[Environmental lead exposure in the Venetian population from 1976-1992]

Blood lead levels observed in the general population of Venice and the surrounding area are reported for the period between 1976 and 1992. A time dependent decrease of blood lead levels is evident and parallels the step wise decrease of lead levels in gasoline which took place between 1981 and 1991. The observed lowering time trend of blood lead levels could possibly be ascribed, perhaps not negligibly, to technological improvements, the development of new analytical procedures and the continuous practice of quality control.