Transition of cord blood lead level, 1985–2002, in the Taipei area and its determinants after the cease of leaded gasoline use

Lead has long been of concern for its toxicity, impairment of neurobehavioral and cognitive development, and electrophysiological deficits in children, even at levels less than 10μg/dL. The present study was conducted to elucidate the extent of cord blood lead level decline in the Taipei area from 1985 to 2002 and to explore the factors affecting the cord blood lead level after the cease of leaded gasoline use. In the current study period of 2001–2002, 184 of 1310 newborns delivered in the Taipei Municipal Women and Children Hospital between September 2001 and August 2002 were eligible and randomly selected to participate in this study. Neither of their parents had an occupational lead exposure history. At each delivery, a sample of 5–10mL umbilical cord blood was collected for lead determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The cord blood lead level of the newborns in the current study period averaged 2.35±1.12μg/dL. Together with the cord blood lead averages of 7.48±2.25 and 3.28±1.52μg/dL obtained from two previous surveys conducted in 1985–1987 and 1990–1992, respectively, the cord blood lead level was significantly decreased (P