AIHA recommends ways to prevent lead poisoning among children in developing countries
The American Industrial Hygiene Association® (AIHA) has issued recommendations to prevent lead poisoning among children in developing nations, based on a case study of lead contamination conditions in several countries in Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia. The recommendations, in the form of a reference document, identify methods to promote safe and healthy communities and improve understanding among international experts in environmental and public health programs involving lead poisoning in children.
“Childhood lead poisoning is a serious problem that in the last few decades has significantly changed its geographical focus,” said Andrey Korchevskiy, PhD, director of research and development at Chemical and Industrial Hygiene, Inc., in Wheat Ridge, Colo.
“In developed countries, the situation has been managed successfully, but in the developing world, it has worsened, with the size of contaminated territories and the number of affected children increasing. This document is one of the first attempts to provide perspectives on international lead hazard recognition, exposure evaluation, prevention, and treatment,” he said.