Kajian Paparan Logam Berat Timbal (Pb) dari Air Minum pada Anak Balita di Indonesia

Abstract

Stunting in children is still occuring in Indonesia, which becomes a shared responsibility of several stakeholders to overcome it. Lead (Pb) is a heavy metal which interferes calcium metabolism causing inneffective development of bones and teeth thus, Pb is a risk factor for stunting. Drinking water contributes the highest exposure to Pb, it is necessary to determine the risk characterization of Pb from the water. Exposure assessment were conducted by sampling, obtaining Pb concentrations, extracting data from the Individual Food Consumption Survey and Basic Health Research, calculating Pb exposure, risk characterizing of Pb and predicting the correlation of Pb exposure to the nutritional status of PB/U or TB/U children aged 0-47 month. Pb exposure was obtained by multiplying the consumption data with predicted levels of Pb in drinking water and divided by body weight. Lead risk characterization was calculated using Margin of Exposure (MoE) approach by comparing Pb benchmark dose lowerbound and exposure. The correlation of Pb exposure with nutritional status was also calculated by Pearson analysis. Samples were taken from 34 provinces in Indonesia, there were 25 provinces (75,8%) with Pb levels less than LoD and 8 provinces (24,2%) with Pb levels more than LoD. The average percentage of children in Indonesia aged 0-47 months who consume less drinking water is 76,81%. The average exposure and risk characterization of Pb ranged from 0,026-0,082 μg/kg body weight per day and 28,05-8,79, respectively, suggesting low risk of Pb exposure from drinking water. Stronger correlation of Pb exposure with nutritional status was observed in province with Pb level above Limit of Detection (LoD) than those of below LoD with correlation values (r) of children aged 0-11 months; 12-23 months; and 36-47 months; 36-47 months is r 0,004; r -0,038; r -0,109; r -0,231. The result showed that the higher Pb exposure, the lower the nutritional status, although the correlation is weak. Pb exposure from drinking water does not cause stunting in toddlers.