Petrol lead in a small island environment

Int J Risk Saf Med. 1996;9(1):33-40. doi: 10.3233/JRS-1996-9104.

Abstract

The Maltese population has been repeatedly shown to have high mean blood lead levels irrespective of age. This study confirms that these higher levels also occur in Maltese children. A definite correlation is shown between high blood lead levels and the environment of the subjects studied, being statistically higher in individuals living on the urbanized larger island. A statistical correlation has been shown between hand-wipe specimens taken from children playing in a playground and the traffic density of the area. A similar statistical correlation between playground, street and household dust to traffic density has also been identified.