BLOOD LEAD LEVELS IN THE GENERAL-POPULATION OF TAIWAN, REPUBLIC-OF-CHINA

The purpose of this study was to investigate the environmental lead ex posure of the general population in Taiwan. A total of 2919 residents of Taiwan were selected by multistage sampling methods. The participan ts were characterized by questionnaires and 10 ml venous blood was col lected for blood lead measurement. A quality assurance/quality control program was designed during the analysis of blood lead levels. The me an blood lead level of 2719 residents without occupational lead exposu re was 8.29 +/- 5.92 mu g/dl. After adjustment for age and sex distrib ution to the Taiwan general population, the mean blood lead level was 8.10 mu g/dl. Adjusted for an 11% underestimation of blood lead levels among the six laboratories, the mean blood lead level was estimated t o be 8.99 mu g/dl. This study also found that blood lead levels were a ssociated with personal characteristics, i.e., gender, ethnic group, e ducation level; lifestyle factors, i.e., smoking, alcohol consumption, sources of drinking water; and residential location, i.e., levels of urbanization, distance of house from the road. However, age, floor of residence, milk consumption, betel nut consumption, and Chinese herbal drug consumption were not found to be associated with blood lead leve ls. These results show that blood lead levels in Taiwan residents were not higher than in most developed and developing countries. Environme ntal lead pollution does not seem to be a serious problem in Taiwan.