BLOOD LEAD LEVELS IN THE US POPULATION - PHASE-1 OF THE 3RD NATIONAL-HEALTH AND NUTRITION EXAMINATION SURVEY (NHANES-III, 1988 TO 1991)

Objective.-To determine mean blood lead levels and their sociodemograp hic correlates in the US population. Design.-Nationally representative cross-sectional health examination survey that included measurements of venous blood lead. Participants.-A total of 13 201 persons aged 1 y ear and older examined during phase 1 of the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988 to 1991). Results.-The overall mea n blood lead level for the US population was 0.14 mu mol/L (2.8 mu g/d L). Blood lead levels were consistently higher for younger children th an for older children, for older adults than for younger adults, for m ales than for females, for blacks than for whites, and for central-cit y residents than for non-central-city residents. Other correlates of h igher blood lead levels included low income, low educational attainmen t, and residence in the Northeast region of the United States, Nationa l estimates for children 1 to 5 years of age indicate that 8.9%, or ap proximately 1.7 million children, have blood lead levels 0.48 mu mol/L (10 mu g/dL) or greater. These levels are high enough to be of health concern under 1991 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guideli nes. Conclusions.-The low overall mean blood lead levels demonstrate a major public health success in primary prevention efforts. However, e xposure to lead at levels that may adversely affect the health of chil dren remains a problem especially for those who are minority, urban, a nd from low-income families. Strategies to identify the most vulnerabl e risk groups are necessary to further reduce lead exposure in the Uni ted States.