PEDIATRICS Vol. 65 No. 2 February 1980, pp. 226-231
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Increased Lead Absorption in Inner City Children: Where Does the Lead Come From?

Evan Charney MD1, James Sayre MD1, and Molly Coulter MD1

1 Department of Pediatrics, The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, Sinai Hospital, Baltimore, and The Anthony L. Jordan Health Center, Rochester, New York

Pica for lead-containing paint has been questioned as the principal mechanism for the widespread moderately elevated blood lead levels (30 to 80 µg/l00 ml) in inner city children. This study explored the hypothesis that lead-contaminated household dust is a major source of lead for these children; hand contamination and repetitive mouthing is the proposed mechanism of ingestion. Forty-nine inner city children with blood lead 40 to 70 µg/100 ml were matched with 50 children with blood lead le29 µg/100 ml from the same inner city environment. House dust lead and lead on hands were found in significantly greater quantity among experimental subjects. Other factors differed between groups; lead content of peeling paint, soil lead, and pica affected more experimental than control children, but did not account for more than 50% of experimental cases. The cause of moderate blood lead elevation is multifactoral: no single source accounted for all children with elevated levels. However, lead contamination of house dust and hands appears to be a major factor in this condition.

Submitted on March 27, 1979
Accepted on June 11, 1979




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