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Assessing levels of lead (Pb) in urban dust for public health management

This study aimed to assess the extent of lead contamination of dust collected from selected public and private elementary schools in Tarlac City, Philippines in order to provide background information to environmental regulators and public health managers responsible for developing meaningful action and responses to environmental health problems. The objectives of this study were: (1) to measure the levels of lead in dust from selected public and private elementary schools in Tarlac City; (2) to determine if lead dust hazards are present in the study areas by comparing the results to lead dust hazard standards set by the United States (EPA); and (3) to recommend measures for lead hazard reduction and prevention of adverse health effects. Dust samples for lead content determination were collected from floors of classrooms of the six selected public and private elementary schools in Tarlac City. Instrumental analysis for lead content showed the presence of lead in all the dust samples with average lead levels in sampling sites ranging from 158.3 ug/ft2 to 287.8 ug/ft2 . The values did not vary significantly among the six schools investigated and were all found to exceed the maximum value (40 ug/ft2) set by the EPA. Thus, based on EPA standards, the study concludes that the level of lead in dust in the study sites presents a health hazard to schoolchildren. The high lead content of the dust samples is attributed mainly to vehicular emission particularly from motor vehicles that use leaded gasoline.