title: The feasibility of using lead in hair concentration in monitoring environmental exposure in children.
abstract: The feasibility of lead in hair as an indicator of lead exposure has been compared to that of lead in blood and zinc protoporphyrin in blood levels in 1--3-year-old children living within 1 km of a lead smelter. Lead exposure was measured as lead in house dust, outdoor and indoor lead in air concentrations, outdoor and indoor lead depositions, and subjective assessment of indoor dustiness. Lead in blood ranged from 51-353 microgram/l and lead in hair from 0.8-114 microgram/g. It can be concluded that within the range of environmental exposure studied, and for the age group concerned, measurement of lead in blood and of the zinc protoporphyrin in blood levels appear to be better biological parameters to assess both total environmental exposure and health risk than measurement of lead in hair level alone.
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006197:Hair / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D007854:Lead; D015032:Zinc