Biological monitoring of human exposure to environmental lead in Singapore.

An epidemiological survey was conducted in 1990-91 to determine the personal and environmental factors in Singapore which may affect blood lead levels. A total of 1,408 children and adults aged from 6 months to over 50 years were interviewed and their blood samples obtained for analysis using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Overall, the geometric mean blood lead level of the population surveyed was 76.6 micrograms/l. Multivariate analyses revealed that significant variations in blood lead concentrations were related, in decreasing order of importance, to: sex, age, active and passive smoking, exposure to traffic, and exposure to recent paintwork. The consumption of alcohol and traditional medicines were found not to be significant determinants. To reduce the environmental lead problem in Singapore, unleaded petrol has been introduced and control of lead additive in paints is being considered. The national anti-smoking programme should further contribute to an overall reduction in the blood lead level of the population.