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Some characteristics and correlates of blood lead in early childhood: preliminary results from the Port Pirie study

Conference · · Environ. Res.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6177375
In 1979 the recruiting of pregnant women for a prospective study of pregnancy outcome and early childhood growth and development was commenced in the South Australian town of Port Pirie. The Port Pirie community has been exposed over many years to an accumulation of lead and other heavy metals, because of the operation of Australia's largest lead smelter on the immediate periphery of the town. The basic aim of the study was to relate early childhood growth and development to cumulative lead exposure. Other specific aims included studying the relationship between childhood lead burden and various behavioral, dietary, socioeconomic, and environmental factors thought likely to influence lead exposure. This paper relates, in a simple cross-sectional manner, the observed blood lead concentrations at 6, 15, and 24 months to the supplementary information obtained by questionnaire and interview with the mother at the times the blood samples were taken. The relationship between blood lead concentration and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FeP) at each age is also examined. 12 references, 1 figure, 2 tables.
Research Organization:
Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization, Adelaide, South Australia
OSTI ID:
6177375
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Journal Volume: 38:1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English