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Yearly measurements of blood lead in Swedish children since 1978: an update focusing on the petrol lead free period 1995-2001.

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Author

Summary, in English

Background and Aims: To assess blood lead concentrations (B-Pb) in children not exposed to petrol lead. In a previous paper we reported the results for the period 1978–94 (2441 children measured). A substantial decrease of B-Pb was found, which reflected a beneficial effect of gradual banning of petrol lead. Since 1994, petrol sold in Sweden has not contained lead.



Methods: In the south of Sweden, each year from 1995 to 2001, B-Pb was measured in 329 boys and 345 girls, aged 7–11 years.



Results: The geometric mean (GM) of B-Pb was 21 (range 6–80) µg/l. There was no consistent change of B-Pb from 1995 to 2001. Children living near a lead smelter had raised B-Pb (GM 24 µg/l, range 11–80). Passive smoking, but not age and sex, influenced B-Pb significantly.



Conclusions: B-Pb in Swedish children, no longer exposed to petrol lead, seems to have stabilised at an average level close to 20 µg/l (provided there is no nearby industrial lead emission).

Publishing year

2003

Language

English

Pages

370-372

Publication/Series

Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Volume

60

Issue

5

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

BMJ Publishing Group

Topic

  • Environmental Health and Occupational Health

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1470-7926