title: Lead in the ambient air and blood specimens of children in Helsinki.
abstract: Ambient air lead concentrations have been measured in Helsinki since 1978. The mean concentrations at various stations reached maximum values in 1980, being then 209-1150 ng/m3. From 1980 to 1991 the concentrations decreased to one-eighth (335-41 ng/m3) at the three stations where measurements were made continuously. Concomitantly the estimated annual lead emissions in Helsinki decreased from 78 to 9 tons, mainly owing to the reduced emissions of lead in exhaust gases from road traffic. The mean concentration of lead in the blood of children in day-care centres was 46 micrograms/l in 1983 and 30 micrograms/l 5 years later. Similar concentrations were found in blood samples from a day-care centre beside a street with heavy traffic and in those from an area with less traffic.
authors.affiliation: Helsinki City Center of the Environment, Finland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pönkä
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salminen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahonen
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D007854:Lead