household members and collected backyard eggs (n = 201) and coop soil samples (n = 48) for analysis. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to evaluate lead concentration in homogenized eggs and an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) portable device was used to assess soil lead levels in the laboratory. We used the USEPA's Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic Model for Lead in Children (IEUBK) to assess the relative contribution of backyard egg consumption to aggregate BLL in children. Four scenarios were developed in the IEUBK model to address variability in egg consumption rates and egg lead contamination. Lead was detected in egg samples from 98% of the households that provided egg samples. Mean household lead concentration was 0.10 μg/g (SD: 0.18). Egg lead concentrations ranged from below the limit of detection (0.0014 μg/g) to 1.798 μg/g (<1.4–1198 ppb). Egg lead levels were strongly positively correlated with lead concentration in coop soil (r = 0.64; p < 0.001). In modeled scenarios where a child < 7 years frequently ate eggs highly contaminated with lead, BLLs are predicted to increase by 0.9–1.5 μg/dL. In three other scenarios reflecting more moderate egg lead contamination and consumption rates, BLLs were predicted to increase from 0.1 to 0.8 μg/dL. Consumption of backyard chicken eggs can contribute to lead exposure in children. Soil lead remediation prior to chicken ownership may reduce lead exposure from backyard eggs.

• OSTI ID: 23100721
• Journal Information: Environmental Research, Journal Name: Environmental Research Vol. 167; ISSN ENVRAL; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BLOOD
CHICKENS
CONCENTRATION RATIO
CONSUMPTION RATES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FLUORESCENCE
HOUSEHOLDS
ICP MASS SPECTROSCOPY
INFANTS
REMEDIAL ACTION
SOILS
UPTAKE
URBAN AREAS
X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS