Blood Lead Levels of Dutch City Children and Their Relationship to Lead in the Environment

Abstract

Environmental and social variables were studied in several populations of Dutch city children who participated in the second Blood Lead Survey of the European Communities in 1981. Blood lead levels were low in all populations, with striking differences between inner city and suburban children. Several environmental and social variables were correlated with blood lead levels. An R 2 value of 0.52 was obtained in the multiple regression analyses, indicating that a reasonable amount of variation in blood lead levels was explained by the independent variables in the analysis. The value of air lead as single indicator of environmental lead pollution is discussed.