title: Blood lead reference values: the results of an Italian polycentric study.
abstract: This paper presents the results of a polycentric study carried out in seven different areas, organized by the Italian Society of Reference Values (SIVR) for assessing reference values of lead in blood (B-Pb) at the current doses of the metal to general population. The estimated arithmetic mean for B-Pb in males was of 45.1 microg/l and 30.6 microg/l in females; the 95th centile was 100 and 60 for males and females, respectively. The main variables influencing B-Pb levels were gender, age, BMI, outside sport practice, alcohol consumption and smoking habits, while the geographic area and the urban residence did not affect the metal concentration in blood.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene, University of Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Apostoli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baj
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bavazzano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ganzi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ronchi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Soleo
authors.forename: Lorenzo L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Di
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Minoia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D007854:Lead