Saturday, June 7, 2025
  • Contact Us
  • About BBS
  • Privacy & Policy
ENG
DZO
BBSCL Logo
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Education
  • More
    • Announcement
    • Audience Survey Report
    • Programme
    • Radio Dzo-Channel Schedule
    • Radio Mix-Channel Schedule
Radio Live
No Result
View All Result
BBSCL logo
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Education
  • More
    • Announcement
    • Audience Survey Report
    • Programme
    • Radio Dzo-Channel Schedule
    • Radio Mix-Channel Schedule
No Result
View All Result
BBSCL logo
Radio LIVE

Most children under five in Thimphu and Phuentshogling exposed to lead, reveals research

October 26, 2023
in Health, Other Stories
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
0
SHARES
27
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

About 75 per cent of children up to five years in Thimphu and Phuentshogling are exposed to lead. This is according to a recent research conducted by the Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan. Lead is a naturally occurring toxic metal and according to the World Health Organisation, it should not be in the body at all. However, the researchers have yet to determine the cause.

According to the WHO, lead exposure during childhood may lead to permanent intellectual disability and behavioural disorders.

The research showed that there are five micrograms per decilitre of lead concentration in most children in Thimphu and Phuentshogling.

This means, lead exposed children are at risk for permanent health impacts, particularly on the development of the brain and nervous system.

It could also affect physical growth in children.

“Lead is one of the top ten poisonous metals according to WHO. It is the fourth highest in terms of level of toxicity in the human body. In children, it is more critical than in adult because of the fact that it actually causes long-term intellectual deficiency, which will be for a lifetime. There are other impacts, but intellectual deficiency is one of the main and critical impacts,” said Dr Karma Tenzin, Associate Professor at Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan.

The researchers conducted a blood test on 500 children in Thimphu and Phuentshogling to determine the lead concentration.

According to the WHO, most common ways children can come in contact with lead is through lead-based paints, contaminated soil, children’s toys and jewellery, and drinking water delivered through lead pipes.

The researchers say lead exposure is preventable.

“We must encourage our children to wash their hands regularly before eating and before playing with the toys. Keeping the toys clean and healthy food consumption instead of junk foods are important. If you encourage the consumption of different vegetables and fruits, it will actually challenge the lead in the body and even if we ingest lead, it will go out. It will not be deposited in our body system.”

He said that lead exposure in individuals can only be measured through blood tests.

The research was conducted by the university along with the health ministry, WHO, and UNICEF.

The university is planning to conduct another research to identify the cause of lead exposure.

Singye Dema

Edited by Sangay Chezom

Previous Post

Potato price drops at FCB auction yard in Phuentshogling

Next Post

People lose hundreds of thousands of ngultrum to QNET scam

Next Post
People lose hundreds of thousands of ngultrum to QNET scam

People lose hundreds of thousands of ngultrum to QNET scam

Sarpang district administration acquires land for extension of Gelephu Domestic Airport

Sarpang district administration acquires land for extension of Gelephu Domestic Airport

Construction of 26 MW Druk Bindu Hydropower Project begins

Construction of 26 MW Druk Bindu Hydropower Project begins

Please login to join discussion

RECOMMENDED NEWS

His Majesty The King’s Address to the People of Bhutan- 12 September 2020

5 years ago
6

Gold medals awarded to Scout Masters

13 years ago
2
His Majesty The King graces the closing ceremony of the 3rd session of third Parliament

His Majesty The King graces the closing ceremony of the 3rd session of third Parliament

5 years ago
3

Making a decent living embracing trash

4 years ago
2

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

  • Accidents (14)
  • Agriculture (426)
  • Announcement (174)
  • Audience Survey Report (1)
  • Business (744)
  • Crime/Legal (367)
  • Culture (47)
  • Development (51)
  • Disaster (57)
  • Economy (277)
  • Education (412)
  • Entertainment (13)
  • Environment (60)
  • Feature (65)
  • Featured (6)
  • Festival (78)
  • GMC (14)
  • Headlines (6)
  • Health (622)
  • Legal (52)
  • Literature (9)
  • Livestock (75)
  • Media (25)
  • Other Stories (5,574)
  • Politics (419)
  • RCSC (1)
  • Recent stories (5)
  • Religion (45)
  • Sci/Tech (709)
  • Social (515)
  • Sports (449)
  • Technology (190)
  • Tourism (19)
  • Uncategorized (13,866)
  • Video (136)
  • Video Story (249)
  • Wildlife (42)

BROWSE BY TOPICS

Tender Announcement Vacancy Announcement

POPULAR NEWS

  • BPC’s investigation rules out transformer short circuit as Damchhu forest fire cause

    Viral video of Bhutanese man assaulted by locals and police in Jaigaon sparks safety concerns

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Gelephu Mindfulness City opens recruitment drive for Bhutanese professionals

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Newspaper accuses DPT candidate of political ploy

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • A centenarian’s recipe to longevity

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 40 companies risk closure over failure to submit financial reports

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
BBSCL

Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) is Bhutan’s primary national broadcaster, delivering diverse news and entertainment in multiple languages, fostering cultural understanding and public knowledge.

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

  • RMA to roll out seven new measures for loan repayment support
  • National Housing Strategy to be ready by September
  • Bhutan begins NFT sales, to preserve heritage
  • City bus viability raised in parliament, MoIT minister cites past privatisation failures
  • Paro MP questions airport expansion impact on affected landowners

News Category

  • Accidents
  • Agriculture
  • Announcement
  • Audience Survey Report
  • Business
  • Crime/Legal
  • Culture
  • Development
  • Disaster
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Feature
  • Featured
  • Festival
  • GMC
  • Headlines
  • Health
  • Legal
  • Literature
  • Livestock
  • Media
  • Other Stories
  • Politics
  • RCSC
  • Recent stories
  • Religion
  • Sci/Tech
  • Social
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Tourism
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Video Story
  • Wildlife
  • Contact Us
  • About BBS
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2024 BBSCL. All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Education
  • More
    • Announcement
    • Audience Survey Report
    • Programme
    • Radio Dzo-Channel Schedule
    • Radio Mix-Channel Schedule

© 2024 BBSCL. All rights reserved.