Soil lead abatement and children's blood lead levels in an urban setting.
OBJECTIVE
The effect of abating soil lead was assessed among Baltimore children. The hypothesis was that a reduction of 1000 parts per million would reduce children's blood lead levels by 0.14 to 0.29 mumol/L (3-6 micrograms/dL).


METHODS
In 2 neighborhoods (study and control), 187 children completed the protocol. In the study area, contaminated soil was replaced with clean soil.


RESULTS
Soil lead abatement in this study did not lower children's blood lead.


CONCLUSIONS
Although it did not show an effect in this study, soil lead abatement may be useful in certain areas.
Farrell
K P
KP
Anne Arundel County Department of Health, Md., USA.
Brophy
M C
MC
Chisolm
J J
JJ
Rohde
C A
CA
Strauss
W J
WJ
D015142:Baltimore; D002648:Child; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D010150:Paint / Q000032:analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014484:United States Environmental Protection Agency; D014506:Urban Renewal / Q000379:methods*
D012989:Soil Pollutants; D007854:Lead