SUSPECTED LEAD-POISONING IN A PUBLIC-SCHOOL

Reports of lead exposure can generate considerable public concern, par ticularly when children are involved. In December, 1996, a public elem entary school in rural Utah was found to have elevated concentrations of lead in its drinking water. The local public health department resp onded by instituting remediation of the water supply and by warning pa rents of the possible danger to their children. Subsequent blood lead testing in 116 of the approximately 300 children involved showed an av erage lead concentration in the range expected for the U.S. population at large. One of the 116 specimens was marginally elevated and was pr obably unrelated to the school drinking water. Reducing lead exposure is an important public health concern which sometimes generates a resp onse out of proportion to the danger involved.