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

Journal Article · Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 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), Vol. 4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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BLOOD CHEMISTRY
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