Blood lead level distribution by age group in inhabitants of Ankara.

Blood lead levels of 619 healthy and nonoccupationally exposed inhabitants of central and rural parts of Ankara, (297 females and 322 males) ages 2-80, were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Lead also was determined in the whole blood samples from 66 (all male) occupationally exposed adults. The blood lead levels were significantly higher (p less than 0.05) among children (16.95 micrograms/100 mL as a geometric mean) than the subdivided age groups of adults (geometric means by decades of age group were ranged from 8.39 micrograms/100 mL to 14.34 micrograms/100mL). The levels were lower among young adults and gradually to reach a plateau at the 50-59 age group. Although females had lower lead blood levels than males, sex difference was insignificant (p greater than 0.05). The geometric mean of blood lead levels of people living in central Ankara was also found significantly higher than the geometric mean of people living in rural parts of Ankara (N:60, 8.65 micrograms/100 mL) but significantly lower than the occupationally exposed group (N:66, 49.81 micrograms/100 mL). High absorption of lead in children and adults living in Ankara as compared with other countries is probably attributable to heavy traffic concentration and exposure to dust-borne lead.