Environmental exposure to lead and arsenic among children living near a glassworks.
Concentrations of lead (Pb) in blood (B-Pb, geometric mean 34.6 micrograms l-1, n = 127) and inorganic arsenic (As) and its metabolites in urine (U-As, mean 5.1 micrograms/g creatinine, n = 35) did not differ between children living in a village close to a glassworks emitting both Pb and As and children living in a reference area. There was no significant effect on B-Pb and U-As related to parents working at the glassworks or consumption of domestically grown vegetables. Neither was there any significant effect upon B-Pb of sex, age, potentially lead-exposing hobbies, or consumption of canned foods. Boys had higher U-As than girls (5.8 vs 4.2 micrograms/g creatinine, p = 0.005), and there was a decrease with age (range 8.4-10.4 years, 27% per year, p = 0.01). Further, parental smoking habits had a significant effect on both B-Pb and U-As. In children of non-smoking parents the B-Pb was 30 micrograms l-1, in children with one parent who smoked 39 micrograms l-1 (smoking father 37, smoking mother 41 micrograms l-1) and in children with two parents who smoked 47 micrograms l-1 (p less than 0.001). The corresponding values for U-As were 4.2, 5.5, and 13 micrograms/g creatinine, respectively (p = 0.01).
Andrén
P
P
Department of Environmental Health, Kronoberg County Council, Växjö, Sweden.
Schütz
A
A
Vahter
M
M
Attewell
R
R
Johansson
L
L
Willers
S
S
Skerfving
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000652:urine*; D002648:Child; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005898:Glass; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking
D007854:Lead; D003404:Creatinine; D001151:Arsenic