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Sources of lead pollution.

1981; BMJ; Volume: 282; Issue: 6257 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1136/bmj.282.6257.41

0959-8138

D Gloag,

Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity

Environmental lead concentrations today are grossly increased over the natural levels, even far away from cities. Nevertheless, the results of the EEC survey1 (see box) seem reasonably reassuring so far, even for children specially exposed to lead. But even 2% of children exceeding the limit of 1-69 ptmol/l (35 [xg/100 mg) might be too many?that is, if slightly raised levels can cause subtle neurological impairment (see last article, p 1622). Young children tend to have higher blood lead concentrations, which will not be apparent from blood samples taken when they are older. Some studies carried out near factories producing lead pollution have shown considerably raised blood lead concen? trations in many preschool children, and also mothers.2 In Birmingham, although both the schoolchildren and the younger children surveyed had low mean blood concentrations, a worrying proportion of inner city preschool children had concentrations over 1-69 (jtmol/l.3 4 These were mostly Asians and their sources of lead exposure are being investigated, with a detailed dietary survey to look at both dietary lead content and possible nutritional deficiencies that would make them more susceptible to poor environmental conditions.