Summary
In 108 two-and three-year-old children the concentration of lead, cadmium, manganese, and zinc in blood, of free erythrocyte porphyrin in erythrocytes, and of haemoglobin and haematocrit were measured. The relation with distance of residence to a secondary smelter and with socio-economic class was studied. The ranges were for PbB 45–383 ppb, CdB 0.2–3.5 ppb, ZnB 2.0–9.7 ppm, MnB 2.7–14.1 ppb, FEP 10.5–138.9 μg/100 ml rbc. PbB was influenced independently by the distance to the source of emission and by the socioeconomic class. FEP increased with PbB; Hb and Ht were not affected. The results suggest that the Biological Quality Guide for blood lead as adopted in the European Community may have to be lowered for young children.
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This study was supported by a grant from the Municipality of Arnhem and from the the Netherlands Prevention Fund
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Zielhuis, R.L., del Castilho, P., Herber, R.F.M. et al. Concentrations of lead and other metals in blood of two and three year-old children living near a secondary smelte. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 42, 231–239 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377777
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00377777