Human beings could be exposed to impacts associated with heavy metals such as lead (Pb) through drinking water. The objective of this study was to evaluate quality of water consumed by kindergarten school children in Addis Ababa city, who are highly susceptible to issues related to heavy metals in water. Through conducting chemical analysis, using microwave plasma atomic emission spectrophotometry (MP-AES), the level of lead (Pb) was measured at 38 selected schools in the city. Drinking water samples were taken from three water supply sub-systems: Akaki, Legedadi, and Gefersa. Results revealed the average Pb concentration in the city was 62.37 μg/L which is significantly higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended threshold value of 10 μg/L. The children's blood lead levels and exposure to Pb were also calculated using the integrated exposure uptake bio-kinetic (IEUBK) model as per USEPA guidelines. Estimated geometric mean blood lead levels (BLLs) for each school ranged from 4.4 to 13.2 μg/dL. On average, the model predicted that 20% of children in the city will have blood lead levels above the WHO recommended 10 μg/dL. The study can be considered as an unprecedented piece of work as it addresses critical issues and methods to mitigate problems caused by high concentration of Pb in water supply distribution infrastructure.

人类可能会通过饮用水接触与重金属（例如铅）相关的撞击。这项研究的目的是评估亚的斯亚贝巴市的幼儿园在校儿童所消耗的水的质量，他们极易受到与水中重金属有关的问题的影响。通过进行化学分析，使用微波等离子体原子发射分光光度法（MP-AES），对城市中38所选定的学校中的铅（Pb）进行了测量。饮用水样本来自三个供水子系统：Akaki，Legedadi和Gefersa。结果显示，该城市的平均铅浓度为62.37μg/ L，大大高于世界卫生组织（WHO）建议的10μg/ L阈值。这些孩子' 血铅水平和铅的暴露量也根据USEPA指南使用综合暴露吸收生物动力学（IEUBK）模型进行了计算。每所学校的估计几何平均血铅水平（BLL）在4.4至13.2μg/ dL之间。该模型平均预测该市20％的儿童血铅水平将超过WHO推荐的10μg/ dL。这项研究被认为是一项史无前例的工作，因为它解决了关键问题和减轻供水配送基础设施中高浓度铅引起的问题的方法。该模型预测，城市中20％的儿童血铅水平将超过WHO推荐的10μg/ dL。这项研究被认为是一项史无前例的工作，因为它解决了关键问题和减轻供水配送基础设施中高浓度铅引起的问题的方法。该模型预测，城市中20％的儿童血铅水平将超过WHO推荐的10μg/ dL。这项研究被认为是一项史无前例的工作，因为它解决了关键问题和减轻供水配送基础设施中高浓度铅引起的问题的方法。