- Full (HTML) - Related EHP Articles - Purchase This Issue

Amy Rock Wohl,¹ Adrian Dominguez,¹ and Peter Flessel²

¹Toxics Epidemiology Program, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Los Angeles, CA 90040 USA; ²Environmental Health Laboratory Branch, California Department of Health Services, Berkeley, CA 94704 USA

Abstract
This cross-sectional study examined the association between environmental lead measurements surrounding a Los Angeles County battery recycling facility and the blood lead levels of the children living nearby. Environmental lead measurements and blood lead levels of young children living in a community adjacent to a stationary lead source were compared to those living in a community without a stationary lead source. Predictors of blood lead level were identified. The blood lead levels of the children living near the secondary lead smelter were within the normal range (<5 g/dl) . The absence of ground cover was associated with slightly increased blood lead levels ; however, this increase was not of biological significance. Lead levels in surface soil near the stationary lead source were elevated compared to the control community ; however, the soil lead levels were typical of urban soil. No public health impact was detected in the potentially affected community, which may be due in part to controls recently installed at the stationary lead source. Key words: children, environmental exposure, lead poisoning, smelter, soil. Environ Health Perspect 104:314-317 (1996)

Address correspondence to A. Rock Wohl, HIV Epidemiology Program, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, 600 S. Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 805, Los Angeles, CA 90005 USA.

This research was supported by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, with additional support from the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the California Department of Health Service's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. We express special thanks to the following individuals for making this project possible: Christine Brenk and Dennis Delaney, South Coast Air Quality Management District ; Paul Papanek, Anthony Herrera, and Barbara Milian, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services ; Robert Schlag, Marcos Athanasoulis, and Pat Sutton, California Department of Health Services ; Nancy Steele and Scott Simpson of the Department of Toxic Substances, California Environmental Protection Agency ; and Jo Ann Semones and Jay Woodbeck of the U.S. EPA Region IX.

Received 10 October 1995 ; accepted 20 November 1995.