SUMMARY

Geochemical characteristics of lead (Pb) and its harmful effect on public health in Việt Nam

Nguyễn Văn Niệm, Mai Trọng Tú, Bùi Hữu Việt, Nguyễn Anh Tuấn

This paper presents some geochemical characteristics of lead as an element in the environment, such as distribution, existence forms, origins, dispersion process in stone and soil types in different areas, ore occurrences or mines, in water and air environment, etc.. A number of different regions with specific characteristics and element contents, including lead, are divided by geologists and geochemists. The high concentration of lead concentrates in some typical regions such as West Bắc Bộ, East Bắc Bộ, Chợ Đồn and Chợ Điền mines, etc.. In addition, the high concentration of lead is also related to handicraft villages, e.g.: Đông Mai (Hưng Yên Province), Vân Chàng (Nam Định Province), etc.. The distribution of lead in water is relatively low as reported by recent researches except in some mining or manufactured areas.

The fundamental scientific evidence of the harmful effects of lead is its impacts on bone marrow by replacing calcium (Ca) with the amount of up to 90%. The concentration of lead in human bone increases with time, i.e. in those people living in the 14st, 18st centuries and at present are 1.7 and 35-85 ppm, respectively. The recommendation level of lead in human body is 39 ppm and in blood is 0.8 ppm.

To study the effect of lead element in environment on public health, it is necessary to study and locate areas with high lead content, assess factors that govern its behavior and recommend measures to reduce, minimize its harmful effects on human beings.

Ngày nhận bài: 08/09/2008

Người biên tập: Dương Đức Kiêm