Blood lead levels in Omani children admitted to hospital

Whole blood lead levels were estimated by atomic absorption analysis in 119 Omani children admitted to hospital. Eighteen per cent of the children were found to have a blood lead level of 1.2 mumol/l or more, 5 per cent were found to have a level above 2.4 mumol/l and 3 per cent had very high levels in excess of 3.4 mumol/l. No overall relationship was demonstrated between age and blood lead levels. However, children less than 3 years old were three times more likely than those 3 years or above to have a blood lead level in excess of 2.4 mumol/l. The results of this study are sufficiently worrying to justify a more widespread community based survey of blood lead levels in Omani children.