Background: Anemia is a wide health problem among infants and children in many parts of the world, and is often associated with decreased some trace elements (iron, zinc, copper) and increased heavy metals as lead. Lead plumbing has contaminated drinking water for centuries and has contributed to elevated blood lead concentrations
in children.Objectives: This study was done to determine the association of blood lead level (BLL) above 10μg ⁄ dl to the increased risk of anemia of varying severity. It also aimed at investigating the relationship between anemia and the changes in - blood iron, zinc and copper levels.Measurement of lead level in drinking water was also considered being a known -source of exposure to lead.Subjects and methods: The study is a cross-sectional performed on 60 children from
the pediatric clinic in Al-Zhraa University hospital and special Pediatric clinic in a rural area. Venous blood samples were taken from the studied population for estimation of hematological parameters as well as iron and ferritin levels. The concentration of zinc, copper, and lead was measured in the serum using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer.
According to the level of hemoglobin, the studied population was divided into an anemic and a control group at a level more than 11g/dl .The anemic group was further classified into mild (Hb level 10-10.9 g ⁄dl ), moderate (Hb level 8-9.9 g ⁄dl) and severe (Hb level< 8g ∕dl) anemia. The studied subjects were also categorized into low (>10 μg/dl) and high (≥10 μg/dl) blood lead level groups.Results: Approximately 63.33% of the children had blood lead level more than and
equal to 10μg/dl while only 36.67% of them had blood lead level less than 10μg/dl. At the blood lead level range of 10-20 μg/dl, significant association was obtained for mild and severe anemia. In children with anemia, the level of iron and ferritin were found to be significantly lower than those of the control groups (p value <0.001). However, other
elements (zinc and copper) did not show any statistically significant difference between the anemic and the control groups. Environmental assessment of the lead level in drinking water revealed the presence of levels higher than the permissible limit determined by the World Health Organization (WHO).Conclusion: Elevation of Lead level in drinking water might be one of the causes behind increased BLL in children with anemia. Active steps should therefore be taken
towards the control of lead pollution thus reducing the prevalence of anemia among children.