Abstract
The feasibility of lead in hair as an indicator of lead exposure has been compared to that of lead in blood and zinc protoporphyrin in blood levels in 1-3-year-old children living within 1 km of a lead smelter. Lead exposure was measured as lead in house dust, outdoor and indoor lead in air concentrations, outdoor and indoor lead depositions, and subjective assessment of indoor dustiness. Lead in blood ranged from 51-353 μg/l and lead in hair from 0.8-114 μg/g. It can be concluded that within the range of environmental exposure studied, and for the age group concerned, measurement of lead in blood and of the zinc protoporphyrin in blood levels appear to be better biological parameters to assess both total environmental exposure and health risk than measurement of lead in hair level alone.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 275-280 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 1980 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Children -
- Environmental exposure
- Lead in blood
- Lead in hair
- Zinc protoporphyrin