Lead exposure in young children from dust and soil in the United Kingdom

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.908955· OSTI ID:5840126

Thornton, I; Watt, J M ^[1]; Davies, D J.A.; Quinn, M J ^[2]

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1. Imperial College, London (England)
2. Dept. of the Environment, London (England)

A survey of metals in United Kingdom dusts and soils has confirmed widespread lead contamination with a geometric mean value for lead in surface (0-5 cm) garden soils of 266 {mu}g/g and in housedusts of 561 {mu}g/g (excluding old mining areas). A subsequent detailed survey of 97 householders in Birmingham with 2-year-old children showed dust lead loading in the home environment to be an important predictor of blood lead concentrations in young children, when both variables fell within the normal range for the UK. The total estimated lead uptake by the young child was 36 {mu}g/day of which 1 {mu}g was by inhalation and 35 {mu}g by ingestion.

• OSTI ID: 5840126
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA), Journal Name: Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA) Vol. 89; ISSN 0091-6765; ISSN EVHPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE GROUPS
CHILDREN
CONTAMINATION
DIET
DRINKING WATER
DUSTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
EUROPE
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LEAD COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SOILS
UNITED KINGDOM
WATER
WESTERN EUROPE