The UK Blood Lead Monitoring Programme 1984-1987: results for 1986

The Department of the Environment (DOE) undertook an extensive programme to monitor blood lead concentrations annually over the period 1984 to 1987 in the context of the reduction in the maximum permissible lead content of petrol from 0.4 to 0.15 g/l from 1st January 1986. Blood samples (all venous) were analysed for lead by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS); considerable efforts were made to ensure the validity of the analytical results. In 1986, emissions from petrol driven vehicles effectively fell by 60% and air lead concentrations fell by just over 50%. Against the background of a long-term downward trend in blood lead concentrations of 4-5% per year, there were average falls in blood lead in 1986, compared with 1985, of around 1 microgram/100 ml (9-10%) for adults in both 'exposed' and 'control' groups; about 2 micrograms/100 ml (18%) in traffic police; and about 1.5 micrograms/100 ml (16%) in children. Levels fell in 1986 in all age groups, in all social classes, and in all categories of smoking and drinking habits, age of dwelling and length of residence. Exposure to lead from a number of sources was being reduced simultaneously; blood lead concentrations probably fell in both 1985 and in 1986 for reasons additional to the reduction in the lead content of petrol. For children, petrol lead appeared to have been made a slightly larger contribution to the body burden than for adults.