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Dong J, Li X, Kelly FJ, Mudway I. Lead exposure in Chinese children: Urbanization lowers children's blood lead levels (BLLs). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 923:170910. [PMID: 38354817 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Lead is a toxic metal that can pose a huge threat to children's health. China has experienced rapid urbanization since the reform in 1978; however, there has been no examination of the potential influence of this urbanization on children's blood lead levels (BLLs). This study is the initial investigation to explore the correlation between urbanization and BLLs in Chinese children. Five windows of time are considered: pre-2000, 2001-2005, 2006-2010, 2011-2015 and 2016-2021. The results show that urbanization affected lead distribution in urban soil and agricultural soil during the above periods, especially in northern China. The higher non-carcinogenic risk of lead for children is consistent with the lead pollution in soil (3 < Igeo ≤ 4). Urban children's BLLs are slightly higher than those of rural children in 2001-2010, but rural children's BLLs in 2011-2021 are higher than those of urban children during China's urbanization. The areas of rural decline and the areas of urban growth increased across all the window periods. However, the BLLs decrease in all rural and urban areas during all window periods, especially in urban areas. Children's BLLs have a significantly negative correlation with urban areas (p < 0.01). Therefore, China's urbanization has a significant effect on the decrease in children's BLLs. The significance of this study is to provide a fresh perspective and innovative strategy for policymaking in order to reduce children's BLLs and prevent lead exposure. This can be achieved by transforming their external living environment from a rural lifestyle to an urban one, while also ensuring access to well education and maintaining a balanced nutrient intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Dong
- Department of Environmental Science, School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, PR China; International Joint Research Centre of Shaanxi Province for Pollutant Exposure and Eco-environmental Health, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, PR China
| | - Xiaoping Li
- Department of Environmental Science, School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, PR China; International Joint Research Centre of Shaanxi Province for Pollutant Exposure and Eco-environmental Health, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710062, PR China; MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Environmental Research Group, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK.
| | - Frank J Kelly
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Environmental Research Group, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Units in Environmental Exposures and Health, and Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Ian Mudway
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Environmental Research Group, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Units in Environmental Exposures and Health, and Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Das N, Ghosh R, Sutradhar S, Sana RI, Ghosh C, Maji G. Spatial transformation of land use and land cover and identification of hotspots using geospatial technology: a case of major industrial zone of eastern India. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 196:69. [PMID: 38123872 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-12214-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Technology-driven population expansion is closely linked to land use change. Unregulated mining, urbanization, industrialization, and forest clearing threaten land use and cover. This study used GIS and statistical methods to examine land use and cover changes in eastern India's Asansol-Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA). The Kappa coefficient was used to validate each year's LULC map accuracy. This region is changing rapidly due to industrial and urban development, which might cause environmental issues. Thus, this area is ideal for a scientific land-use change study. The central hypothesis of this study is that the LULC of an industrial area is spatially heterogeneous and that the number of hotspots is gradually increasing in response to the dynamicity of land use change over time and space. Three years (1992, 2007, and 2022) were used to determine the estimated transition rate. Hotspots of land use change were identified using autocorrelation statistics for LULC clustering using Moron's I and Gi Z statistics. The proportion of land encompassed by natural vegetation experienced a decline from 12% in 1992 to 4% in 2022. Similarly, the extent of land occupied by agricultural activities decreased from 47 to 38% during the period spanning from 1992 to 2022. The industrial and coal mining sectors experienced a modest growth rate of 1% during the period spanning from 1992 to 2022. If the current rate of land use change persists, it will gradually and consistently alter the existing landscape. This study's findings can potentially inform strategies to mitigate the adverse impacts of industrialization and urbanization on the region's natural resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niladri Das
- Department of Geography, Hiralal Bhakat College, Nalhati, West Bengal, 731220, India.
| | - Ranajit Ghosh
- Department of Geography, Suri Vidyasagar College, Birbhum, Suri, West Bengal, 731101, India
| | - Subhasish Sutradhar
- Department of Geography, Raiganj University, Uttar Dinajpur, Raiganj, West Bengal, 733134, India
| | - Rejaul Islam Sana
- Department of Geography, Hiralal Bhakat College, Nalhati, West Bengal, 731220, India
| | - Chandan Ghosh
- Department of Geography, Hiralal Bhakat College, Nalhati, West Bengal, 731220, India
| | - Gosai Maji
- Department of Geography, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, West Bengal, 731235, India
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