Comment in:

Med J Aust. 1996 Apr 1;164(7):390-1.

Med J Aust. 1997 Jan 6;166(1):53.

Blood lead concentrations of preschool children in central and southern Sydney.

Division of General Practice, Central Sydney Area Health Service, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of elevated blood lead concentrations in preschool children in central and southern Sydney. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Children aged from 9 months to 5 years living in 32 randomly selected geographical areas in Central and southern Sydney. METHODS: Venous blood lead concentrations were estimated by atomic absorption spectrometry. RESULTS: 953 children were identified and 726 had parental consent to participate. A blood sample for lead estimation was obtained from 718 children. The geometric mean blood level concentration was 0.34 mu mol/L (7.0 mu/dL). The proportion of children with elevated blood lead concentrations was: 16.1% (>0.48 mu mol/L [10mu/dL]), 3.9% (>0.72 mu mol/L[15mu/dL]) and 0.3% (>1.21mu mol/L [25 mu/dL], respectively. The blood lead levels for children living with a 10-km radius of the Sydney Central Business district were: 25% (>0.48 mu mol/L [10mu/dL]) and 7% (>0.72 mu mol/L [15mu/dL]), respectively. Corresponding findings for children living 10 km outside this radius were: 9% (>0.48 mu mol/L [10mu/dL]) and 1.5% (0.72 mu mol/L [15mu/dL]), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of children with elevated blood lead concentrations in Central and Southern Sydney as a whole does not exceed current National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommendations. However, in those areas within a 10-km radius of the Central Business District, NHMRC interventional guidelines for communities where more that 5% of children have blood lead concentrations higher than 0.72 mu mol/L (15 mu/dL) should be applied.

PMID: 8609849 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]