Blood lead levels in schoolchildren in the Port Kembla area.

Blood lead levels (Pb B) were determined in 398 schoolchildren of varying ages living and attending school within close proximity of a smelter at Port Kembla. The air lead (Pb A) concentrations in the area had been recorded by three monitors, two of which recorded levels exceeding the safe air quality standard endorsed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of 1.5 micrograms/m3. Blood lead levels in children in this study were found to be below 1.45 mumol/L, the maximum safe Pb B level as set by the NHMRC for individual children. The findings of this study were compared and discussed with other studies carried out in Australia. The survey finding of normal Pb B levels in the presence of elevated Pb A concentrations may be the result of Pb A existing in insoluble forms.