YOU ARE NOW CONNECTED TO THE TOXLINE (1981 FORWARD, NON-ROYALTY) FILE. ==LEAD LEVEL AND PAINT== 3 AUTHOR Nedellec V AUTHOR Fontaine A AUTHOR Luciolli E AUTHOR Bourdillon F TITLE [Evaluation of decontamination interventions in 59 homes of children with lead poisoning] SOURCE Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique; VOL 43, ISS 5, 1995, P485-93 ABSTRACT Old peeling paint with high content of lead has been identified as the main source of lead poisoning for children screened in Paris since 1985. In 1989, Medecins Sans Frontieres and Migration Sante tested abatement methods in 59 homes of severely lead-poisoned children. The effectiveness of abatement is evaluated with respect to the evolution in dust lead contents and of the children's blood lead levels. Lead content wsas measured in dust samples collected from the floor of the homes before abatement, then every three months after abatement; results are available for 24 homes. Blood lead levels were assessed in the course of the children's medical follow-up; results are available before and after abatement for 78 children living in 41 of the abated homes. The effect of abatement on the children's blood lead level was assessed through multivariate analysis. The median decrease in dust lead contents was 365 micrograms/m2 one to two months after abatement and 300 micrograms/m2 three to six months after abatement. However, dust lead contents of more than 1,000 micrograms/m2 were found in more than half of the communal areas of the buildings six to twenty-eight months after abatement. For 2 of the families, abatement was associated with an increase in the children's blood lead-levels. For all of the other children, abatement was associated with a significant decrease in blood lead levels, controlling for the child's age and initial lead poisoning level, and for the overall downward trend in blood lead levels over time since the initial screening.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) 6 AUTHOR Ennever FK AUTHOR Zaccaro DJ AUTHOR Fernando RA AUTHOR Jones BT TITLE Blood lead levels in North Carolina painters. SOURCE Hum Exp Toxicol; VOL 14, ISS 5, 1995, P456-61 ABSTRACT 1. Blood lead levels were examined in 127 housepainters in North Carolina between April and September, 1993. Each participant filled out a questionnaire and gave a blood sample. The questionnaire covered the individual's work history, concentrating on paint-removal activities and personal protection, and also covered potential nonoccupational sources of lead exposure. Blood samples were analysed for lead content using atomic absorption spectroscopy. 2. The geometric mean blood lead level was 0.33 mumol L-1 (6.8 micrograms dL-1). No blood lead samples were found to exceed the occupational standard of 1.93 mumol L-1 (40 micrograms dL-1). The three highest samples had levels between 0.97 and 1.45 mumol L-1 (20 and 30 micrograms dL-1); this represented 2.4% of the study sample. 3. No statistical association was found between blood lead levels in these painters and their painting activities, including using dust masks for personal protection. 4. Current painting practices in this group of North Carolina painters do not appear to elevate blood lead levels above the occupational standard. 7 AUTHOR Kimbrough R AUTHOR LeVois M AUTHOR Webb D TITLE Survey of lead exposure around a closed lead smelter. SOURCE Pediatrics; VOL 95, ISS 4, 1995, P550-4 ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE. To test the hypothesis that elevated lead in soil is positively correlated with blood lead (BPb) levels in children in an urban population surrounding a closed lead smelter, a US Environmental Protection Agency Superfund clean-up site was surveyed. METHOD. A total of 827 volunteers including 490 children under 6 years of age participated. A questionnaire was administered. Blood lead was determined as was lead content of samples of house dust, soil, paint, and water of the participants' homes. RESULTS. The arithmetic mean venous BPb in 490 children between 6 and 72 months of age was 6.9 micrograms/dL (0.33 mumol/L) range 0.7 to 40.2 micrograms/dL (0.03 to 1.94 mumol/L). The BPb of 78 (16%) children in this group was > or = 10 micrograms/dL (0.48 mumol/L). Based on multiple regression modeling, lead in house dust accounted for 18% of the variance in BPb. Lead in paint together with the condition of the house were the main contributors to the dust lead variance (26%) with soil lead accounting for an additional 6%. Lead in paint alone accounted for 3% of the BPb variance. Lead in paint together with the condition of the house accounted for 12% of BPb variance, and lead in soil accounted for an additional 3%. Factors other than environmental lead such as education of parents, household income, and behavior were associated with BPb levels. CONCLUSIONS. The mean BPb in children was below the present level of concern of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children with BPb of > or = 10 micrograms/L (0.48 mumol/L) tended to live in poorly maintained older houses. Based on these findings lead in soil and paint in well-maintained homes contributed little to the lead exposure of children.