Identification of gasoline lead in children's blood using isotopic analysis

The isotopic composition and concentrations of lead were measured, using mass spectrometric analysis, in blood drawn from 14 young children who lived in Washington, D.C. The isotopic composition of lead in ambient air, which reflects the changing sources of gasoline lead, was also determined for the period of sampling. Blood lead concentrations ranged from 4.38 to 24.7 micrograms/100 g blood. Based on linear patterns that involved ratios of all four isotopes consistent with two component mixing, we estimate a minimum contribution of recent gasoline lead ranging from 0 to 57% of the blood lead burden.