Investigations into sources of lead in the environment of urban children

The lead content of air, house dust, dirt, dirt on hands, food, and water was investigated in order to ascertain the cause of the chronically elevated blood lead levels in ten 2–6 year old Hartford children. Recent ingestion of leaded paint had been eliminated as a significant factor. The mean ambient air levels at 2 and 5 ft. from the ground where the children played varied from 1.7–7 μg/m3. On the basis of “mouthing” behavior observed among the ten subject children, the mean lead levels in dirt (1200) μg/g) and dust (11,000 μg/g) and the mean lead concentration of lead on hands (2400) μg/g), it is likely that the “hands in mouth” exposure route is the principal cause of the excessive lead accumulation in these children.