Children's blood lead levels in the lead smelting town of Port Pirie, South Australia

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Arch. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1986.9938340· OSTI ID:6933460

Wilson, D; Esterman, A; Lewis, M; Roder, D; Calder, I

This survey included 1239 children, representing 50% of the elementary school population of the lead smelting town of Port Pirie. Of these children, 7% had a capillary blood lead level equal to or greater than 30 micrograms/dl, which is the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council's ''level of concern.'' There was a statistically significant difference in capillary lead levels by area of residence that was independent of age, sex, soil lead, rainwater tank lead, and school attended. A case-control study indicated that the following subset of factors was most predictive of an elevated blood lead level: household members who worked with lead in their occupations; living in a house with flaking paint on the outside walls; biting finger nails; eating lunch at home on school days; when at school, appearing to have relatively dirty clothing; when at school, appearing to have relatively dirty hands; and living on a household block with a large area of exposed dirt. A program to reduce the risk of elevated blood lead levels in Port Pirie children has been introduced.

• OSTI ID: 6933460
• Journal Information: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 4; ISSN AEHLA
• 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
AUSTRALASIA
AUSTRALIA
BLOOD CHEMISTRY
CHILDREN
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
LEAD
MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
METALS
SMELTERS
SURVEILLANCE