Increased lead burden in children of battery workers: asymptomatic exposure resulting from contaminated work clothing.

Lead transmitted into the home via contaminated parental work clothing was the probable source of excessive lead exposure among 69% of 58 children whose mothers worked in a battery factory in Raleigh, North Carolina. Blood lead levels were highest in children less than 3 years old, and declined with age. All children were asymptomatic, and all had normal findings on physical examinations. Dust samples from the homes of children with the greatest lead burden demonstrated gross contamination of the home environment. Although maternal employment was short, young children spent a significant portion of their lives exposed to lead. Certain parental occupations can sufject children to considerable risk from lead exposure.