Lead in human blood and in the environment near a battery factory

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Abstract
Samples of blood, air, dust, soil, vegetation and tap water were examined between 1973-1975 to determine whether a large battery factory (with a smelter) was contributing to Pb in the environment and to Pb absorption by the local population. Mean blood Pb levels in the children of Pb workers were about 6 .mu.g/100 ml higher (P < 0.001) than in otherwise comparable children. Capillary blood samples in wives of Pb workers were 1.7 .mu.g/100 ml higher (P < 0.05) than those of otherwise comparable wives, but venous blood samples from the same subjects showed no significant difference. Pb in dust, soil and vegetation, although variable, decreased in concentration with distance from the factory. This relationship with distance from the factory was not however found in blood Pb levels. No consistent effect of distance was found with Pb in air, but significantly higher concentrations were recorded at downwind than upwind sites. The blood Pb results were analyzed to assess the influence of domestic factors of possible relevance-such as, Pb pipes, car ownership, age of house, etc. The presence of a Pb-worker in the household appears to outweigh these other factors. The findings are consistent with the work of Burrows who showed that Pb workers take Pb home. An interlaboratory comparison on Pb in blood was carried out. The 2 laboratories concerned were equally consistent, but there were differences between them and the design of this comparison did not make it possible to say that the results of either were absolute values.