Impact on blood lead in children and adults following relocation from their source of exposure and contribution of skeletal tissue to blood lead

The impact on blood lead of the relocation of two families in Australia from their source of Pb was investigated. The results were compared with 27 children who relocated within the contaminated community from high- to low-risk areas. Venous blood and environmental samples were obtained when the families resided in the contaminated area and again eight months later. Results indicated that, for one family, there was a decrease in blood Pb of 50 63% for the adult males and 20% for the adult female. In the second family, blood Pb in both the adult female and in the female child decreased by 69%. For the 27 children who moved from high- to low-risk areas in the community, the mean decrease in blood Pb was 0.31 mu m/l. The change in blood Pb versus the change isotopic composition exhibited a negative relationship. The data indicated that skeletal Pb stores can be a major contributor to children's blood lead, even after relocation.