Blood lead concentrations of preschool children in Central and Southern Sydney

Abstract

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 lead concentration was 0.34 μmol/L (7.0μg/dL). The proportion of children with elevated blood lead concentrations was: 16.1% (> 0.48 μmol/L [10 μg/dL]), 3.9% (> 0.72 μmol/L [15 μg/dL]) and 0.3% (> 1.21 μmol/L [25 μg/dL]), respectively. The blood lead levels for children living within a 10‐km radius of the Sydney Central Business District were: 25% (> 0.48 μmol/L [10 μg/dL]) and 7% (> 0.72 μmol/L [15 μg/dL]), respectively. Corresponding findings for children living 10 km outside this radius were: 9% (> 0.48 μmol/L [10 μg/dL]) and 1.5% (> 0.72 μmol/L [15 μg/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 than 5% of children have blood lead concentrations higher than 0.72 μmol/L (15 μg/dL) should be applied.

Managing environmental lead in Broken Hill: a public health success

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“…A number of studies indicate that blood lead levels have reduced markedly in the broader Australian community since the late 1970s. [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] While these studies were crosssectional and did not include a remediation assessment component, they provide a benchmark for blood lead levels in young children living outside of point source communities.…”

Serological survey of measles and rubella immunity in Sydney preschool children

“…If so, information was provided on the study and the name and telephone number of the parents was obtained in order that the study may be more fully explained by a research officer and an appointment was made for a blood test. The study was conducted from 1992 to 1994 in conjunction with surveys of blood lead concentrations, 8 iron status 9 and plasma micronutrient concentrations 10 …”

Blood lead concentrations and iron status of preschool children from low income families

“…shown low socioeconomic status to be associated with elevated blood lead con centrations-and also with poor iron status." Iron deficiency anaemia and elevated blood lead concentrations have both been shown to be associated with cognitive deficits.v" In earlier studies, we collected blood from children aged 9-62 months living in 32 randomly selected areas of central and southern Sydney, 6 and from children of the same age recruited through early childhood centres. " Blood lead concentration was estimated for all children, and iron status when sufficient volume of blood could be collected.…”

“…0.49 urnol/L was 20 .4%, and iron deficiency anaemia was detected in 0.6 % of children. 6 We compared a subset of children from both our community prevalence survey (n = 50) and the early childhood centre study (n =9) with elevated blood lead concentrations and poor iron status who were from families with an annual income of under $12 000 (Box) . We also compared these results with those for children admitted with their mothers to an inner-city women's refuge (n =15) and for children with elevated blood lead concentrations from low socioeconomic status families from the national survey. '…”