Hanoi (VNA) - The National Institute ofOccupational and Environmental Health under the Health Ministry has conducted ahealth examination on Vietnamese people who are highly exposed to lead.

The purpose of the examination is tohelp them reduce the risk of lead contamination and poisoning.

This month the institute took bloodsamples of 60 children in Phu Xa ward in northern Thai Nguyen city of Thai Nguyenprovince to determine the level of lead.

Last month children with exposure to leadin Dong Hy district in Thai Nguyen province and Cho Don district in northern BacKan province also underwent testing.

It is part of a research being conductedby the institute on lead poisoning of Vietnamese children. The research focuseson assessing environment situation, its impact on children’s health and mappingout measures.

The research was conducted in localitieswhich have mine ores, metallurgy, recycling and make lead-containing waste,such as Hung Yen, Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan provinces.

Following testing results, the institutewill instruct locals to take intervening and preventive measures against leadpoisoning.

The institute has also worked with localmedical facilities to disseminate knowledge to raise local awareness onculprits and the impacts of lead on health.

According to a representative of theNational Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, sources oflead pollution originate from mining, metallurgy, recycling and the use of leadin paint and petrol.

Children are the most vulnerable to leadpoisoning, which may result in serious and long-term consequences, especiallythe impact on the development of a child’s brain and nerve system. Leadalso poses a threat to adults, such as the risk of high blood pressure andkidney failure.

Dr Doan Ngoc Hai, head of the National Instituteof Occupational and Environmental Health, said the release of lead can bedone but is unsustainable. Following the release, children return to live inthe lead-polluted environment and are exposed to lead again.

She advised residents not to be lured by economicbenefits and ignore their health, in addition to suggesting planning of leadrecycling villages.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry’slatest nationwide survey of 52 handicraft villages has revealed that 46 percentof them are severely polluting the area’s air, water and land, as well ascausing noise pollution.

The survey also shows that people who live in or nearsuch craft villages are at higher risk of suffering from respiratory problems,cancer and mental ailments.-VNA