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Blood lead concentrations of preschool children in Central and Southern Sydney
Author(s) -
Mira Michael,
Causer Jane,
BawdenSmith Jason,
Karr Margaret,
Fett Michael J,
Alperstein Garth,
Snitch Peter,
Waller Graeme
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1996.tb122086.x
Subject(s) - lead (geology) , medicine , blood lead level , venous blood , pediatrics , zoology , lead exposure , biology , cats , paleontology
Objectives To determine the prevalence of elevated blood lead concentrations in preschool children in Central and Southern Sydney. Participants and setting Children aged from 9 months to 5 years living in 32 randomly selected geographical areas in Central and Southern Sydney. Methods Venous blood lead concentrations were estimated by atomic absorption spectrometry. Results 953 children were identified and 726 had parental consent to participate. A blood sample for lead estimation was obtained from 718 children. The geometric mean blood lead concentration was 0.34 μmol/L (7.0μg/dL). The proportion of children with elevated blood lead concentrations was: 16.1% (> 0.48 μmol/L [10 μg/dL]), 3.9% (> 0.72 μmol/L [15 μg/dL]) and 0.3% (> 1.21 μmol/L [25 μg/dL]), respectively. The blood lead levels for children living within a 10‐km radius of the Sydney Central Business District were: 25% (> 0.48 μmol/L [10 μg/dL]) and 7% (> 0.72 μmol/L [15 μg/dL]), respectively. Corresponding findings for children living 10 km outside this radius were: 9% (> 0.48 μmol/L [10 μg/dL]) and 1.5% (> 0.72 μmol/L [15 μg/dL]), respectively. Conclusions The proportion of children with elevated blood lead concentrations in Central and Southern Sydney as a whole does not exceed current National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommendations. However, in those areas within a 10‐km radius of the Central Business District, NHMRC interventional guidelines for communities where more than 5% of children have blood lead concentrations higher than 0.72 μmol/L (15 μg/dL) should be applied.