Determinants of blood lead concentrations to age 5 years in a birth cohort study of children living in the lead smelting city of Port Pirie and surrounding areas

Journal Article · · Archives of Environmental Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1992.9938350· OSTI ID:7260122

Baghurst, P A ^[1]; Tong, Shilu ^[2]; McMichael, A J ^[3]; Roberton, E F ^[4]; Wigg, N R ^[5]; Vimpani, G V ^[6]

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1. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Adelaide (Australia)
2. National Health Education Inst., Beijing (China)
3. Univ. of Adelaide (Australia)
4. Adelaide Centre for Women's and Children's Health (Australia)
5. Child Adolescent and Family Health Service, Adelaide (Australia)
6. Univ. of Newcastle, New South Wales (Australia)

Sources of variation and some principal determinants of blood lead concentration (PbB) were investigated in a cohort of children, followed to age 5 y, who were born near a lead smelter in Port Pirie, South Australia. The child's age and place of residence were the two variables most strongly predictive of PbB. A sharp increase in PbB occurred between 6 and 15 mo of age and was followed by a peak concentration that occurred at approximately 2 y of age, after which PbB steadily and consistently declined. Irrespective of age, the PbBs in children who lived in Port Pirie were significantly higher than levels identified in children who resided outside the city. There was no significant difference in PbB between boys and girls. Elevated PbB at each specific age was associated mainly with increased lead concentration in the topsoil of the local residential area, employment of the father in the lead industry, parental smoking, and behaviors likely to cause ingestion of dirt. Blood samples taken from children at certain ages and during the warmer months contained more lead than samples obtained during the cooler months. The effects of these determinants on PbB during early childhood were basically consistent in both single and multivariable analyses.

• OSTI ID: 7260122
• Journal Information: Archives of Environmental Health; (United States), Vol. 47:3; ISSN 0003-9896
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CHILDREN
BLOOD CHEMISTRY
LEAD
HEALTH HAZARDS
SMELTERS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
AGE DEPENDENCE
BEHAVIOR
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BLOOD
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
INGESTION
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SOILS
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
TOBACCO SMOKES
AEROSOLS
AGE GROUPS
AUSTRALASIA
AUSTRALIA
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY FLUIDS
CHEMISTRY
COLLOIDS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
HAZARDS
INTAKE
MATERIALS
METALS
RESIDUES
SMOKES
SOLS
VARIATIONS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
540120 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540220 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)