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The Fremantle Lead Study |
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| Authors: | FR WILLIS E ROSSI M BULSARA MJ SLATTERY |
| Institution: | Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth;Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Perth;Department of Public Health, University of Western Australia, Perth;Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia |
| Abstract: | Objective: To ascertain blood lead levels in a sample of preschool children from Fremantle, Western Australia, and to correlate these with possible risk factors. Methodology The study was a cross-sectional prevalence survey of 120 children from day-care centres and 44 hospital inpatients. Blood lead and ferritin levels were determined and a risk factor questionnaire was completed by parents. Results Of the 164 children 25.6% had lead levels above the NH&MRC goal (<10μg/dL). Nine of 133 (6.7%) had ferritin levels below 10 μg/L suggesting iron deficiency. Excessive blood lead concentrations as defined by the NH&MRC (>9μg/dL) related to: child's presence during house renovation (OR 3.35, P = 0.007, 95% Cl 1.39-8.81); Aboriginality (OR 6.4, P = 0.008, 95% Cl 1.6-24.9), and, in the 9-24 month age group, inversely to distance between home and a road carrying >7000 vehicles/day (r-0.56, P = 0.009, n = 24). Conclusions A group of Fremantle children with unacceptably high blood lead levels has been identified. Renovation of older housing and Aboriginality are important risk factors. |
| Keywords: | Aborigines blood lead levels children house renovation traffic |