The contribution of lead-contaminated house dust and residential soil to children`s blood lead levels
- Univ. of Cincinnati, OH (United States)
- New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY (United States). Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies
- Westat, Inc., Rockville, MD (United States); and others
In 1992, the US Congress passed the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act, which requires the promulgation of health-based dust lead and soil lead standards for residential dwellings to prevent undue lead exposure in children. Unfortunately, the levels of lead in house dust and soil that are associated with elevated blood lead levels among US children remain poorly defined. This pooled analysis was done to estimate the contributions of lead-contaminated house dust and soil to children`s blood lead levels. The results of this pooled analysis, the most comprehensive existing epidemiologic analysis of childhood lead exposure, confirm that lead-contaminated house dust is the major source of lead exposure for children. These analyses further demonstrate that a strong relationship between interior dust lead loading and children`s blood lead levels persists at dust lead levels considerably below the US Department of Housing and urban Development`s current post-abatement standards and the Environmental Protection Agency`s guidance levels. Finally, these analyses demonstrate that a child`s age, race, mouthing behaviors, and study-site specific factors influence the predicted blood lead level at a given level of exposure. These data can be used to estimate the potential health impact of alternative health-based lead standards for residential sources of lead exposure.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 653169
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Research, Journal Name: Environmental Research Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 79; ISSN ENVRAL; ISSN 0013-9351
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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