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Low blood lead levels in Northern Ontario - what now?

OBJECTIVE
To assess the extent of childhood lead exposure and provide guidance for public health efforts to reduce exposure in Northern communities in Ontario.


DESIGN
Population-based cross-sectional survey.


SETTING
Northern Ontario, September-October 1992.


PARTICIPANTS
395 children aged 1 to 6 living in Moosonee or Moose Factory (68% of all children in target group).


OUTCOME MEASURES
Blood lead levels.


RESULTS
The geometric mean lead level was 3.10 micro g/dL (range, 0 to 18.9 micro g/dl); 4% of children had a lead level > 10 mu g/dL, and none had levels over 20 mu g/dL. Two-year-olds and boys had the highest lead levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Blood lead levels in this survey are low but unexpectedly close to inner city Toronto children in both non-point-source and point-source neighbourhoods. Population-level rather than individual interventions are required to further reduce exposure. Lead shot is among the important sources of insidious environmental lead exposure in this population and may be very important for some children involved in hunting activities. Results suggest the development of safer alternatives for lead shot.