Hair lead levels in young children from the F.R.G.

Hair lead (PbH) levels were measured in 474 children, aged 3-7 years, living in an industrialized (Duisburg) and in a rural area (Westphalia) of the F.R.G. by atomic absorption spectrometry. PbH values were log-normally distributed. All mean concentrations are therefore given as geometric means. The overall mean PbH content was 2.7 mg/kg. In the summer PbH levels were higher than in the winter (3.8 vs. 1.4 mg/kg) and the values from the urban children were higher compared with those from rural children (3.7 vs. 1.9 mg/kg). Boys had more Pb in their hair than girls (3.9 vs. 2.0 mg/kg) and PbH levels decreased between the 4th and 7th year. In the industrialized area the PbH content of children whose fathers were factory workers, was higher than that of children whose fathers had other occupations (4.2 vs. 3.0 mg/kg). Non-German children had more Pb in their hair than German children (5.2 vs. 3.6 mg/kg). Pb content in the soil from the Duisburg area was related to PbH concentrations (R = 0.34). Since our observations are in line with the results of similar studies which used blood samples to monitor Pb exposure in children, we conclude that by using standardized conditions hair analysis is a valuable screening method.