Lead exposure among nursery children in Chorzów.

The main goal of this study was to determine the level of exposure to lead of selected representatives of the child population attending nursery school, aged 2 to 4 years, residing in three districts of Chorzów with different traffic intensities. The numbers of tested samples of children were 41, 43, 40. The tests were made in summer. Lead (Pb-B), zinc protoporphyrin level (ZPP), hemoglobin (Hb), erythrocyte count in blood (E), and delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and creatinine concentration in urine were determined. The highest Pb-B level observed was 300 micrograms/l; the geometric means of the blood lead concentrations were 131, 132 and 119 micrograms/l and were not statistically different. Median ranges were 118, 133 and 114 micrograms/l. Ranges above the 200 micrograms/l level were found in 19.5%, 11.8% and 15% of the children. The obtained data suggest higher lead absorption in the examined child population.