Original scientific paper
The detection of children abnormally exposed to lead
D. Barltrop
; Paediatric Unit, St Mary's Hospital, London, England
Abstract
Childhood lead poisoning usually results from chronic exposure although the presenting features may be acute. Recently lead has been recognised ho be a major environmental hazard for children in many cities but no effective preventative measures have yet been agreed. Previous programmes have attempted to detect children with frank or incipient lead poisoning and have been based on 1) the presence of characteristic clinical features, 2) the demonstration of disturbed metabolic processes, 3) the determination of lead in blood and urine. It is suggested that measurement of the potential hazard to which children are exposed would be preferable to screening techniques that require a considerable increase in the body burden of lead before a positive result is registered. The major principle source of lead for children is lead-containing paint applied to objects and surfaces in the home. However, the age of the dwelling and the socio-economic status of the family are poor indices of the lead hazard for an individual child. Measurement of the lead content of paints in the home by conventional methods is time-consuming and costly, but studies with a portable isotope fluorescence analyser have suggested an acceptable alternative for screening. Faecal lead determination is the most sensitive available index of the actual, as opposed to the potential lead hazard for children.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
172978
URI
Publication date:
16.12.1970.
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