Blood lead levels in preschool children in eastern Sydney.
A blood lead study of 1-4-year-old children attending child care centres in eastern Sydney was conducted from November 1992 until May 1993 to determine the distribution of blood lead levels (PbBs). A total of 191 children were tested during the survey, constituting a participation rate of 67%. The geometric mean PbB was 0.34 mumol/L (7.2 micrograms/dL); 13.6% of children had PbBs equal to or greater than the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) upper goal of 0.48 mumol/L (10 micrograms/dL). Traffic flow at home, the presence of pets at home and thumb-sucking in females were all highly associated with blood lead. In particular, the association between PbB and traffic volume indicated a positive dose-response type relationship. Removal of paint from a pre-1960s house and having a smoker in the house had a non-significant effect on variation in blood lead. These results suggest that recent government and industry actions to reduce lead in petrol should have a beneficial effect in lowering PbBs in children. Widespread public education on sources of lead around the home and on appropriate control measures to minimise exposure is warranted.
Cowie
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Environmental Health, Food & Nutrition Branch, NSW Health Department, Sydney.
Black
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Fraser
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D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001315:Australia; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005386:Fingersucking; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis
D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D007854:Lead