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Pre‐school child blood lead levels in a population‐derived Australian birth cohort: the Barwon Infant Study
Author(s) -
Symeonides Christos,
Vuillermin Peter,
Sly Peter D,
Collier Fiona,
Lynch Victoria,
Falconer Sandra,
Pezic Angela,
Wardrop Nicole,
Dwyer Terence,
Ranganathan Sarath,
Ponsonby AnneLouise B
Publication year - 2020
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/mja2.50427
Subject(s) - medicine , cohort , demography , population , cohort study , blood lead level , pediatrics , lead exposure , environmental health , cats , sociology
Objectives To investigate blood lead levels in an Australian birth cohort of children; to identify factors associated with higher lead levels. Design, setting Cross‐sectional study within the Barwon Infant Study, a population birth cohort study in the Barwon region of Victoria (1074 infants, recruited June 2010 – June 2013). Data were adjusted for non‐participation and attrition by propensity weighting. Participants Blood lead was measured in 523 of 708 children appraised in the Barwon Infant Study pre‐school review (mean age, 4.2 years; SD , 0.3 years). Main outcome measure Blood lead concentration in whole blood (μg/ dL ). Results The median blood lead level was 0.8 μg/ dL (range, 0.2–3.7 μg/ dL ); the geometric mean blood lead level after propensity weighting was 0.97 μg/ dL (95% CI , 0.92–1.02 μg/ dL ). Children in houses 50 or more years old had higher blood lead levels (adjusted mean difference [ AMD ], 0.13 natural log units; 95% CI , 0.02–0.24 natural log units; P = 0.020), as did children of families with lower household income (per $10 000, AMD , –0.035 natural log units; 95% CI , –0.056 to –0.013 natural log units; P = 0.002) and those living closer to Point Henry (inverse square distance relationship; P = 0.002). Associations between hygiene factors and lead levels were evident only for children living in older homes. Conclusion Blood lead levels in our pre‐school children were lower than in previous Australian surveys and recent surveys in areas at risk of higher exposure, and no children had levels above 5 μg/ dL . Our findings support advice to manage risks related to exposure to historical lead, especially in older houses.