Conference paper
Paediatric Unit, St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, London, England
D. Barltrop
Abstract
A heavily lead contaminated region in which there was no significant atmospheric pollution was found in the County of Darbyshire in Central England. An initial study of human populations was made in two towns differing in their soil lead content. The contaminated area had a mean soil lead of 900 ppm and the control 400 ppm. Mothers and children aged 2 years were selected and samples of soil obtained from each of their homes. Lead values were determined in the mothers blood and in specimens of faeces, blood, hair and deciduous teeth obtained from the children. Lead was also determined in specimens of soil from gardens adjacent to their homes. No significant differences in lead burdens could be demonstrated between the ·two populations. The study was repeated in village populations selected according to the degree of soil contamination < 1,000 ppm, < 10,000 ppm, and > 10,000 ppm. Airborne lead gave mean monthly averages of 0.34 and 0.28 µg Pb/m3 for the test and control villages. Similarly dust fall lead gave values of 254 and 194 µg Pb/m2/day. The blood and hair data showed that there was a general increase in lead content in relation to sail lead irrespective of the presence of pica. The geometric mean values for blood lead in children were 20.7, 23.8 and 29.0 µg/100 ml for each of the three soil groups, No correlation could be found among the corresponding mothers of the children. The data suggest that contaminated soils and dusts may contribute to body lead burdens, but to a degree unlikely to be of biological significance.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
167323
URI
Publication date:
6.4.1976.
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