Letter To The Editor

Dr Landrigan oversimplifies the results of our study. Although distance was negatively correlated with blood lead levels, it was not as important a factor as other variables. In contrast to the earlier studies Dr Landrigan is referring to in his letter, the lead smelter in the community we studied had been closed for 8 years at the time we conducted our survey. Dr Landrigan's and the other studies cited were, for the most part, conducted around active smelters where airborne lead from the smelters may have contributed to the exposure of the children.