Ls. Maresky et Sr. Grobler, EFFECT OF THE REDUCTION OF PETROL LEAD ON THE BLOOD LEAD LEVELS OF SOUTH AFRICANS, Science of the total environment, 136(1-2), 1993, pp. 43-48
Lead has no metabolic role in the human body and its presence is assoc
iated with various toxic effects. Several countries have responded to
this health hazard reducing petrol lead additives or entirely eliminat
ing them. Studies have shown that there has been a resultant fall in b
lood lead levels of the particular populations. This study reports on
the progressive decline in blood lead levels of South Africans during
the period 1984-1990 which coincided with a stepwise reduction in petr
ol lead additives from 0.8 g/l to 0.4 g/l. During this period the bloo
d lead levels of Cape Town city dwellers decreased significantly (P <
0.01) from 9.7 mug/dl to 7.2 mug/dl. This blood lead level compares fa
vourably with that of other more industrialized countries with less le
ad in their petrol. Therefore, the authors question the need for furth
er reduction of petrol lead content bearing in mind the considerable f
inancial burden that such a step will entail and the dubious health ad
vantage that may be gained.