Impact of acute PM_2.5 exposure on pediatric blood lead levels: evidence from Beijing, China

Research on the effects of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) on blood lead levels (BLL), particularly in children, remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between acute ambient PM_2.5 exposure and BLL in children aged below 14. A total of 23,732 children were included in the study, with BLL measured using atomic absorption spectrometry. Generalized additive models (GAM) were employed to analyze the connection between children’s BLL and acute PM_2.5 exposure. From April 2008 to June 2017, Beijing’s average PM_2.5 concentration was 91.71 ± 74.55 μg/m³, approximately 2.62 times higher than the annual average concentration recommended by the WHO Ambient Air Quality Standard (35 μg/m³). The mean (±SD) BLL of children was 0.2105 ± 0.0963 μmol/L, with a median of 0.20 μmol/L. The data indicated an increase in BLL with age and a significant difference in BLL between boys and girls (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). The analysis revealed a non-linear relationship between BLL and PM_2.5 exposure after adjusting for variables such as gender, age, blood levels of Cu, Fe, Ca, Mg, Zn, analysis batch, and heating season. PM_2.5 exposure significantly impacted children’s BLL.