Taskinen H, Nordman H, Hernberg S, Engström K
Sci Total Environ. 1981 Sep;20(2):117-29. doi: 10.1016/0048-9697(81)90058-9.
The blood lead (Pb-B), hemoglobin and hematocrit were measured in 286 Finnish children living in the three largest cities of Finland (n = 172), in rural areas (n = 54) and in a lead smelter area (n = 60). Pb-B was determinated using an atomic absorption spectrophotometric micro method. The precision of the method was good, as was the accuracy tested by an international interlaboratory comparison. The mean Pb-B in urban, rural and lead smelter areas varied between 6.0 - 6.7 microgram/100 ml** (range 3 - 17 microgram/100 ml) and there were no significant differences between the residential areas. The mean values of hemoglobin and hematocrit were in the normal range. The Pb - B values in Finnish children studied were low compared with many international studies but at a similar level as in some recent Scandinavian studies.
