Seasonal variations of lead concentration and loading rates in residential house dust in northern Idaho.
Although lead hazards to humans have been known since ancient times and many regulatory actions and lead risk reductions have been achieved over the past century, lead contamination and exposure remain significant problems worldwide. The focus of this study was to investigate whether residential house dust lead concentrations and lead and dust loading rates in non-contaminated or "background" communities in northern Idaho are significantly affected by seasonal variations. House dust samples were obtained from 34 houses in five towns of northern Idaho from March to November 1999. There was evidence of significant seasonality of lead concentration in house dust in some towns, but no evidence in other towns. Because of the high variability between the towns and small sample sizes, it was difficult to make firm conclusions about seasonal patterns observed in house dust lead levels. A linear relationship between precipitation rates and dust loading rates was detected.
Petrosyan
Varduhi
V
College of Health Sciences, American University of Armenia, 40 M. Baghramian Str., Yerevan 375019, Armenia.
von Braun
Margrit C
MC
Spalinger
Susan M
SM
von Lindern
Ian H
IH
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007061:Idaho; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D012621:Seasons
D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust; D007854:Lead