Blood lead levels in shopkeepers and car traffic pollution in Liguria, Italy.
A study was conducted into the exposure to atmospheric pollution caused by car traffic by measuring blood lead (PbB) levels in a sample of 657 adult individuals (shopkeepers) all living in Liguria. The mean level of blood lead in all examined individuals was 9.39 micrograms dl-1 (0.45 mumol per liter; C.I. 95%: 9.06-9.75 micrograms dl-1; 0.44-0.47 mumol per liter) with a range between 2.0 and 46.03 micrograms dl-1 (0.10-2.22 mumol per liter). The average Pb values in individuals working in streets with high and very high traffic was 8.30 micrograms dl-1 (0.40 mumol per liter; C.I. 95%: 7.41-9.31 micrograms dl-1; 0.36-0.45 mumol per liter) and 9.98 micrograms dl-1 (0.48 mumol per liter; C.I. 95%: 9.62-10.37 micrograms dl-1; 0.46-0.50 mumol per liter), respectively. These average blood lead levels were statistically greater than the average PbB values of those working in low traffic streets (7.06 micrograms dl-1; 0.34 mumol per liter; C.I. 95%: 6.22-7.94 micrograms dl-1; 0.30-0.38 mumol per liter). The percentile distribution (50th, 90th and 98th P) for all subgroups surveyed has always proved to be below the maximum limits specified by EC Directive No. 77/312.
University of Genoa, Institute of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Italy.
P
P
Orlando
F
F
Perdelli
M L
ML
Cristina
C
C
Oberto
D
D
Viglione
S
S
Palmieri
A
A
Vari
F
F
di Bello
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001336:Automobiles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology
D007854:Lead