Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin
  1. Startseite LMU Klinikum
  2. Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin
  3. Forschung
  4. BLENCA-Study - English

BLENCA-Study - English

As part of the BLENCA study, human biomonitoring for lead and cadmium was conducted in Oker and Harlingerode among primary school children and their caregivers in the Harz region.

Background

Although exposure to heavy metals such as lead and cadmium has decreased in most parts of Germany over recent decades, soil contamination remains in some areas. One cause is former mining activity, which also took place in the Harz region.

When lead and other heavy metals enter the body, they can have harmful effects on health. In children, lead exposure can impair the development of the central nervous system, potentially affecting hearing and concentration.

To assess whether ongoing soil contamination has led to increased internal exposure to lead and cadmium among the population of Oker and Harlingerode (Goslar district), the BLENCA study was conducted in 2021 with primary school children and their parents. 

Results

A clear decrease in blood lead levels and urinary cadmium levels was observed compared to biomonitoring data from the 1980s. However, nearly half of the children studied had blood lead levels above the current reference value. Cadmium levels among both children and adults were within the typical range for Germany.

Next steps

The follow-up study BLENCA2, conducted in 2023/24, focused on measuring lead exposure among preschool children across the entire Goslar district. It also aimed to examine regional differences, potential exposure pathways, and possible links to health conditions in order to inform targeted prevention strategies.

Further information and results of the BLENCA2 study can be found here.

Partners

  • Participating working groups: Analytics and Monitoring; Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology & Net-Teaching

  • District of Goslar (Lower Saxony, Germany)