A collaborative study between scientists at Hokkaido University and the University of Zambia took a closer look at lead poisoning and its effects on children. The team studied blood lead levels in 140 children aged 2 to 10 years old in Kabwe, Zambia—considered one of the 10 most polluted places on Earth as of 2013 according to Blacksmith Institute.
Their analyses included evaluating blood lead levels with respect to distance from the contamination site. They discovered that children living closer to the highly polluted lead-zinc mine had blood levels that were three times higher than those living further away. Scientists also used methylation-specific PCR (MSP) to observe methylation of the DNA sequences.
Through MSP they found increased blood levels proportionally related to aberrant methylation of DNA—causing reduced gene expression. Specifically, they observed that the genes affected were ALAD and P16, which help develop heme and suppress tumor growth, respectively.
The study, published in Environmental Research, is a part of an ongoing collaboration between eight African countries for the Clarification of the Effect of Continued Environmental Contamination in Africa on Humans and Animals project. "The ultimate goal is," contributing researcher Mayumi Yohannes says, "to achieve a lead-free population to ensure a healthy future."