Blood lead levels and growth status among African-American and Hispanic children in Dallas, Texas - 1980 and 2002: Dallas Lead Project II

Objective: The purpose of this investigation is to analyze childhood blood lead levels and growth status (ages 2-12) in Dallas, Texas lead smelter communities in the 1980s and 2002, where smelters operated from 1936 to 1990. Methods and materials: A sample of convenience study design was used in two cohorts (n=360): 1980-1989 (n=191) and 2002 (n=169). Multivariate analysis of variance and covariance and tandem multiple regressions were used to evaluate the association between stature and blood lead level in two time periods. Results: In 2002 average child blood lead level (1.6 µg/dL±0.2 SE) was significantly (p