Assessment of Awareness Regarding Heavy Metal Toxicity in School Children

Abstract

Background: Heavy metal toxicity is increasing rapidly due to the increased use of products containing heavy metals daily life. It can cause acute or chronic toxicity if they used for long term unknowingly especially by the children. Objectives: • To assess whether the school children have information about products containing heavy metal which are used in daily life and their hazardous effects with the help of structured questionnaire. • To sensitize the school children about the products containing heavy metal which are used in daily life and their hazardous effects. Methods: Descriptive (cross sectional) observational study was designed among 300 primary and secondary school children. The questionnaires containing fifteen questions each carrying two marks (total 30 marks) about the products containing heavy metal and their hazardous effects on human body were given to students to fill the information and answers to the questions. Next day a sensitization program was conducted which was followed by the same questionnaire. The questionaries were assessed as pre and posttest. Result: All the students scored zero marks in the pretest. Hence, they were graded in no awareness category. After sensitization, in posttest 155 students (51.6%) scored between 21-30 marks and 144 students scored between 11-20 marks. The score of marks in posttest is highly significant. Conclusion: Results indicate that there was no awareness in school children about the products containing heavy metal and their hazardous effects on human body. Awareness increased after the sensitization. Hence, to avoid the heavy metal toxicity in school children, it is highly recommended to make them aware regarding sources of heavy metals which are used in daily life and their hazardous effects on body. It can be done through awareness programs to be conducted at schools. It may be achieved by incorporating this point into the syllabus of the school children.