Blood-Lead Monitoring Exposure to Leaded-Gasoline among School Children in Jakarta, Indonesia 2005

Leaded-gasoline has been used as major octane booster of motor vehicles’ gasoline in Indonesia since decades ago, except in Jakarta, Batam, and Bali where it had not been used from 2001, 2003, and 2004 respectively. Negative effects of lead, such as decreasing of IQ, hearing, growth, and hemoglobin level, then will still be threatening and may continue in the future. Meanwhile, the prolonged lead exposure occurs in the may have more dangerous human health effects to children. The Jakarta blood-lead study in 2001 showed that 35% elementary school children have blood lead levels (BLLs) more than 10 µg/dl and 2,4% had BLL more than 20 µg/dl (CDC-USAEP 2001). The objective of this study is to assess the blood lead level of elementary school children in Jakarta urban area in 2005 by evaluating the mean blood lead level of 3rd and 4th grade elementary school children in Jakarta urban area. A cross-sectional survey was implemented to achieve the above objective. The study was conducted in January-February 2005. Portable Lead Care and Hemocue were used to analyze blood-lead and blood hemoglobin (Hb) respectively from children finger blood on site. All of the 20 selected elementary schools agreed to participate in the test. A total of 203 students were allowed by their parents to participate in the test. The overall average for Hb-blood level is 12,6 g/dl and for Pb-blood level is 4,2 µg/dl. Percentage of those children with Pb-blood equal and more than 10 µg/dl is 1,3%. The declining Pb-blood prevalence from 2001 study obviously reflects the success of Leaded-gasoline phase-out program in Jakarta. It means that the program is successful in preventing people exposed to leadedgasoline in Jakarta, especially children from the risk of lead toxicity and its impacts. Thus, the program of phasing-out of leaded-gasoline should be expanded and implemented to all Indonesian provinces and cities in order to avoid lead exposure to people. Key words: Air quality, blood-lead levels, children health effects