Blood lead concentrations and iron deficiency in Canadian aboriginal infants

Aboriginal Cree infants living in northern Quebec who were 9 months of age were screened for anemia, iron deficiency and elevated blood lead concentrations. Of the 314 infants who were eligible to participate, 274 (87.3%) were screened for anemia, 186 had blood lead concentration measured and 141 of the latter group had iron status determined. The median blood lead concentration was 0.08 mmolyl (range 0.01–1.00 mmolyl). The 25, 50 and 75 percentiles for blood lead concentration were 0.05, 0.08 and 0.12 mmolyl, respectively. The prevalence of elevated blood lead concentrations ()0.48 mmolyl) was 2.7% (95% CI 0.36–5.0). Among infants who had blood lead measured, the prevalence of anemia (hemoglobin -110 gyl) was 25.0% and 7.9% of infants had iron-deficiency anemia (hemoglobin -110 gyl and serum ferritin -10 mgyl). Anemic infants had a higher mean geometric blood lead concentration than did babies without anemia (0.11 mmolyl vs. 0.07 mmolyl, Ps0.003). Likewise, infants with iron-deficiency anemia had a significantly higher mean geometric blood lead concentration than infants without iron deficiency anemia (0.16 mmolyl vs. 0.07 mmolyl, Ps0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between blood lead and hemoglobin concentrations (rsy0.203, Ps0.006) and between blood lead and serum ferritin concentrations (rsy0.245, Ps0.003). Infants who were fed traditional food (fish, fowl and game) did not have a significantly different mean geometric blood lead concentration, hemoglobin concentration or serum ferritin concentration than infants who did not eat traditional food. Few infants (5.3%) ate traditional food daily.