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Reduction in Exposure to Lead from Drinking Water and its Effect on Blood Lead Concentrations

Food Science Division Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Great Westminster House, Horseferry Road, London SWIP 2AE, UK

D. Ashby

Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London NW3, UK

H.T. Delves

Department of Chemical Pathology and Human Metabolism, South Laboratory and Pathology Block, Level D, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton S09 4XY, UK

G.I. Forbes

Scottish Home and Health Department, St Andrew's House, Edinburgh EH 1 3DE, Scotland, UK

M.R. Moore

University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12, Scotland, UK

W.J. Patterson

Ayrshire and Arran Health Board, Area Headquarters, P.O. Box 13, Hunters Avenue, Ayr KA8 8DW, Scotland, UK

S.J. Pocock

Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London NW3, UK

M.J. Quinn

CDEP/EPSE Department of the Environment, Romney House, Marsham Street, London SW1 3PY, UK

W.N. Richards

Strathclyde Regional Council Water Department, 419 Balmore Road, Glasgow G22, Scotland, UK

T.S. Wilson

Greater Glasgow Health Board, HQ, 225 Bath Street, Glasgow G2, Scotland, UK

1 The water supply in Ayr (Scotland, UK) was plumbosolvent and many dwellings in Ayr contained lead pipes. In 1981 treatment of the water supply to reduce its plumbosolvency was initiated. Measurements of water and blood lead concentrations were made before and subsequent to the treatment. Most of the measurements made before and after water treatment began were made on water samples from the same dwellings and blood samples from the same women.

2 Water treatment produced a sharp fall in water lead concentrations and a decrease in the median blood lead concentration from 21 to 13 µg/100 ml.

3 Two women had higher than expected blood lead concentrations, both these women had been removing old paint.

4 Women who had lead pipes removed from their dwellings all showed substantial decreases in their blood lead concentrations.

5 The curvilinearity of the relation between blood lead and water lead concentrations is confirmed. Even relatively low (<40 µg/l) water lead concentrations may make a substantial contribution to blood lead concentrations.

Human & Experimental Toxicology, Vol. 3, No. 5, 383-392 (1984)
DOI: 10.1177/096032718400300503


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