Experts in Vietnam have warned of the risk of lead poisoning in children, including those who live in the city and far from industrial zones.

Not only children who live in villages specializing in recycling lead-base accumulators but also those residing near mines, factories and even in urban cities may get exposed to lead, the pundits stated.

According to Doan Ngoc Hai, chief of the National Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, a research has been conducted by the agency to evaluate the risk of lead poisoning in Vietnamese children.

A survey in Tan Long Commune in Dong Hy District, located in the northern province of Thai Nguyen, showed that 109 out of 209 children between three and 14 years old had blood lead levels higher than the normal rate.

Among them, 105 suffered a mild case of lead poisoning while the other four had medium-scale lead poisoning.

The locality is situated near the Lang Hich lead mine, the study added.

Another research in Phu Xa Ward, Thai Nguyen City, the capital of the namesake province, indicated that 78 out of 180 kids in the same age range were affected by high blood lead levels.

Some water, soil, and food samples collected from the region contained a high lead content, the research stated, adding that the neighborhood was the location where metallurgical operations took place.

According to Lo Van Tung, secretary of the study, the researchers have conducted an examination on the wall paint and toys at two local kindergartens.

The results showed that the paint was safe while some of the toys contained a small amount of lead, Tung said.

“The more colorful the toys are, the higher risk of lead exposure they pose to children,” he elaborated.

According to Hai, lead poisoning can cause anemia in young children and affect their intellectual development progress.

The experts have also studied the use of certain products to accelerate the process of eliminating the metal out of the affected patients.

Children living in the city can also be exposed to lead poisoning from wall paint, toys, and a type of medicine that treats anorexia, Hai warned.

It is recommended that parents be more cautious in selecting toys for their kids to prevent them from being harmed by low quality and high-risk products, the expert said.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!