Blood lead level in children living close to a smelter area: 10 years later.

A survey conducted at the end of the summer of 1989 in Rouyn-Noranda showed that children living near the smelter had blood lead levels between 2.3 and 26.9 mg/dl. A comparison with a similar survey done in the same area in 1979 shows that there are fewer children today with a blood lead level higher than 20 mg/dl, that is 7 versus 18, ten years ago. The soil lead level of the area where these children live was elevated but comparable to that of 10 years ago, even if the smelter atmospheric lead emissions show an important decrease, as is the case for atmospheric lead contamination by leaded gas. Shall we reconsider our criteria for remedial action on the soil?