Summary
The aim of the council directive of 29 March 1977 of the European Community (1) is the screening for non-work-related lead exposure levels in the general populations of European (member) countries. In France, such testing was carried out in eight metropolitan areas (having more than 500000 inhabitants), another eight “critical” areas surrounding industrial emission sources and one area (Vosges) having a high level of lead contamination in the water. In view of the reference values (maximum 35 μg/ dl in an individual blood sample) adopted by the directive, the situation is most serious in the area where the exposure is due to the lead contamination in the water. Individuals here run a seven times greater risk of exceeding the 35 μg/dl blood-lead limit relative to urban populations where the lead comes mostly from vehicle emissions into the atmosphere (i.e. 9.3% of the blood-lead values of the Vosgian sample exceed 35 pg/dl; 3.5% for the industrial complexes which deal with lead and 1.4% for the urban zone). While these vehicle exhausts are the subject of much current concern, in perspective, the problem of lead pipe contaminated drinking water appears to be of far greater importance.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Awad L, Huel G, Lazar P, Boudène C (1981) Facteurs de variation interindividuelle de la plombémie. Rev Epidémiol Santé Publ 29:113–124
Berlin A (1982) Assessment of exposure to lead of the general population in the European Community through biological monitoring. Environ Monitor Assess 2:225–231
Bonithon-Kopp C, Huel G, Moreau T, Grasmick C, Sarmini H (1986) Effects of pregnancy on the inter-individual variations in blood level of lead, cadmium and mercury. Biol Res Preg 7:37–42
Bonnefoy X, Huel G, Guéguen R (1985) Variation of the blood lead level as a result of lead contamination of the subjects drinking water. Water Res 19:1299–1303
Boudène C, Arsac F, Meininger J (1975) Étude des taux de plomb dans l'air et dans la population en France. Arh Hig Rad Toks [26 Suppl]:179–188
Bouyer J (1982) Contribution à l'étude des procédures d'échantillonnage dans les enquêtes d'observation. Diplôme d'Étude et de Recherches en Biologie Humaine. Université Paris-Sud
Committee on lead in the human environment (1980) National Research Council: lead in the human environment. National Academy of Sciences Press, Washington
Council Directive of March, 1977 on biological screening of the population for lead. Off J Eur Comm, L 105, 28 April, 1977, p 10
Directive du Conseil des Communautés Européennes concernant le rapprochement des législations des états membres, relative à la teneur en plomb de l'essence. J Off Comm Eur, L 197 19, 22 Juillet 1978 (78611CEE)
Grasmick C, Moreau T, Sarmini H, Huel G (1985) The combined effect of tobacco and alcohol consumption on the level of lead and cadmium in blood. Sci Tot Environ 41:207–217
Huel G (1984) Campagnes d'application en France de la directive européenne du 29 mars 1977 concernant la surveillance biologique de la population vis à vis du risque saturnin. Rapport final. Contrat n 76 368K Ministère français de la santé
Mahaffey KR, Annest JL, Robert J, Murphy M (1982) National estimates of blood lead levels: United States 1976–1980. N Engl J Med 307:573–579
Sinn W (1981) Über den Zusammenhang von Luftbleikonzentration und Bleigehalt des Blutes von Anwohnern und Berufstätigen im Kerngebiet einer Großstadt (Blutbleistudie Frankfurt). II. Korrelationen und Konklusionen. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 48:1–23
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Huel, G., Boudène, C., Jouan, M. et al. Assessment of exposure to lead of the general population in the French community through biological monitoring. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 58, 131–139 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00380764
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00380764