The current lead pollution problem

Abstract

In the past few years, pollution of the environment by lead has received considerable attention and evoked a variety of responses the more extreme of which have been readily accepted for publication in the National Press.

Biological Monitoring of Heavy Metal Pollution

“…The information concerning lead concentrations in blood is extensive and has been subject to considerable investigation and discussion by many authors, especially in relation to lead levels in blood of children who appear to be especially susceptible to the toxic effects of this metal. Some of the evidence for and against the effects of airborne lead on man was discussed by Barry (1975) but it is dubious whether or not any environmental scientist would refute the fact that high environmental concentrations of lead are associated with corresponding elevating concentrations in some fluids and tissues of indigenous residents. Several relevant articles are contained within the proceedings of a recent international conference (CEP Consultants Ltd, 1979).…”

Positive correlation between environmental PM_2.5 and blood lead levels in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis

“…In general, the sources of body lead include ingestion and inhalation 18. Educating individuals on the ingestion of lead and avoiding contact with lead-containing appliances should help reduce the BLLs in adults and children.…”

Lead in Deciduous Teeth of Norwegian Children

“…Of course, the presence of such industry in a locality may bear upon the lead absorption of the whole population, and it has been shown that emanation from the clothing and shoes of lead workers may contaminate their homes. 34 -The correlations between residents per km 2 and mean dental lead, and between percentages of residents in sparsely populated areas and mean dental lead were both significant at the 5% level. If all three correlation coefficients are considered together, they indicate a trendnamely, that industrialization and urbanization in Norway tend to increase the body burden of lead in children.…”

“…Norway was not included in that study, but may perhaps be compared with Sweden where a low 10 p.g/100 mI was recorded. 34 Automobile traffic is an insignificant contributor to lead pollution in Norway and is demonstrated by the fact that Oslo, Bergen, and Trornsl,6, which are large cities in this country, do not exhibit higher lead levels than smaller cities or whole counties. This is in accordance with a suggestion that primary sources oflead absorption come from food, drinking water, paint (pica in children) and factory emission.…”

“…This is in accordance with a suggestion that primary sources oflead absorption come from food, drinking water, paint (pica in children) and factory emission. 34 However, it was not possible to demonstrate any relationship between tooth lead levels in Birmingham and residence near a potentiallocal industrial lead source, therefore it was concluded that pollution from a general source must be responsible. 29 The mean lead level of Birmingham teeth was far higher than the tooth lead levels in industrialized Norwegian…”