BLOOD LEAD CONCENTRATIONS OF PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SYDNEY

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of elevated blood lead concent rations in preschool children in Central and Southern Sydney. Particip ants and setting: Children aged from 9 months to 5 years living in 32 randomly selected geographical areas in Central and Southern Sydney. M ethods: Venous blood lead concentrations were estimate by atomic absor ption spectrometry. Results: 953 children were identified and 726 had parental consent to participate. A blood sample for lead estimation wa s obtained from 718 children. The geometric mean blood lead concentrat ion was 0.34 mu mol/L (7.0 mu g/dL). The proportion of children with e levated blood lead concentrations was: 16.1% (>0.48 mu mol/L [10 mu g/ dL]), 3.9% (>0.72 mu mol/L [15 mu g/dL]) and 0.3% (>1.21 mu mol/L [25 mu g/dL]), respectively. The blood lead levels for children living wit hin a 10-km radius of the Sydney Central Business District were: 25% ( >0.48 mu mol/L [10 mu g/dL]) and 7% (>0.72 mu mol/L [15 mu g/dL]), res pectively. Corresponding findings for children living 10 km outside th is radius were: 9% (>0.48 mu mol/L [10 mu g/dL]) and 1.5% (>0.72 mu mo l/L [15 mu g/dL]), respectively. Conclusions: The proportion of childr en with elevated blood lead concentrations in Central and Southern Syd ney as a whole does not exceed current National Health and Medical Res earch 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 l ead concentrations higher than 0.72 mu mol/L (15 mu g/dL) should be ap plied.