2nd KAMPAI Joint Coordination
Committee Meeting
16th October 2017 – Lusaka, Zambia

Heavy metal concentrations, stable lead (Pb) isotope ratios
and variation of selected biomarkers in human milk, hair,blood, urine and fecal samples from the vicinity of the leadzinc mine in Kabwe, Zambia
Output 2 - Activity Report and Future Plan
By YABE John – Research Manager
Collaborative research between the University of Zambia and Hokkaido University (Japan)
Funding: JICA and JST
Duration: 2016-2020
Site: Kabwe City, Central Province, Zambia

Lead metabolism and critical BLLS
Lead Exposure RouteBlood Lead Levels (BLLs)

PbPb

Ingestion

Inhalation

Circulates in blood (35 days)
and excreted in feces andurine

Accumulates in soft tissues andbone

Chelation therapy

Clinical signs/symptoms are non specific
Clinical diagnosis of lead poisoning isdifficultyOutput Two Objectives• Measuring blood Pb concentrations in mother (venous andcord blood) and child pairs in Kabwe• Measuring Pb levels (blood, urine and feces) in children• Measuring Pb concentrations in breast milk
• Measuring biomarkers to determine the effects of exposure• Neurodevelopment assessment of Pb exposure in children• Cognitive assessment – IQ analysis• Assessing effects of Pb on Quality of Life
• Assess the socio-economical impact of Pb pollution in Kabwe

Treatment

Remediation

Makululu
N = 53MiningArea
Dump Site

Chowa
N = 37
KasandaN = 24BLL measurements – LeadCare II 2016 BLLs results in 3
townships
 114 blood samples (bothboys and girls)
 Children up to 10 years old BLLs ranged from 7.80 – 64.3
g/dL
 BLLs exceeded the CDC
guideline (5g/dL)
 Negative correlations
between age and BLLOutput Two – Activities (Jan – August 2017)
Preparations
 40 clinics/health centers were sensitized Neighborhood Health Volunteers were engaged tomobilize the communities
Health Personnel and Training 16 local nurses were contracted
 4 local laboratory technicians were contracted
 Training on ethical considerations and sampling
procedures was conductedSampling Teams
 4 groups

July to August 2017 - Sampling Sites

Mpima prison
clinicMakupu AhealthpostKangomba
clinicHamududu
clinicSamples collected (July – August 2017)
Sample 300µL
bloodTube
type2
tube

Total

1239

1.5 mL 1.5 mL Plasma ERUrineFecal

mL 2mL 2mL 1.5 mL 1.5 mL 15 mL 30 mL
tube
tube
tube
tube
tube
tube
1220

1107

1013

1013

1005

393

On-going and future plans• Sample analysis
 MTA application for July-August samples to be done Official reports of results is on-going• Neurodevelopment - School of Public Health Children below the age of 3
 Assessment on-going• Cognitive and IQ assessment - Special Education, School of Ed School going children above the age of 3 Assessment still at planning stage• Socio-economic assessment – Economics Department, School of HSS
 Households have been identified
 Assessment on-going

Achievements and challenges• Broad surveillance Conducted successfully
 BLL measurements done with LeadCare II• Ethical clearance and MTA
 Expired on 30th August 2017
 Applied for renewal and granted
 MTA application granted for Oct 2016 and Jan-May 2017 samples• Collaborations
 PureEarth - Obtained 2014 BLL results and using their LeadCare II
 World Bank - Held joint meetings, MOU being drafted• Challenges
 Sample size – not met during broad surveillance Participants expecting treatment and thus affecting response