BLOOD LEAD CONCENTRATIONS OF SWEDISH PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN IN A COMMUNITY WITH HIGH LEAD LEVELS FROM MINE WASTE IN SOIL AND DUST

The lead concentration in capillary blood was investigated in 49 presc hool children (0.7-7.4 years of age) visiting a day-care center in a S wedish community with high lead contamination from mining and milling in soil and dust in populated areas [up to 1400 and 14 000 mug . g-1 ( 6.76 and 67.63 mumol . g-1) of dry weight, respectively]. The blood le ad levels were examined twice (in April and in September) in 33 of the children. The lead levels were low on both sampling occasions [arithm etic mean 31 (SD 13, median 30, range 13-79) mug - l-1, ie, arithmetic mean 0.15, (sb 0.06, median 0.14, range 0.06-0.38) mumol - l-1]. Wher eas children up to four years of age showed significantly increased le vels from April to September, a significant decrease was seen in older children. The level of lead in soil at home, gender, smoking habits a t home, and estimated level of hand-to-mouth activity did not appear a s strong determinants of lead in blood. The results indicate that lead from mine waste in soil and dust fallout does not constitute a signif icant health hazard for preschool children in Falun.