LEAD-POISONING - ONE APPROACH TO A PROBLEM THAT WONT GO AWAY

A reduction in sources of environmental lead exposure has resulted in substantial declines in mean blood lead concentrations of all age grou ps in dir United States. However, some segments of the population cont inue to have unacceptable levels of lead exposure and elevated blood l ead concentrations. In addition, virtually all residents of industrial ized countries have bone lead stores that are several orders of magnit ude greater than those of our preindustrial ancestors. Recent studies suggest that these skeletal lead scores adversely affect health and ca n contribute to reduced birth weights, aggressive behavior in children , and anemia, hypertension, and kidney disease in adults. Evidence is described that demonstrates that an increase in dietary calcium consum ption can reduce lead absorption and toxicity from exogenous and endog enous lead exposure, A relatively inexpensive and effective way to red uce the substantial morbidity that will result from widespread lead ex posure is by fortification of a variety of foods with low levels of ca lcium. This approach can complement other efforts to prevent lead expo sure and reduce lead toxicity.