Indirect lead exposure among children of radiator repair workers

Background Secondary exposure to lead has been identified as a public health problem since the late 1940s; we investigate the risk of lead exposure among families of radiator repair workers. Methods A sample of the wives and children, aged 6 months to 6 years (exposed children) (n = 19), of radiator repair workers and a sample of children whose parents were not occupationally exposed to lead (non-exposed children) (n = 29) were matched for age and residence; their geometric mean blood lead levels are compared. Blood samples were obtained by the finger stick method and environmental dust samples by the wipe method; both were analyzed using a portable anodic stripping voltameter Results Dust lead levels were significantly higher in the houses of exposed children (143.8 vs. 3.9 mug/g; P < 0.01). In crude analyses, the highest lead levels were observed among children whose fathers worked in home-based workshops (22.4 mug/dl)(n = 6). Children whose fathers worked in an external workshop (n = 13) also had high levels (14.2 mug/dl) (P < 0.01), while blood lead levels in non-exposed children were significantly lower (5.6 mug/dl)(P < 0.01). The observed differences remained significant after adjustment for age and gender. Conclusions This study confirms that children of radiator repair workers are at increased risk of lead exposure and public health interventions are needed to protect them. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.