Cross‐sectional epidemiological study on the lead burden of children and workers in Greece

Exposure of the general population to lead in the environment is mainly caused by motor traffic exhaust and by industrial pollution. The aim of the study in Greece was to assess lead exposure in children living in point source impacted areas (Lavrion and Aspropyrgos‐Eleusis) using the biological monitoring parameter “blood lead concentration”;. In addition, workers of a lead smelter, a battery plant and an oil refinery were investigated in these areas at the same time. Five hundred and thirty‐four children and 105 workers took part in this investigation. The highest blood lead levels (mean: 24.16 μg/100ml; range: 10.40–60.49 μg/100 ml) were found in children living in a 500m‐area around the lead smelter at Lavrion. Blood lead decreases corresponded to the increasing distance from the emitter. Nevertheless the values of children living in a 1500 m distance to the smelter are significantly higher than those of children living next to other kinds of industrial lead sources. The mean values of the children living in the two industrial towns were manifold higher than those of the control group. The blood lead levels of the investigated workers did not exceed the German BAT‐value (Biologischer Arbeitsstoff‐Toleranzwert) of 70 μg/100ml.